Fall Is Peaking

This is the nicest Fall I can remember since arriving in the Atlanta area a little over 20 years ago. The trees and shrubbery are at their peak colors and have been for some time. While we've had a few nights down around 30-degrees, there have been no real cold snaps (knock on wood) and no strong winds to shake the leaves to the ground. So they just stay up there: proud, beautiful and dazzling in the string of sunny, upper-60's degree days that have blessed us.

For the last few days I've been aching to get some exercise but have been tied to the house while we've had some remodeling done. But today I finally escaped and took a six-mile "walk-about" around Flowery Branch followed by a quick 15-mile bike ride. Absolutely refreshing.

Before the nice scenery at the house vanishes when "old man winter" comes blasting through, I thought I'd share what I saw as I walked around the house yesterday.

A sourwood next near our bedroom window 

Pyracantha on the front of our house

Looking into the ravine on the side of our property

A view from the woods in back - I hope it never gets developed

The fall garden is still going strong - the finished deck provides a nice place to sit in the late afternoon

Visits to Savannah and Columbus

Susan and I spent most of last week on the road in Savannah and Columbus, GA. Unfortunately I didn't take many photos.

Waiting for Hunter's to open for business

Susan had a conference in Savannah and I tagged along. We drove down on Sunday and I took my bike in the hopes of getting in a few miles. I rained all day Monday but I managed to ride in town on Tuesday and took a long ride around Wilmington Island on Wednesday. Thursday morning I headed home, loaded up Susan's bike, and early Friday morning was on my way to Columbus, GA for three days of riding at Bike Fest.
http://brag.org/bikefest2.html

Susan caught a ride with a co-worker from Savannah to Columbus on Friday but arrived too late to join me in a quick and easy 40-miler. On Saturday we rode 48-miles on a loop through rural Alabama and then went to the greatest little steakhouse in Harris County: Hunter's Pub and Steakhouse. It might not look like much but it is well worth the trip and the wait. The grill was broken so while they fixed it we were given complimentary drinks and met many interesting patrons, most of whom were regulars:    https://www.facebook.com/hunterspub

Susan hanging out at the "main entrance" of Hunter's Pub and Steakhouse

On Sunday morning we finished off the weekend with a 40-mile ride through Fort Benning before heading home.

The fall garden is coming along nicely, keeping us well supplied with collards and turnip greens. Cabbage is coming up and the summer eggplant is still producing. It will be time to make eggplant parmesian sometime this week.

About two weeks ago we had a couple of cold days and there hasn't been a hummingbird at the feeder since. But that's about the time they are gone, although once and a while a straggler will come through. Today is the last warm (upper 70's) day we will have for a while. Rain is coming in tonight ahead of a cold front and then it won't get out of the 50's for a couple of days. That's OK, the sweaters are nearby and the furnace is all checked out.

What? It's October Already?

September 11, 2011 - St. Joseph, Michigan

The first day of October welcomed us Georgians with a good dose of Fall weather: lows in the 40's, highs in the 60's, and cloudless skies. I'd like to talk about about all the outdoor activities Susan and I did around the house this weekend, but that will have to be a later blog entry.

So where did August and September go? I last blogged in early August and suddenly my calendar flipped into October. I guess I was having too much fun so now please indulge me while I play catch up.

Happy Birthday Virgil!

Susan's dad turned 80 on August 25th so on the previous weekend we helped him celebrate his birthday. That Friday we drove to Jacksonville Beach and spent the night with Gary and Luann, Susan’s brother and sister-in-law, at their beach front condo that has excellent views of the Atlantic Ocean. Fresh air, a stroll on the beach, and a nice dinner topped off the day. On Saturday Gary drove us all to Virgil’s and Donna’s home in Largo, Florida for the celebration. 

Gary, Susan, Virgil and Daven “pull’ the pork from a smoked ham shoulder that Susan and I picked up at the "Creemee" in Unadilla, Georgia. The Creemee was once owned and operated by Virgil’s family and still offers the best BBQ in the Southeast.

Donna and Virgil check out the memory album

Luann organized a memory book for Virgil that included notes and photos from all his children and grandchildren. A very nice gesture, Luann, and greatly received by both Virgil and Donna. Also joining in the celebration was Virgil's youngest son's  family: Daven, Helen, Claudia and Henry; and Donna's daughter's family: Melisa, Dennis, Tyler, Caitlin and Isabella.  

Let's go racing, boys!

The Newton Boys of Bristol: Derek, Dad, Alex, Dana, Dennis and David Zoppa

Christy and Alex catch a few rays at Bristol Motor Speedway

A few days after returning home from Florida I was on my way to Bristol, Tennessee to meet my boys, Dennis, Derek and Dana. Twice a year they pull a travel trailer down from Michigan for the NASCAR races at Bristol's Thunder Valley. This year was special for me because they brought down grandson, Alex, and Christy who spent the first two days with us. Christy’s dad, David, drove over from Knoxville and we all went to the Wednesday’s modified car race.





On Thursday we made our annual trek to the Blue Hole before David, Christy and Alex went back to Knoxville for a few days. Alex was introduced to the cold, mountain fed waterfall but it didn't bother him one bit. What a trouper.

Later the three "big" boys set up their ropes and rappelled down the rocks cliffs facing the Blue Hole. 

Newt's 50th High School Class Reunion

Bruce Smith, a high school buddy, join Susan and I at the reunion

The weekend after Labor Day I drove up to Saint Joseph, Michigan for my 50^th high school class reunion. Susan flew up and back due to work commitments. Since this was a milestone event the reunion committee worked extra hard to get has many classmates to attend as possible. Their efforts were met with success. The three days of fun filled activities was one of the largest reunions to date. There was ample time to visit and renew friendships again. On Friday we had a dinner-dance, Saturday was a bus (in a school bus) tour of the area followed by a bonfire-buffet, and on Sunday a wrap-up brunch on Lake Michigan next to the Saint Joseph River.

Happy 40th Birthday, Derek!

Alex help his dad blow out the candle on his "Jeff Gordon" race car cake

The next BIG event was Derek’s 40^th birthday celebration in late September. Now I have two boys in their 40’s. Unfortunately I missed the big party that Christy organized for him so I’ll have to give him his forty whacks at a later date. It was a huge get-together in a local sports bar so they could watch the NASCAR race. Both his brothers, his Aunt Annie, Uncle Chat, and Aunt Jean, plus many, many friends celebrated with him.

Louie's 70.3 Ironman

Susan, Naomi and I wrapped up the month of September by watching Naomi's hubby, Louie, participate in a huge Ironman competition in Augusta, Georgia. For those not familiar with a "70.3", it is a triathlon on steroids: swim 1.2 miles, bicycle 56 miles, and run 13.1 miles. We had a great view of him swimming away from the competition by looking down from the 5th Street bridge over the Savannah River. We caught a great glimpse of him heading out on the bike segment which took him into South Carolina and out of view for a couple of hours. Ample opportunities to cheer him on were available during the run in downtown Augusta. Louie placed 8th out of the 300+ competitors in his 25-29 age group and 75th out of 3000+ entrants. Way to go Louie.

Louie leads the way out of the swim-bike transition area as Naomi and Susan cheer him on.

More Garden Produce

Susan's amazing garden just keeps on producing, in spite of the hot days we've experienced this summer. Even though it has been relatively dry we've only had to water a couple of times, using water from the dehumidifier and HVAC unit or rain water collected in buckets whenever possible.

We're pretty excited about the eggplant that Susan started from seed. There are about 7 or 8 on one plant with still a few flowers blooming. Later this week the taste test will take place when I make eggplant parmigiana.

The tomato plants have slowed due to the heat and the cukes have given up but other veggies keep producing. Green beans, okra, and even small watermelons (sweet but seedy) have been on our table  most evenings.

Potatoes were another surprise. Susan just cut up so old store-bought taters that weren't fit to eat anymore and they produced enough for a few meals. We tried them yesterday and I forgot how delicious fresh potatoes could taste. The yellow squash and zucchini quit producing a couple of weeks ago but we just now harvested acorn squash, butternut squash, a couple of onions and some turnips. Turnip greens, one of Susan's favorite, are aplenty, and she usually eats them 2 or 3 times a week.

Interspersed in this basket of our acorn and butternut squash are some pears from middle Georgia. Susan spent a few days in the Macon area and the lady who managed the continental breakfast at the hotel always picked pears from her own trees and brought them in for the guests. When Susan complimented her on how wonderful they tasted the lady brought in a large bag of pears for Susan to take home. Y'all just don't get that touch of kindness in the big city.

We didn't do a large herb garden this year but the basil and lemon basil plants are healthy and add flavor to many of our dishes.


Susan is now thinking about what to plant next. One nice thing about living in the South is you get more than one growing season. I'll keep you posted on that experiment.

The Sights Of Summer

OK, I know, it was only "officially" summer a few days ago on the summer solstice, but it has been hot and humid and very summer like down here "on the fringes" for weeks.

I don't know what Susan did this year versus last year but the garden is producing a bounty of veggies. Tomatoes, cukes, peppers, squash, green beans are ripening almost as fast as we can pick them. Watermelon should be ready in a few weeks and we're still waiting for the okra to bloom.












A few weeks ago we were going out of town so Susan went to take her hanging plant in off the porch so it wouldn't dry out in the hot sun. To her surprise a bird flew out and she found a Carolina Wren's nest with eggs in  it. So we left the hanging basket to survive the best it could and give the birds a chance. Soon they hatched, were well attended by their parents, and then bravely, but wobbly, flew off into the great unknown.

It was very dry for weeks and weeks but lately we've had a few late afternoon thunderstorms that's more typical for this time of year. Here the sky announces an impending storm.

No new pictures but I'm still getting a bike ride in whenever possible. I had one nice, hot, 4+ hour, 65-mile ride on June 18, at the Jackson County Brevet and today Susan and I knocked out a quick one-hour, 17-mile ride to start of this fine Sunday morning.