On the Way Home

I took the scenic route.

The conference finished up just before noon, and I was at loose ends. Too late for church. Husfriend at work. Was trying to avoid the horrific situation at in the basement.

So I decided to take the back way home. The WayBack way. I drove Rt. 33 and Rt. 14 back to Parkersawfulburg. You know, I didn't get carsick at all until I was in the dairy section of WalMart. Hm.

Aaanyway, it was great. I drove my little car around those turns and listened to my music and smiled the whole time. So beautiful.

I saw a sign for "Historic Buffalo Log Church" and thought, hey, that's for me. I turned onto a one-lane patchwork paved road and looked around.

A house.

I decided I would go a mile and if I didn't see it, I'd turn back. At one mile, there was an old couple (yes, they were actually old, not relatively old, and I'm only mentioning it because they passed me later in a flurry of gravel) unloading their four-wheeler and strapping on their helmets (so cute). The gentleman told me it was three miles ahead, which was confirmed by the sign he pointed to that read: Buffalo Church 3 miles.

Let me tell you. Just after that sign, the road turned to gravel and got steep. Not Dolly Sods steep or Pickens steep, but, yeah, it was intense. There were cows. There were bulls. And calves. In the woods. It was so dappled and lovely, even with storm clouds threatening. You should have seen it.

Then the church at the top, on a ridge.







I need to find that man and ask why the Log Church wasn't made of logs, but that's another post.

There was this:



There was a huge spider. Yes, I left the door open a crack.



This:


Oh, yes, they did...

And this:


The event was already past, but, look, it says they need donations. So help out, if you feel inclined.

And to cap it all off, I saw a scarlet tanager. Excellent drive.

Road Ride x 2

I went on two--TWO!--road rides this weekend. Greedy? Perhaps. Selfish? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.



I was so happy yesterday. If Chris Carmichael showed up (but why would he show up? I don't know; it's a hypothetical. Focus.), I think I would've smooched him. On his face. That's how happy. I don't want to jinx anything, but I'm pretty excited about the upcoming year of cycling. 'Cuz it's only February, dude. Two rides. In two days. Mmm-hmm.

And the sun! The sun was so bright on Friday, I had a semi-permanent wrinkle between my eyebrows. Also, I couldn't look directly at my safety shirt. For obvious reasons. Hey. It's saved my life, probably a hundred times. At least. Don't hate.


I think there are so many little things that make riding at this time of year so lovely. For one, it's nice to not be all slimy and hallucinating from the 90% humidity. And to be able to breath. Gee, that's nice.


On the other hand, with the leaves off the trees and with me wearing my slightly garish safety shirt, it's a little challenging to find good spots for a bathroom break. TMI? Tough, that's the hard truth. Which has me wondering: I know how the male pro-cyclists relieve themselves on long rides, but, uhm, what about the female pros? Anyone know this? I'm a little afraid to research it.

February has been my second-favorite month (it's so hard to pick!) for some years now. There are all these small, subtle, almost-sneaky changes happening for Spring. The sun tilts differently. Birds start singing differently. I think it even smells different. And no one seems to love it but me. Sad. I think it is so dynamic and exciting, with this electric undercurrent buzzing and humming away.

And, you don't have to mow the grass.

Still

I'm thankful for my husband. When I whine that I have no sled, he doesn't tell me to grow up or warn that I'll get hurt. He only reminds me we don't have a hill :)

Took Slarty for a walk tonight as it was getting dark. (Does it ever get dark when there's snow on?) We went to the next neighborhood, a"holler". We heard voices and noticed there were some people high on one hillside, burning a bonfire. With the backdrop of bare trees, the gray light, the white snow, the fire all above us, I was quite struck. It reminded me of this story I read on Granny Sue's blog. I wanted to hike up there and see if February was sitting on the highest perch. It was a very Grimm's-Fairy-Tales sort of a walk.

Snow & Redecorating

We are on another snow day (yesssss!). I just love the peaceful mornings moving at my own pace. I am not a morning person but I do love mornings. I just need to creep along at my slug's pace, absorbing coffee, until eleven or so. Then I'm good.



Anyhow, one of the hardware mega-giants is having a paint sale. Now, those of you who know me are probably aware of how I detest the rose-patterned wall paper in my kitchen/dining room/bike shop. Sigh. For seven years I have detested it. Where does the time go? This is way over-due.

The problem is, I have such a hard time deciding what color to go with. If it's taken this long to paint the first time, how long will it take to re-paint??

But the sale..... I have to act fast. The room faces eastish. The so-called experts recommend a warm-toned hue.

source

I've been thinking about this color on some or all the walls of our living room since an impromptu drive to the ocean a couple of Aprils ago. Have you been to the Eastern Shore in April? When the skies are gray, the wisteria blooming in the crowns of the tallest trees, the sand glowing, somehow, the water this color? Well, you should.

source

so, after two days of mulling and slugging around, that's what I got, yo. I know. This is why it's taking seven years. Sigh. The journey, the journey, I'm enjoying the journey.

Me 'n' my furfriend are going out into the snow for a bit, now. Ciao.

Happy Valentines Day!

Do You Think This Is Funny?

Because I don't. Well, maybe just a little. This is what happened yesterday.



Me: "La la la, I think I'll get the mail. Because that's one of the things people do. Get their mail. Hm hm hm, do do do."





Me: La, la, la (yelp!)






Okay, the backstory is (before you go lecturing about how this is the kind of thing that happens when your mailbox has no door) that the mail carrier knocked off the door. With her firm technique, with the car, we don't know. Greg buys new mailbox. Carrier rips off door. Greg makes decree: "There shall, from this day forward, be no door on yon mailbox". (Incidentally, the very day this happened, I saw our very responsible neighbors' mailbox door laying on the ground--the latest victims).

So, I think I will leave the nest in there for a while. You know. Just to see what happens. It's one of my social experiments...

Another Snow Day...

...and just like that she started blogging here instead of there. Which is a relief. To me, anyway. Hello, everyone.

Lots of things are piling up to make this a weird day. Firstly, the time change. I remembered it was happening until it actually was time to set the clocks forward. Then I forgot. Typical. So when I woke up this morning (late), I had to figure out if all the clocks were on time because they ALL automatically reset themselves or because they ALL didn't reset themselves...So I'd know if I was a half-hour late or an hour and a half. Oh, boy, won't my carpool buddy be pleased!

But, as it turned out, it didn't matter. Church was canceled. Actually, it was canceled last night but we were on the phone so...yeah. Suddenly, I'm no longer late but *early*. Back to bed?

NO! We went for a walk. I really need to get Slarty some boots for this. I'm certain we have the worst weather anywhere. You heard me. Anywhere. We have floods but are still considered to be in a drought. We have low humidity, but it's in the winter so your skin cracks off and blows away. We have warm weather but then, of course, it's super-humid. Most of the winter is cold rain, but then, when you're ready for spring: a big snowstorm. I shouldn't complain. That drought last summer was glorious, and I should be content, fingers crossed for another.

Anyhow we went out and it was like this:



So I decided to make these:



A little burned and gooey-centered, but it's only the second time I've made 'em. And since I don't make English muffins every day, I had to gut the pantry to find the yeast. So I reorganized it. Because I had to take everything out anyway. How long does 'Flaked Hominy' last?



So for the rest of the day, I think I'll be shockingly irresponsible and write some stuff and maybe draw some stuff, watch a movie I borrowed from the library, a totally dowdy British chick-flick. Hope and pray for school to be canceled tomorrow!