Blue Country Magic

Thursday Thirteen

2026-10-29T00:30:00.000-04:00

Small things that make a day better:

1. I enjoy watching the deer outside. They move like shadows, quick yet unhurried. One minute, I'm looking at an empty yard and the next, there are three does standing there munching on acorns. They are like ghosts that come in daylight.

2. I really like to hear a good song from the 1970s. Alexa knows this, and when she plays "songs you like," they frequently start out with something from Fleetwood Mac. But there are many others that I don't hear so much that can stop me in my tracks. Band on the Run by Paul McCartney & Wings, for example. Or American Pie, by Don McLean. Those are great songs.

3. Another thing that brings me pleasure is finding a book that makes me forget to look at the clock. This doesn't happen as often as I'd like anymore, because I seem to always be worried about making sure I get the laundry out of the dryer while it's hot or whatever, but I do enjoy a good read.

4. One of my guilty pleasures is having a little chocolate. I like the taste and texture of chocolate, especially milk chocolate. I know I'm probably one good Hershey bar from a heart attack, but that's a risk I'll have to take.

5. Another way to make my day better is to pick up my guitar. Sometimes I don't even have to get through a whole song. I sit and play scales, or make runs, or just fiddle with chord progressions, and something in my back eases.

6. This is good for a quick pick-me-up: drinking a good glass of ice-cold water. I mostly only drink water these days, but I like it cold and straight out of the fridge.

7. Turning on my little heater in my office often helps me feel better. I tend to be cold and while I know the heater isn't great for the electric bill, it sure does make it easier to type if my fingers are not freezing.

8. I also appreciate the change of seasons. We're near peak time for the leaves, I think, and while this year isn't looking very bright because of the drought, there are some oranges and yellows peeking through.

9. I also like to find an interesting animal on the game camera, like a bear, fox, or coyote. The other week when there was a bear on the camera, I squealed with delight.

10. That reminds me that taking a great photo of the moon or a spider's web with that certain slant of light one only finds in October is another way to brighten up an otherwise mundane day.

11. I like it when I have nothing on my calendar for the day. That means I can stay home, or go out, do laundry (or not). It's never downtime, I don't have much of that, but it's nice not to be on a schedule.

12. When the phone rings and it's a friend, my whole face lights up. I enjoy talking to the people who know me best, hearing from them, learning what's going on in their world.

13. Last, but not least, occasionally I level up in a video game. This is almost always unexpected because I don't watch for it, especially in my city-building game, so when it suddenly goes "Ta Da" and gives me a reward, it's always a joyful little moment. I accomplished nothing of importance, but then again, I did move forward. Yay me!

_________________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 982nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

The Signatures of Greatness

2026-10-26T16:18:02.803-04:00

One thing I've always loved about my community is its history. Botetourt County is not the oldest in Virginia; it was formed in 1769 and there are others towards the east that are older. But it still has a lot of history.

At its founding, Botetourt went all the way to the Mississippi and took in parts of Wisconsin. Many historic documents are in our courthouse.

This is fortunate, because the courthouse burned in the early 1970s. Fortunately, forward-thinking persons had put the old documents in a fireproof vault, and they were saved.

The documents seldom make an appearance in public, but recently the county circuit clerk had them out to show off during the Fincastle Festival.

This document, dated 1782, has the signature of Benjamin Harrison on it. He was a governor of Virginia and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

This document has the signature of James Monroe on it. He was the fifth president of the United States, and he proclaimed the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that European powers should not interfere in the Americas.

The last photo shows the signature of General William Clark (of the Lewis and Clark expedition) as he married Judith Hancock of Fincastle.

As a citizen of this county, and someone who can trace her heritage here back to before the American Revolution, I find the history of my community to be a rock upon which I can stand even when the antics of today make me wonder if there will be a tomorrow.

Seeing these signatures, I am reminded that great men once existed, and they can once again take the reins of this great nation and send her upwards.

We do not always have to be ruled by lesser men. Greatness exists in every generation.

Sometimes we simply don't find it.

Sunday Stealing

2026-10-25T00:30:00.000-04:00

The Grown-Up Meme

1. Do you have a college degree?

A. I have three college degrees. I have an associate's degree from Virginia Western Community College, a bachelor's degree from Hollins College, and a master's degree from Hollins University.

2. What was the amount of your last electric bill?

A. My last electric bill was about $350.00, give or take a $50.

3. Do you have life insurance?

A. I have life insurance. All responsible people should have life insurance of some kind, if only enough to pay for a funeral.

4. Do you check your cholesterol on (at least) an annual basis?

A. My doctor checks my cholesterol at least once a year, sometimes twice a year. It is always high and I always politely decline the medication that would bring it down.

5. Have you ever attended a high school reunion?

A. I have attended one high school reunion. I went to my high school reunion in 2011, which incidentally was also the last one we had, as far as I know. My class lacked a bit of cohesiveness and never really got into the reunion thing. Maybe now that we're all in our 60s we'll think about it more, but I doubt it.

6. Do you have a will or estate plan?

A. All responsible adults should have proper wills and estate planning in place, especially if they have children or wish for their assets to be disposed of in a particular way. Otherwise, you risk having the state raise your children if you die before they've reached majority, and you risk having your assets farmed out amongst relatives who hated you anyway.

7. Do you remember when MTV played music videos?

A. I remember when MTV and VH1 both played music videos. I preferred VH1 to MTV. VH1 felt like it was more for folks with a bit of age and savvy about them while MTV played to the younger folks.

8. Is there a bottle of wine in your refrigerator?

A. There is an unopened bottle of wine in my refrigerator. It has been there for approximately 15 years. I imagine it is fairly cold by now.

9. Have you been divorced?

A. I have not been divorced. I will soon be celebrating 43 years of marriage.

10. When you were 16, did you play music on vinyl, cassette, or CDs?

A. When I was 16, nobody knew what a CD was and we were still using 8-track players. I had vinyl, cassette, and a radio when I was 16. I don't think the Walkman had been invented when I was 16, but maybe it had and I'm too sorry to look it up.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Smoke Rings

2026-10-24T00:30:00.000-04:00

Saturday 9: Smoke Rings (1933)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Donald Mills of the Mills Brothers encourages us to "puff, puff, puff" our cares away. When did you most recently smoke a cigarette?

A. I tried them in high school but could not stand to smoke, so it wasn't a habit I involved myself with. I'm not sure "trying to smoke" counts as actually "smoking" a cigarette.

2) In the 1930s, when this week's song was recorded, an estimated 40% of American adults smoked cigarettes. By the early 1960s, that number reached a high of 42%. According to the CDC, the percentage of adult smokers dropped to 11%. Do many of your friends and relatives smoke or vape?

A. If any of my friends or relatives smoke or vape, they don't do it around me.

3) Donald was the youngest of the singing Mills Brothers, and he's the one who most often sang lead. That squares with popular birth order theory, which proposes that the youngest tends to enjoy being the center of attention, the middle child is the diplomat, and the oldest is the high achiever. Think of your own family and the families of your friends. Do you think this theory holds true?

A. The theory probably holds true to some extent. Some of it depends upon definitions. And generations. On second thought, no. That theory is just a theory.

4) The Mills Brothers were one of the first famous singing brother acts. The Williams Brothers – which featured future TV star Andy Williams – followed in their footsteps. Can you think of another group of singing brothers?

A. The Jackson 5, obviously. Also, the Bee Gees, The Everly Brothers (I guess they were brothers), and the Osmonds.

5) In addition to recording hit records, The Mills Brothers were a staple on radio in the 1930s. They were among the first African American artists to host their own radio show and sang jingles for Standard Oil and Crisco. What commercial do you recall having seen, or heard, recently?

A. It's election season, so most of the commercials I see are election commercials right now. There's this one:

6) In 1933, when this week's song was popular, actor Robert Montgomery and his wife had a daughter they named Elizabeth. That little girl would become famous in the 1960s for her own TV show. Without looking it up, do you know what show Elizabeth Montgomery starred in?

A. Bewitched. I always wished I could twitch my nose and have a clean house. Wouldn't that be something?

7) Johnny Cash was also born in 1933. Do you have a favorite Johnny Cash song?

A. I like Ring of Fire and Folsom Prison. There was also one he sang with June Carter Cash, Jackson, that I recall from childhood.

8) In 1933, five French airlines merged to form Air France. Think of the last time you were at an airport. Were you taking a flight or meeting a flight?

A. The last time I was at an airport I was meeting a flight.

9) Random question: Your best friend just received a certificate for completing a car maintenance course at your community college. Would you let them work on your vehicle?

A. I would let them work on my vehicle, yes. Why not?

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Thursday Thirteen

2026-10-22T00:30:00.000-04:00

Quotes by famous female characters, with a little commentary by yours truly after each one.

1. “Only love can truly save the world. So I stay, I fight, and I give, for the world I know can be.” - Diana (Wonder Woman). And CD says: Oh, to be so innocent of the world, to think one can truly have only love.

2. “Even miracles take a little time.” - Fairy Godmother (Cinderella). And CD says: The miracles I've seen take a lifetime.

3. “Some walks you have to take alone.” - Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay). And CD says: All of my walks are alone. Most people's are, I think.

4. “Books! And cleverness! There are more important things! - Friendship! And Bravery!" Hermione Granger (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). And CD says: But Hermione, a book can also be a friend, and sometimes one is brave when one reads.

5. “When the raindrops come tumbling, remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine.” - Snow White (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). And CD says: A noble notion, is it not? To think that one can walk merrily through the day and bring about the light?

6. “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” - Lady Galadriel (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring). And CD says: This also holds true for mice, toads, and other minute creatures, the sight of which, depending upon location, could indeed change the course of at least a day for many people.

7. “After all, tomorrow is another day!” - Scarlett O'Hara (Gone with the Wind). And CD says: And so is the day after that one. One is to be grateful for that experience, I suppose.

8. “When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? Just keep swimming.” - Dory (Finding Nemo). And CD says: And if you don't know how to swim, try not to drown and at least keep your head above water.

9. “I find it poor logic to say that because women are good, women should vote. Men do not vote because they are good; they vote because they are male, and women should vote, not because we are angels and men are animals, but because we are human beings and citizens of this country.” - Jo March (Little Women). And CD says: Go Jo!

10. “I do not think, sir, you have a right to command me, merely because you are older than I, or because you have seen more of the world than I have; your claim to superiority depends on the use you have made of your time and experience.” - Jane Eyre (Jane Eyre). And CD says: Go Jane!

11. “I am the plan.” Buffy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer). And CD says: A girl should always be her own plan. Always. Even if that plan involves a dime and a no-longer-existent telephone booth.

12. “It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.” - Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables). And CD says: The "firmly" part is key to this quote. Just making up my mind is seldom enough.

13. “Once you tell your story, it can be empowering.” - Olivia Benson (Law and Order). And CD says: It can also be overwhelming, joyful, sad, entrancing, entertaining, and ephemeral. Just remember, it's YOUR story. Let it be what it must.

_________________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 981st time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

The Aliens in the Night

2026-10-21T00:30:00.000-04:00

When I downloaded photos from my game camera the other day, I was surprised by some night captures:

What are these creatures?!?*

(Ignore the date on the Stealth Cam. I never learned how to change it and make it current.)

*I'm pretty sure it's a spider.

Whistle Pig

2026-10-20T00:30:00.000-04:00

We have groundhogs living under the outbuilding not far from the house.

Sometimes they come up to the patio.

I am not supposed to like them, because the holes they leave behind are dangerous to cattle and such, but I think they're kind of cute.

Look at those little, tiny ears.

They may be small, but they must hear very well. Groundhogs take off fast when they get the slightest notion of danger. I have watched them zoom away on countless occasions.

This one must have been very involved in eating the clover around the patio because I was able to get these shots without it running off.

My husband calls them whistle pigs sometimes. I don't know why, exactly, except that if you can do a loud whistle, they will stand up and look at you.

I can whistle, but not as well as I used to, so I haven't tried to whistle at a groundhog in a long time.

My National Audubon Southeastern Field Guide says that groundhogs are formally called "woodchucks," although we've never called them that. We've always called them groundhogs.

The book also says they are in the squirrel family, and while I've seen one grab hold of a tree trunk and cling there, I've never seen one actually up in a tree.

These animals are vegetarian and usually I see them eat grass and clover during the warmer months. They stay mostly in their burrows from November through March.

I guess the best-known groundhog is the one in Pennsylvania that's supposed to tell the weather.

Mine, I think, are just quiet, sweet pests and they don't have much to say about the forecast.

Sunday Stealing

2026-10-18T00:30:00.000-04:00

Getting to Know You

1) Describe yourself in three words.

A. Loyal, trusting, and intelligent

2) What's your favorite dish at your favorite restaurant?

A. My favorite dish is sweet and sour chicken at Szechuan, a restaurant about 35 minutes away.

3) Did you set goals for 2026? If yes, how are you proceeding toward them?

A. I did not set goals for 2026, so I'm not doing very well at reaching them. I have set other goals this year, though, and I am slowly whittling away at them.

4) What's something you have learned the hard way?

A. That the people you love the most will be the people who hurt you the most.

5) If you could skip one item on today's to-do list, what would it be?

A. The same one that's always on the list but which I skip or leave for last: doing the bookkeeping.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Somewhere Over Laredo

2026-10-17T00:30:00.000-04:00

Saturday 9: Somewhere Over Laredo (2025)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Laney Wilson namechecks Tito's Vodka. Is there a product you are very brand loyal to? (It doesn't have to be liquor. Maybe you always reach for Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, even if another soap is on sale.)

A. I used to be dedicated to Cheer Free detergent, but they quit making it, so now I use All Free and Clear. I also use Dove sensitive soap. Because of my asthma, fragrances make me ill.

2) The lyrics start with her in a window seat on a flight out of Houston. Do you prefer the window or the aisle?

A. My husband always wants an aisle seat. I don't really care.

3) She's dreaming of rodeo nights with the guy she loves. If you could spend this evening with anyone at all, anywhere at all, where would you go and who would be with you?

A. I would be with my husband, and we'd be in Paris, because, you know, why not?

4) Lainey is from Baskin, LA, population 200. Do you prefer big cities or small towns?

A. I have always preferred rural areas.

5) There's a Netflix documentary about Lainey called Keepin' Country Cool. What show have you recently streamed?

A. We just finished Season 3 of Reacher on Amazon Prime.

6) This week's song borrows liberally from "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," so much so that "Rainbow" songwriters Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg receive credit. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is the most beloved song from The Wizard of Oz. Can you name another?

A. "Ding dong, the witch is dead." Also "Follow the Yellow Brick Road."

7) In 2025, when this song was popular, more patients took advantage of telehealth than ever before. Have you ever had a virtual doctor visit?

A. I have had many virtual doctor visits. I find it a great way to deal with certain health concerns.

8) Also in 2025, smart home technology was integrated into more new home construction. Do you use smart devices to automate your lights, thermostat, or doorbell?

A. We do not use smart home devices. It's bad enough we have Alexa playing our music. I don't need my refrigerator, washing machine, or other appliances to talk to me, nor do I need to be able to change the thermostat in the house from 1500 miles away. And the day I am too sorry to get up and turn a light switch off or on, is the day that somebody comes and takes me away.

9) Random question – On which day are you happier: a) the day you take off on vacation or b) the day you return home from your trip?

A. It is always nice to get away, but it's also very nice to come home and put everything down. They are different kinds of happy.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Thursday Thirteen #980

2026-10-15T08:37:21.991-04:00

1. I have developed a thing for chewing gum. This started after some medication gave me something called "burning tongue" syndrome, which means exactly what it sounds like. I found that chewing gum helped. I stopped the medicine and that cleared up after a while, but the gum habit stayed.

2. My fingernails used to be the thing I gnawed on, but after more than 50 years of trying to stop, I gave it up immediately when Covid hit. "You might die if you touch this can in the grocery store and then put your finger in your mouth" apparently is a big impetus to end that kind of habit.

3. Now I pick at my fingernails sometimes. I keep them cut back very short and keep the cuticles cut, but the nails are permanently damaged from all of that biting. If I wasn't allergic to nail polish they might look better, but I have that particular allergy, so they are what they are.

4. When I was working for a law firm in 1988, I was told that I didn't dress well enough and needed to wear sexier clothes and high heels. I have flat feet that are troublesome and never could wear heels without a great deal of foot pain, so I went with nice flats most of the time. As for the sexier clothes, well, there are reasons why I stopped working there and that might be one of them.

5. I've been keeping a food journal for a month, and while I can see where I make mistakes, they aren't huge mistakes. Mostly I don't eat enough vegetables and fruit. According to something I found on the CDC, in 2019, 12.3% and 10.0% of surveyed adults met fruit and vegetable intake recommendations. So I am right in there with the majority of Americans.

6. Updated CDC information claims otherwise, though. A September 2026 report says "During August 2021–August 2023, 69.9% of adults consumed any fruit on a given day and 93.3% consumed any vegetables." Forgive me if I question anything put up by the government under the current administration.

7. My problem is I am not a cook. I don't like to cook, never have. I find playing with naked uncooked meat to be gross, and while I don't mind chopping vegetables, figuring out what to do with them next is always a head scratcher. Julia Child would have found me really interesting company if she wanted to talk about local politics or people in general, but incredibly boring if she wanted to talk about something like "Risotto ai funghi porcini." I don't even know how to pronounce that. (It's some kind of mushroom dish.)

8. Once when I was nine, the babysitter named Melinda stayed overnight. We got up the next morning and decided to fix breakfast for my parents, who had come home very late and were still asleep. She gave me the biscuit batter to stir, and recalling that when I last helped my mother make cookies that all of the batter had to be smooth with no lumps, I stirred and stirred and stirred that stuff. They came out flat as pancakes because I'd apparently beaten all the rise out of the biscuits. Did you know you could do that?

9. I did learn to make decent fudge. When I worked for the newspaper, I'd make about 15 pounds of chocolate goodness, make up nice gift boxes, and then go around and deliver fudge to anyone who'd been helpful to me throughout the year - county administration, the Circuit Court clerk's office, library folks - anyone who'd given me a tip or offered up a bit of information.

10. These days news reporters apparently get their tips from social media. Hard to give out boxes of fudge for that. The news was better when reporters used shoe leather. That's my personal opinion, of course, but maybe you think so, too.

11. Speaking of news, I don't have any personal news to speak of, except the car seat broke earlier in the month but we had it repaired this week.

12. This was the second time the seat has broken since 2023. I wonder if they fixed it back correctly the first time?

13. I only put about 6,000 miles a year on my vehicles, so even though its 12 years old, it's still low mileage. Things shouldn't be breaking but I guess age takes a toll on us all.

_________________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 980th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Space: The Final Frontier

2026-10-13T00:30:00.000-04:00

I took the pictures below on September 14. At that time, we had a young crescent moon showing with a very bright Venus on the right in the western sky. Lucky for me, according to space.com, Venus was almost at its brightest for the remainder of 2026 the evening I captured these shots.

On October 8, the Draconids were peaking after sunset. I set the camera to capture star trails and left it sitting pointing in one direction while I watched the sky in another.

Unfortunately, I didn't see any meteors and neither did the camera.

No matter. I think star trails are cool even when they don't show up well.

There is nothing like a little evening star watching to make you realize how little all the problems of the world really are.

Eastern Box Turtle

2026-10-12T15:56:44.636-04:00

As best I can tell, this little critter is an Eastern box turtle. It decided to take a tour of the driveway early one morning.

This is only the second time since we moved in 39 years ago that I've seen a turtle of any kind up here at the house, although we have snapping turtles down at the pond.

The eastern box turtle (terrapene carolina) is one of those small, steady creatures that quietly goes about its business in Virginia’s woods and pastures, never in a hurry or asking much of anyone. They’re long‑lived, stubborn in their routines, and oddly endearing. They are mainly terrestrial and will soak in mud or very shallow water, something we've not had much of here lately with our drought.

My husband thought the small reptile might have been drawn toward the house by the water from the hose where we had watered the flowers the night before.

I used a zoom on the camera to keep from scaring it and making it go into its shell.

Sunday Stealing

2026-10-11T00:30:00.000-04:00

Survey Asks . . .

1. What was the last gift you received?

A. The last gift I received was a special pen and journal from a friend.

2. Who did you last hang out with?

A. I last hung out with my husband, but I'm kind of hanging out with him most of the time. I hung out with a friend not long ago when we went to lunch, though.

3. Do you often lose the remote?

A. I am not in charge of the remote. The remote exists to please the man, and the man is in charge of the remote. Said remote in the man's hands has a tendency to run through the channels, up and down and up and down, until such time as wife finally snaps and says, "Would you please leave the TV on the same channel? You are making me crazy."

4. When did you last check Facebook?

A. Sometime today.

5. Are there scented candles in the room you're in?

A. There are no scented candles anywhere in my house. I am allergic to scented items.

6. Next time you leave the house, where will you be going?

A. I will either be going to the library, to physical therapy, or to the grocery store.

7. Do you know anyone named Steven or Stephen or Steve or Stevie?

A. I have cousins, one on my side and one on my husband's side, who are named as such.

8. Which do you prefer: macaroni salad or potato salad?

A. I prefer potato salad. My husband likes macaroni salad. But mine must not have onions. My stomach cannot handle onions.

9. Do you have an ice maker in your refrigerator door?

A. My ice maker is in the top of the refrigerator where ice makers belong.

10. When you woke up this morning, did you get up straightaway or lounge a bit?

A. When I wake up, I usually fix myself a nice cup of hot water and spend time at the computer reading the news. These days that is not such a pleasant pastime and one that I probably should wait to do until I've had my blood pressure medicine for the day. Good grief.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Big Girls Don't Cry

2026-10-10T00:30:00.000-04:00

Saturday 9: Big Girls Don't Cry (1962)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) When is the last time you shed a tear?

A. Just last night. We were watching an episode of JAG and it made me cry. Sometimes my eyes just leak a lot.

2) Lyricist/producer Bob Crewe recalled he got the idea for this song while watching a movie on TV. "Big girls don't cry" was a line from the 1956 film Slightly Scarlet. Give us a quote from another movie.

A. "You shall not pass!" - Gandalf to the Balrog in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

"They're taking the hobbits to Isengard!" Legolas in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

"My friends! You bow to no one." Aragorn to the hobbits in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

3) This inspiration came to Bob during the late night/early morning hours. What time of day are you most productive?

A. I seem to be most productive between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. It takes me a while to wind up and then I run out of steam.

4) Bob wrote another song for the Four Seasons, "Silence Is Golden." The band was not happy with their recording and never released it as a single. Three years later, The Tremeloes had an international Top 10 hit with "Silence Is Golden." Tell us about a decision you wish you could do over.

A. If I'd known then what I know now, I'd have had my hysterectomy when I was 24, the first time they did surgery for my endometriosis, instead of continuing to try to have children and ultimately experience five more surgeries before having hysterectomy at the age of 29. It was a lot to put my body through.

5) Before he got his big break, Four Seasons lead singer Frankie Valli worked as barber. Do you have a hair care appointment scheduled?

A. I do not have a hair care appointment scheduled. I probably won't have one until the last week of October.

6) Oscar-winning actor Joe Pesci has a connection to the band. He was a young chum of Four Seasons founding member Tommy DeVito. By the time DeVito left the group and found himself overwhelmed by gambling debts, Pesci was a star. He helped his friend out, making Tommy his personal assistant and getting him cameo roles in films. Tell us about someone who has been there for you in tough times.

A. My husband has been with me through many tough times. He's my rock. He's held my hand through infertility, through job changes, through college work, through family strife, and when I cry at movies. What more could you ask for?

7) The Four Seasons disbanded in 1977 after 17 years together. The original bandmates reunited onstage 1990 when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was an important night for them professionally and personally, too, as it gave the old friends a chance to reconnect and mend fences. Is there anyone from your past you wish you could reach out to?

A. Not really. I think the past is better off left where it's at.

8) Another hit song from 1962 was "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." Tony Bennett compares San Francisco to Rome, Paris and Manhattan. Have you visited any of those four cities?

A. I have been to Paris. I went in 1979 as part of a school trip. I still remember being completely entranced by this one painting in the Louvre; all I remember of it is a hand that was so translucent you could see the candlelight from a low flame shimmering on the skin. I don't know why that captivated me, but it did. I remember that better than I remember seeing the Mona Lisa.

9) Random question – You're home all alone. Do you close the door when you use the bathroom?

A. I close the door when someone is at home, including my husband. But if I am alone, I generally don't. For one thing, I live in a rural area and if anyone is looking in my windows, they are trespassing big time, and for another, I have the windows covered with sheers so no one would see anything anyway.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Bear Country

2026-10-09T12:44:17.391-04:00

Pulled this shot of a black bear in the backyard off of the game camera that I keep out there. It sits about 60 feet from the back door.

I wish I'd been looking outside when this animal came through!

Thursday Thirteen

2026-10-08T07:35:50.448-04:00

1. Last night at dinner, we watched acorns fall from the oak tree in the backyard. They fell constantly, dropping quickly, sometimes bouncing. One or two came with a leaf and delicately settled to earth. As we watched them, I began wondering about oak trees, so I asked Alexa for some facts.

2. Oaks belong to the genus Quercus, which includes roughly 450–475 species worldwide. They grow across the entire Northern Hemisphere, from Europe and Asia to North America, and even into high-altitude tropical regions.

3. An oak tree typically begins producing acorns (a nut partially enclosed in a cup) when it reaches about 20 to 50 years of age, depending on species and growing conditions. Open‑grown oaks (full sun, not crowded) often start in their late teens or twenties.

4. Forest‑grown oaks shaded by neighbors may not produce meaningful crops until they are 40 or 50 years old. Red oaks often begin producing acorns around 20–30 years. White oaks produce acorns when they are around 30–40 years old.

5. Oak leaves are simple and alternate, often lobed, though some species have smooth or toothed edges.

6. Oaks can be deciduous or evergreen, depending on species and climate.

7. They are exceptionally long-lived, with some individuals surviving well over 1,000 years.

8. Oak wood is strong and hard, widely used for construction, flooring, furniture, shipbuilding, and barrels.

9. White oak wood is water‑resistant and is ideal for making boats and barrels.

10. Oaks are ecological keystone species, supporting more than 950 species of caterpillars, plus numerous fungi, insects, birds, and mammals. Deer love to eat acorns.

11. Acorns were historically a major food source for cultures across North America, Asia, North Africa, and Europe.

12. Oak bark contains high levels of tannin, something traditionally used for tanning leather.

13. Nearly one-third of oak species are threatened with extinction due to climate change, invasive pests, and habitat loss. I had no idea they are a threatened species. I won't take oaks for granted anymore.

_________________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 979th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Fincastle Festival - September 24, 2026

2026-10-05T06:39:11.499-04:00

Sunday Stealing

2026-10-04T07:33:37.320-04:00

WHAT?

1. What are you currently excited about?

A. We've had some rain! Hurray!

2. What do you wish you had more time for?

A. I wish I had more time, period. I don't really have a reason.

3. What would you like to do less?

A. Housework.

4. What do you spend too much money on?

A. At the moment, I am spending too much money on food, but that's because of price increases, not because I am purchasing more.

5. What childhood wish never came true?

A. I thought about being an archeologist at one time.

6. What did you do to celebrate your last birthday?

A. I went to lunch with a friend.

7. What drives you nuts?

A. The way people drive.

8. What keeps you sane?

A. Reading and writing.

9. What historic date is etched in your memory?

A. 9/11 will always be etched in my memories. What a terrible day.

10. What one thing would make your life immeasurably better?

A. Losing weight, but I have hormone issues and hang on to it no matter how little I eat.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Eastbound and Down

2026-10-03T00:30:00.000-04:00

Saturday 9: Eastbound and Down (1977)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This week's song was featured in the movie Smokey and the Bandit, the surprise box office hit of 1977. Have you seen it?

A. I have seen this movie, but it has been many years ago.

2) Though not well received by critics, Smokey and the Bandit had one very famous fan: Alfred Hitchcock. The classic film director enjoyed re-watching the movie on video at home, often while having dinner. Do you ever watch TV with your meal?

A. We generally watch the local news when we have dinner. We are farmers. We like to know what the weather people predict (even if it's the same "no rain" day after day after day).

3) Jerry Reed not only wrote and performed the movie's theme, he appeared in the movie as truck driver Cledus "Snowman" Snow. Have you ever driven, or ridden in, a big rig?

A. I have ridden in my husband's dump truck, but not a tractor trailer.

4) He sings, "We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there." Have you recently felt rushed?

A. I almost always feel rushed. I have to make sure to add time for backups on the interstate due to blasting when I am driving.

5) Director Hal Needham asked Jerry Reed for a song that explained the plot of the movie. He wrote this overnight and always considered it a happy accident. Can you think of a time when something turned out better than you expected?

A. My concert experience with Melissa Etheridge turned out much better than I expected, since I actually was able to hug her at the end of the show.

6) Reed was born in Atlanta and, coincidentally, he mentions Atlanta in the lyrics. Has your hometown been immortalized in song?

A. My hometown has not been immortalized in song, as far as I know. Virginia couldn't even settle on a state song for years. It used to be "Carry Me Back to Ol' Virginia," but that has racist overtones and was demoted to "state song emeritus" in 1997. In 2015, the state government representatives finally settled on a song called "Our Great Virginia," (which I personally have never heard, not once). It is sung to the tune of "Oh Shenandoah." The state government also recognized "Sweet Virginia Breeze" as the official popular state song in the same year.

7) Jerry met Priscilla Mitchell at Capitol Records, where Jerry was a session musician and Priscilla was backup singer. Though she was only 18 when they wed, it seems their union was a happy one, and they were together until his death almost 50 years later. If a newly engaged 18-year-old asked you for advice, what would you say?

A. I would tell that newly engaged 18-year-old to give back the ring and go out and live a little before making such a momentous decision. I married at 20 and that was too young.

8) In 1977, when "Eastbound and Down" was on the radio, nostalgia for the 1950s topped the TV ratings. The two most popular shows that year were Laverne & Shirley and Happy Days. If you magically transported back to the 1950s, what do you think you'd like about it? What do you think you'd miss about your life in 2026?

A. If I were transported back to the 1950s, I doubt there would be much I would like, except maybe chocolate milkshakes and jukeboxes. I think the 1950s are highly overrated. I would miss all of the rights women now have, like being able to open a bank account, have a credit card without a male cosigner, and being able to buy property. I would also miss color TV.

9) Random question: Were you ever afraid of monsters in your closet or under your bed?

A. I was not afraid of monsters in the closet or under my bed, but that is because I had a ghost that came and sat at the foot of my bed at night.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Thursday Thirteen

2026-10-01T00:30:00.000-04:00

Here's something I haven't done in a while - a list of things on my desk.

1. My asthma inhaler. I keep one at my desk, one by the bed, one by the chair in the living room, one in the kitchen, and one in my purse. Some of them are out of date but I hang on to them until they are *really* out of date. They are expensive and if I'm going to have that many sitting around, I need to hold on to the expired ones.

2. A tin whistle. A friend gave me this for Christmas. I can play two octaves of scale on it, all of the normal learning songs like "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and even "Do Re Me" from The Sound of Music. Well, sort of.

3. A harmonica. I bought it at Cracker Barrel some time ago and occasionally pull it out and mess with it. I like to play "Big Rock Candy Mountain" on it.

4. A printed calendar. I used to print one that came from Microsoft 2003 Outlook, which I used for about two decades, and then suddenly the program stopped working (thank you Windows update). Now I use Google Calendar, which syncs with my phone calendar. But unlike the old Outlook calendar, which would print from whatever day I wanted, the Google Calendar only prints a month. My solution has been to draw a line through the weeks as they occur, even if I have to print a new calendar because of lots of changes, just so I can glance at it and see where I am. I also have a calendar hanging on the wall that I can simply glance up to see. Apparently, I have trouble knowing what day it is.

5. Extra Sugar Free Bubble Gum. This has become my go-to for trying not to eat, as well as for helping with sweet cravings. It's a little annoying to me that I am chewing this because it has aspartame in it and I've spent years trying to avoid that stuff. It's probably not good for me, but most things aren't by the time one passes over the 60 mark.

6. A note reminding me what I expect from government (federal, state, and local). It says, "Regulate Business. Provide a Basic Social Safety Net. Promote Infrastructure. Protect Civil Rights." That's it. Four things. Why is that so hard and so divisive?

7. Several Sharpie markers. I use them to mark through the weeks on the aforementioned printed calendar, among other things.

8. A fake Rubik's cube. I bought this over the summer, solved one side, sat it down, looked up the "answer" to solving it, decided I was too old to mess with it anymore, and every now and then I mess it up and solve one side again.

9. A book titled, Little Green Men, Meowing Nuns and Head-Hunting Panics: A Study of Mass Psychogenic Illness and Social Delusion. I do not have it to better understand the current state of society, although perhaps it might be enlightening, but instead because my great aunt is quoted in the book. The incident is called the Mad Gasser of Botetourt County, and my great aunt Ruth, and my great uncle Roy, were both witnesses to the incident. Only Aunt Ruth is quoted in the book. My great-great grandparents are also mentioned.

10. My "writer's notebook," which is a smallish notebook where I write down lines I like, thoughts that seem important at the time, and similar notions. I tend not to note where I found whatever I write down, but one will find things such as, "a cheap imitation of love," or "hurricanes are tornadoes that last hours and hours and drown you." Sometimes I have strange things written down, such as "mouth farts," which I assume must refer to a burp. Sometimes I have questions, such as, "Where is the doorway to yesterday's secrets?"

11. Six dictionaries and two thesauruses, the Associated Press Stylebook and The Chicago Manual of Style (15th edition). The last one is seriously out of date; Chicago's latest version is the 18th edition. Do I use them? Sometimes. It is easier though, to simply type in a word and learn its meaning now, especially when it comes to modern slang, and there's also thesaurus.com to help with that. Computers make people lazy, but at least I know how to find something when the internet eventually goes down.

12. A bottle of Elmer's Glue. Sometimes, I break things. Not intentionally, of course, but I have been known to drop something. A little Elmer's fixes it right up.

13. A magnifying glass. My eyeglasses are at the highest magnification they can be at without augmenting them in some fashion or another. Enough said about that!

What's on your desk?

_________________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 978th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

The Drought

2026-09-30T15:29:48.266-04:00

This is where a spring once ran out. This is the first time in the 42 years I've lived on this farm
that I have seen it dry.

This is what is left of the pond that the above spring fed into when it was running.

Before last summer, the water came all the way up to the post on the
left. One can see by the shape of the weeds and the changes in the
color of the grass where the water line used to be.

The above pictures indicate just how dry things have become in the watershed that feeds Carvins Cove, one of the water reservoirs that supplies the City of Roanoke and surrounding areas.

Carvins Cove is now nearly 18 feet low.

This spring fed into this pond, which fed into a larger pond below, which created what is known as Rulman's Branch. Rulman's Branch flows into Tinker Creek. A tunnel made under Tinker Mountain pulls water from Tinker Creek, when the water level is normal, so that the Cove has more water.

Most of the springs have all dried up on our farm, and we've had no rain to speak of, so there has been little water runoff into Rulman's Branch. The pond below this one, which I don't have a photo of, still has an active spring trickling water into it.

But that's not enough to keep things flowing further down the line.

Sunday Stealing

2026-09-27T00:30:00.000-04:00

Once again this week we aren't stealing, we're contributing! These are questions suggested by our "usual suspects." If you can, please take a moment and visit your fellow thieves.

DIY Meme

1. If you were trapped in a TV universe for a month, what TV show would you choose? (Kwizgiver)

A. I would like to be trapped in The West Wing for a month. At least then I would have some idea of what life would be like under a real leader, as well as get a feel for how things actually work in the hallowed halls of the federal government. Maybe I could be a protege of the great C. J. Craig (Allison Janney).

2. What song instantly revs you up and gets you going? (Annie)

A. Happy by Pharrell Williams and Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars. They make me Shake My Groove Thing.

3. Are you decorating your home for fall? (Lori)

A. Not much. I will change the flag outside in the flower bed by the door to something more suitable for fall.

4. How do you treat a cold? (Syl)

A. Very gingerly and with great caution. Mostly a cold takes lots of tissues, some antihistamine, hot water, chicken soup, and a good book.

5. What insignificant thing would you be genuinely annoyed if you lost it or it was taken from you? (Lisa)

A. My printed-out calendar. I know I have a calendar on my phone, and I have a calendar on my computer, and a calendar on the wall, but it's the printout of the calendar on the computer that I check every day (it syncs with my phone) to see where I am supposed to be or what I'm supposed to be doing. Obviously, it's not necessary but I like the paper and having it right next to me where I can see it.

6. What place do you remember vividly, even though you haven't been there in years? (Country Dew)

A. I remember Myrtle Beach very vividly, as I have been there a lot. However, my memories are the Myrtle Beach of old, with an arcade and board walk and multiple putt-putt golf courses, not the Myrtle Beach of today that has only remnants of that and is instead more of a shopping destination with golf courses for the people who play golf.

7. Do you have a favorite Dolly Parton song or story? (Roger)

A. I have a memory of my mother cleaning up the kitchen and singing Coat of Many Colors that stands out for me. I was just coming from my bedroom, and she seemed calm and happy, just wiping at the counters and singing along with Dolly. I stood and watched her until she felt my presence, and then she stopped and turned around. I was sorry I interrupted her.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

__________

I encourage you to visit other participants in Sunday Stealing posts and leave a comment. Cheers to all us thieves who love memes, however we come by them.

Saturday 9: Don't Take Your Love

2026-09-26T00:30:00.000-04:00

Saturday 9: Don't Take Your Love from Me (1956)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Doris Day sings about what happens when you take a petal from a rose. When did you last get or give flowers as a gift?

A. I sent someone flowers a while back.

2) This song is about a woman who fears losing her love. What's the most recent thing you lost? (Hopefully it's not as consequential as a great love. It could be as small or unimportant as the back of one of your pierced earrings.)

A. I lost hope. It weighs nothing but it's a heavy thing to lose.

3) Doris was known as The All-American Girl Next Door. Who lives next door to you?

A. I don't exactly have a next door, but the houses closest to me on each side are occupied by nice families, each with two children.

4) As a young girl, Doris Day was passionate about dance. She recalled that concentrating on her lessons helped distract her from the pain and embarrassment of her parents' divorce. When you want to escape from what's troubling you, what do you do?

A. I play loud rock music on my guitar or lose myself in a book.

5) The maître d' at one of Doris' favorite restaurants wanted to ask her out. Knowing how she loved her dogs, he impressed her by handing her a bag of meat scraps and bones to take home. They began dating and, in 1976, he became her last husband. What's the best way to your heart?

A. Well, it wouldn't be with meat scraps. Ick. I would require chocolate something and intelligent conversation.

6) Over her long career, Doris received Golden Globe and Grammy Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was also inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, honored for being one of the most celebrated women to have been born there. Name a famous person born in your home state.

A. Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady of Song and a jazz singer and songwriter, was born in Newport News, Virginia in 1917.

7) She was frank about her financial difficulties, yet some people are uncomfortable discussing money. Are you one of those people?

A. I don't think my finances are anyone's business but my own.

8) In 1956, when Doris released this song, The Wizard of Oz was shown on network TV for the first time. What movie have you seen multiple times?

A. I have seen The Wizard of Oz many times. I've also seen The Lord of the Rings, Steel Magnolias, Under the Tuscan Sun, Practical Magic, and Grease multiple times. There are others, too, such as The Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, and It's a Wonderful Life, that I've seen more than once.

9) Random question: Would you rather have a chef or a chauffeur?

A. I would rather have a chef. I absolutely do not like to cook.

_______________

I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.

Thursday Thirteen

2026-09-24T00:30:00.000-04:00

Things I’m Tired of Pretending I Like

1. Group conversations of any kind. I don’t need multiple people talking at me at once, in person or on a screen.

2. Scented anything. If it’s not the smell of cookies baking, I don’t want it in my house or on my person.

3. Apps that think they know better than I do. Autoplay, autosync, autocorrect. It's all just auto‑nonsense.

4. Coffee. I’ve tried. I still think it tastes like burnt dirt. I’m also pretty sure the last latte I had gave me gallstones.

5. Autumn orange everywhere. Pumpkins look great as jack‑o‑lanterns, but they don’t belong in spice, lotion, candles, or anything else pretending to be festive.

6. German chocolate cake. I know it says it’s chocolate, but it doesn’t do much for me. It's a little bitter or something.

7. Tech updates that rearrange everything. I didn’t ask for a scavenger hunt. Why do my browsers have to update every other day?

8. People who say “I’ll circle back” or "I'll call you later." Just say you’re not doing it.

9. Animals. Yes, puppies are cute. Kittens are adorable. A little baby calf clicking its heels in the field is lovely. But they all shed dander and make me sneeze. They're nice to look at but I don't want them near me. (And yes, I know, I live on a farm.)

10. Loud noises. Sudden bangs, blaring TVs, people who shout instead of talk, fireworks, etc. My nerves are not built for any of it.

11. Social events that require “mingling.” I prefer conversations that don’t feel like speed dating.

12. Fancy kitchen gadgets. A knife and a pan do 90% of the work anyway.

13. The idea that everyone must love summer. Some of us are happier when the humidity stops trying to kill us.

_________________

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while, and this is my 977th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday. Or so sayth the Blogger counter, anyway.

Keeping Time

2026-09-23T14:51:30.340-04:00

I was in the car earlier listening to music from my cell phone, and I started hitting the steering wheel as I kept time to the beat.

My mind went back to another time, when I was eight years old. Back then, kids didn't have to sit in car seats or wear seat belts or whatever. I could climb from front to back over and over again if I wanted.

But my father was driving and he didn't put up with much messing around, so I was sitting up straight trying to peer over the dash.

We were on a windy old crooked road heading home. Dad drove fast, and he ended up behind an old beat up pickup truck.

He tailgated it. Then he pointed to the man in the truck. "See how his hand is moving? He's keeping beat to a song."

I peered over the dash and nodded. I could barely make it out, because I was so little and short, but I caught the flash of movement.

Dad said, "Let's see if we can find what song he's listening to."

He turned on the radio and switched stations until he landed on a song that had the same beat as the hands of the man in the truck.

"See?" Dad said, his own hands now hitting at the wheel. "Feel the beat of the music? You can tell a song just from the beat."

I nodded, although I really didn't see because I couldn't see the man in the pickup's hands anymore, but I could see my father's. It was always easier to agree.

"Now you do it," Dad said. And so I started tapping on the dash to the beat of the song.

Tap, tap.

"Keep it in time," Dad said.

Tap. Tap.

"There you go, you got it."

We tapped the rhythm to ourselves, along with the oblivious fellow in front of us, the rest of the way home.

Back to today, driving home and listening to my own music, I thought about how now I could never pull up to a car and watch some person tapping out a song and know what they were listening to, not with Sirius XM and cell phones with Apple Music and multiple radio stations and everything. By the time I found the beat, the song would be over, if I ever found it at all.

What a different world we live in, one all mixed up with multiple choices in everything from music to television shows to social media. Nobody lives in the same place anymore.

I'm not so sure that's a good thing.