Tree Lines, Sky Lines, and Power Lines

Took a trip on the utility vehicle across the top of the hill on the farm the other day to check on things. I snapped these shots whilst riding along, so they aren't of anything particular. Just some different views.

 

What's left of the forest behind the house.

 

 

Before the logging in 2007, this was a much thicker stand of trees.

 

 

Blue skies!

 

 

Lots of thistle up top. There were butterflies everywhere but I did not stop for photos.

 

 

 

On a clear day, I can see forever. Or at least to the first mountain.

 

 

 

I love the rolling hills.

 

 

Power line and fence.

 

 

Note the two butterflies in the middle of the photo.

 

 

This large power line traverses the farm.

 

 

The tree line of the forest behind my house as seen from the west.

Sunday Stealing

From Sunday Stealing



Q. Would you ever cheat on someone if they cheated on you?

A. No.

Q. Would you ever consider becoming a teacher?

A. I was working on that before I became ill. I managed it for a while.

Q. Would you ever give a hitch-hiker a ride somewhere?

A. Generally no, because I would be alone. Being female, that is not safe. But if I were with my husband in his pick up, we might let someone ride in the back.

Q. Would you ever try fasting for a whole week?

A. I didn't intentionally try it, but when I first got sick I went a whole week without eating anything other than chicken broth because I couldn't stand anything else. It was a great weight loss plan.

Q. Would you ever try to quit one of your addictions?

A. Yes. But so far chocolate and I are still best friends.

Q. Would you ever dye your hair purple?

A. If it were for a good cause. It'll grow out and you can always recolor.

Q. Would you ever spend $100 for the best tasting hamburger in the world?

A. No.

Q. Would you rather chew gum off the ground or kill a squirrel?

A. What kind of question is that? I would not do either.

Q. Would you rather play Monopoly or Operation?

A. Monopoly.

Q. Would you rather eat chocolate or fruity candies?

A. Seeing as how I am a chocoholic, I guess we know the answer to that one.

Q. Would you rather listen to one CD forever or become deaf?

A. These are terrible choices and I refuse to make them.

Q. Would you rather be deaf or blind?

A. Once again, I refuse to answer.

Q. Would you rather text or talk on the phone?

A. Talk on the phone.

Q. Would you rather spend a day with Lady Gaga or Miley Cyrus?

A. Um. Are those really my only choices?

Q. Would you rather learn to play piano or guitar?

A. I already know how to do both!

Q. Would you rather have a stomach-ache or headache?

A. I have had a perpetual, disabling stomach-ache for over a year now. I'd just as soon do away with pain, if that's okay.

Q. Would you rather be overly interesting or overly dull?

A. Interesting.

Q. Would you rather be too loud or too quiet?

A. Quiet. Although I'm not sure you can be overly interesting and too quiet at the same time.

The View From Mill Mountain

Mostly what you can see from the overlooks at Mill Mountain is The City of Roanoke.

 

Roanoke, formerly known as Big Lick, became the Town of Roanoke in 1882 and then a city two years later. The railroad brought the area its fortune in the 20th century and for many years it was known as a "railroad town."

 

The Roanoke River bisects the city, as does the train tracks. The city has a population of over 97,000 people, making it the largest metropolitan area west of Richmond and the commercial hub of Southwestern Virginia.

 

I am not a city girl and I do not venture into Roanoke very often. I remember the downtown of my youth as a vibrant and alive place, with various shops and movie theaters. The city now has a market area which offers shops and restaurants.

 

 

The city to the south of its center.

 

 

Roanoke is surrounded by mountains, and this billboard at The Roanoke Star names them.

 

 

 

This is the heart of Roanoke. The tallest structure is the Wells Fargo building (the one with the copper roof). It was originally called the Dominion Tower. It was built by a bank and has changed hands as the banks have rolled over.

 

 

This is a shot of Tinker Mountain, which is about 12 miles from Roanoke. We live on the other side of Tinker Mountain.

 

 

Another shot of downtown. The road snaking through is an interstate.

 

 

More of the city to the south of downtown.

 

 

The upper right shows the Catholic Church. It is currently undergoing renovation.

 

 

It's rather sobering to see all of those house tucked among the trees down there, isn't it.

 

 

It takes a lot of space to house nearly 100,000 people.

 

 

This was my favorite shot that I took last week when I was on Mill Mountain.

 

 

 

 

Haze frequently hides the mountains.

 

 

A closer look at the Wells Fargo building. To the right and a little to the rear, before you get to the Catholic Church, is Hotel Roanoke.

 

 

 

Hullabaloo was rampant when Dominion Bank built this structure. Nothing in Roanoke is accomplished without lots of complaining and doomsday talking.

 

 

 

This is the Taubman Museum. It was also controversial, and I tend to come down on the side of the folks who don't like it. I think it looks like a spaceship landed in the middle of the city. It is a lovely structure but it was put in the wrong place.

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Mine Would Be You(recommended by Kathy W)

If you're not familiar with today's song, you can hear it here.

1) The lyrics mention his respect for "90 proof and Marlboro Red." What was your most recent drink? When was your last cigarette?

A. My most recent drink was a root beer that I had on Friday. My last cigarette was sometime when I was a teenager, around 1980, when I tried smoking and failed miserably at it. I lead a terribly prudish and boring life.

2)  They also reference "singing like crazy fools." What's the last song you sang?

A. Starry Starry Night (Vincent) by Don McLean.

3) Blake Shelton won a Grammy for his performance of this song. Crazy Sam won the award for "most improved bowler" when she was in third grade, and it's now in a closet somewhere. Do you have any trophies? If so, where are they?

A. I don't think I have any trophies. I won a certificate for the classroom spelling bee when I was in the 5th grade. It's in a file folder with my high school diploma, I think.

4) Blake is currently on tour. The merchandise sold at concerts brings in big money for the artist. Do you have any tour memorabilia (like a poster or t-shirt)?

A. Can't say that I do. My husband has his ticket from a Rolling Stones concert. Does that count?

5) In addition to The Voice, Shelton is on TV a lot with his Pizza Hut commercials. What chain restaurant is nearest your home? Do you eat there?

A. The absolute closest chain restaurant would be a Subway. I eat there maybe once every two years or so. There's a Papa Johns right next to it and I never eat there.
 

6) Shelton has a million-seller CD called Cheers! It's Christmas! What's the first Christmas carol to pop into your head this hot summer Saturday?

A. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

7) Shelton and Miranda Lambert were married in front of 550 guests. Do you enjoy weddings?

A. I haven't been to one in a very long time.

8) The wedding took place on a big Texas ranch. Have you spent much time on a farm or a ranch?

A. I live on a farm! I've spent about 45 years on a farm.

9) In 2013 he helped organize a relief benefit concert for victims of the Oklahoma tornados. Tell us about a charity you support.

 

A. I give money every year to Mount Union Cemetery, a nonprofit corporation, which oversees the graveyard where my mother is buried. This helps ensure that the grounds are mowed and things are properly kept up. I urge everyone to donate to local cemeteries so that the graves of loved ones are maintained. A few dollars can make a big difference.

 

The Mill Mountain Star

Wednesday my husband had physical therapy in Roanoke, and I decided to drive up to the big star on the mountain while I was killing time.

 

This is now called The Roanoke Star, but I have always known it as the Mill Mountain Star. Mill Mountain is the name of the mountain upon which it sits, after all.

 

Roanoke sometimes is called The Star City, and this big neon structure is why. This the largest man-made star in the world.

 

 

The star was built long before I was born, so it has always been a beacon. When I was a child and we were coming home from vacations, seeing the star meant we were home.

 

 

 

For a while, the star glowed red at night when someone died in a traffic accident. That was a very long time ago, when I was a child. Sometimes it is a patriotic red, white, and blue. Mostly I think it glows white, though.

 

 

 

I had not been up to the star in many years. I was the only person there Wednesday morning. It was a bit chilly and I gloried in the silence and the natural surroundings.

 

 

 

This is the back side of the star. I thought I'd take a picture of that because most people don't.

 

 

 

There was debris hanging in the metal.

 

At the base of the star is an overlook where you can take photos of Roanoke. Of course I did that and will share those soon.

 

There is a "star cam" where you can see people on the overlook. You can access it online at the link. I suppose if anyone were looking at it Wednesday morning, they would have seen me out there.

Thursday Thirteen

Robin William's suicide saddened me. It did not surprise me because I'd read about his issues with addiction and depression. I am glad that this seems to have opened a dialogue about mental illness, but unfortunately we have become a nation that talks, not one that does. So I doubt that any appropriate actions will take place. The government will not send more money to mental health facilities, schools will not set up screenings for depression, nor will other appropriate interventions take place. We will talk about it until the next media event comes and then, just like when the murders in Sandy Hook forced a dialogue about gun control, we will move on and do nothing.

I have no doubt that on the same day Robin Williams killed himself, so did someone else. That person, being just a regular nobody, will be grieved by a few. I'm not saying that is right or wrong, but I do wonder about the hero worship that goes on in our society. Shouldn't every life have value?

Here is a list of 13 famous women who have committed suicide. I took these from a very long list on Wikipedia. I was only able to get into the "Ds" before I stopped at 13. While the main list at the link is largely dominated by males, I believe the myth that women seldom commit suicide is just that - folklore. I think women commit suicide as frequently as men, but there is a greater stigma about it for females. Also, it's a patriarchal world where only the men matter, so their deaths have always made the headlines.


1. Gia Allemand (2013), American actress, model, and reality television contestant, known for her appearances on the shows, The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love and Bachelor Pad, hanging.

2. Diane Arbus (1971), American photographer, overdosed on pills and slashed wrists

3. May Ayim (1996), German author, jumped from 13th floor of a Berlin building

4. Nikki Bacharach (2007), Daughter of Burt Bacharach and Angie Dickinson, suffocated using plastic bag and helium

5. Amelie "Melli" Beese (1925), German pioneer aviatrix, gunshot

6. Mary Kay Bergman (1999), American voice actress, shotgun

7. Clara Bloodgood (1907), American Broadway actress; gunshot.

8. Isabella Blow (2007), English magazine editor, and muse to fashion designer Alexander McQueen, poisoning

9. Cheyenne Brando (1995), Tahitian model/actress, and the daughter of Marlon Brando by his third wife Tarita Teriipaia, hanging.

10. Christine Chubbuck (1974), television reporter, shot herself during a live news broadcast

11. Cleopatra (30 BC), Queen of Egypt, inducing a snake to bite her.

12. Patricia Cutts (1974), English film and television actress. Died from barbiturate poisoning at her London flat, aged 48

13. Dalida (1987), French-Italian singer, an overdose of barbiturates.


I didn't know who most of these people were, I confess. Other women suicides I noted: Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, Margaux Hemingway, Dana Plato, and Anne Sexton. There were many other female names that I did not recognize. Janis Joplin wasn't on this list, but she died of a drug overdose. Supposedly it was accidental, but we'll never know. Certainly she had an addiction problem if she died accidentally.

Depression is a difficult disease. It's an illness just like the flu, but it affects your mind. We have a terrible stigma about mental illness in this country and it's time we realize that people who suffer from mental illness need help, not incarceration or shunning. Many of our homeless are mentally ill. We are not a humane nation when it comes to caring for those who cannot care for themselves.

I for one would like to see that change.


Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 356th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

Stags

 

Farewell, Old Friend

Last night I decided it was time to toss my paperback Random House Dictionary.

My maiden name was written on the inside of it, so this had been my go-to dictionary for about 34 years. The book was copyrighted 1978 so I imagine that was when I purchased it.

 
As you can see, this book was well-worn and used.

 
Duct tape held the back together.

 
Scotch tape held the front cover on.

 
The copyright date page, just for memory's sake.

It had yellowed considerably and developed that book-moldy smell that sets off my asthma. I'm doing a clean-out and had pre-determined that anything that made me wheeze would have to leave the house.

Including, I'm afraid, beloved dictionaries.

I have this new American Heritage dictionary that I picked up when Books-A-Million closed. It will be my new go-to paperback dictionary. I also have the Shorter Oxford Dictionary on my desk so I am not lacking for words.

But I really hate saying goodbye to that Random House. Sometimes it is hard to know when to let go.

Update on Hubby

Here's a quick update on my husband's condition after his incident with a hay baler on July 5. He is doing physical therapy and has mobility in his hand and arm. He can't make a fist yet and still has swelling. He has new skin and scars, as most of the hide on the top side was taken off by the hay baler belts. He has one long scar down the inside of his arm where the surgeons had to cut him open to release pressure and repair and remove damaged blood vessels and nerves. He looked a bit like Frankenstein there for the first few weeks, but now, not so much.

 

He still can't drive, which is frustrating for him, but in time he will be released for that. The doctor said he had to be able to make a fist before he would release him to drive and he still has too much swelling for that.

 

His prognosis is good. By this time next year, hopefully this will all be but a memory.

 

Sunday Stealing: 13 Things

From Sunday Stealing

Seems only fitting that since I missed Thursday Thirteen for the first time in years, that the Sunday Stealing should be 13 things.

1. Outside my window . . .

A. sits an old, decaying log, the remains of a massive oak.

2. I am thankful . . .

A. that the rains came, because the fields were dry and we were worrying about the hay crop.

3. In the kitchen . . .

A. a couple of pork chops and zucchini bread await my attention.

4. I am wearing . . . 

A. blue jeans, a South Carolina T-shirt, and an old blue jacket-thing that is threadbare from use. (My nephew went to SC, not me. Go Gamecocks.)

5. I am creating . . .

A. an entirely new life based on where I am now.

6. I am going . . .

A. crazy.

7. I am reading . . .

A. Chronicles of Avonlea, by L. M. Montgomery

8. I am learning . . .

A. to live with a disability.

9. I am pondering . . .

A. what changes I will need to make to have that new life.

10. A favorite quote . . .

A. Life isn't easy, love never lasts, you just carry on and keep moving fast.

11. One of my favorite things . . .

A. blogging.

12. A few plans for the rest of the week . . .

A. physical therapy, a haircut, lunch with a friend.

13. A peek into my day . . .

A. I tried to get a video game to work with STEAM and wasn't as successful as I'd hoped to be, I took a nap, and I took a lot of painkillers.

Saturday 9: Super Duper Love

Saturday 9: Super Duper Love
(recommended by Bankerchick)

If you're not familiar with today's song, you can hear it here.

1) The lyrics say, "I'm as proud as a girl can be." Tell us about something you're proud of.

A. I am very proud of my degrees from Hollins University. Both took me far longer to complete than they should have, but I did it, and my education was completely paid for when I was done.

2) This song is from her first CD, The Soul Sessions. She's told interviewers that the first CD she ever owned was by Aretha Franklin: Greatest Hits. So while we're talking firsts, do you remember your first CD (or tape or record)?

A. The first record I remember owning was The Captain and Tennille's Love Will Keep Us Together. I also owned The Archies album. I don't know which came first. There were probably a number of 45s in that collection, too, but I don't recall the names.


3) Last year, two men were convicted of plotting to kill Joss Stone. Even though she had (fortunately!) never even met the men, she still had to testify during their trial. Have you ever had to speak to a judge?

A. I used to be a news reporter and the court beat was mine at one time. So I spoke to the judge all the time. I also appeared before a judge when I had a vehicle accident. I did not receive a ticket or a conviction but I did have to take a safe driving class.

4) Joss is frequently in the British press because of her friendship with Princes William and Harry. Who among your friends leads the most exciting life?

A. I have no idea.

5) Because of dyslexia, Joss had trouble in school and dropped out when she was 16. What's the last grade you completed?

A. I finished up my master's degree in 2012 at the aforesaid Hollins University.

6) She provided the voice of the villainness for the James Bond video game, Blood Stone. Do you have a Playstation or Xbox?

 

A. I have the very first Xbox. I'd like to get rid of it. Anyone local want to buy it?  I also have a Wii.

 7) Sam is especially crazy this morning because she can't find her phone. What's the last thing you misplaced?

A. My mind.

8) After composing this Saturday 9, Sam is off to Lowe's to pick up some heavy duty indoor/outdoor trash bags. Will you be in any stores this weekend?

A. No. It is pouring rain, and I had a tough week. I plan to hunker down with a newly purchased RPG video game.

9) Do you consider yourself more book smart, or street smart?

 

A. Book smart. My mother told me all the time that I had no common sense.

 

I Believe In Yesterdays

Yesterday was Thursday, and for the first time in over 350 weeks, I missed writing a Thursday Thirteen.

I even managed a Thursday Thirteen the week my husband was hurt. So why did I miss something that I've done for so long?

1. I was out of town.

2. I neglected to pre-write a Thursday Thirteen.

3. By the time I remembered, I was in North Carolina and I didn't have my password to my blog with me.

4. The reason I was out of town was to see a specialist about my health issues.

5. I was very nervous and upset prior to our leaving, mostly because I don't do well in strange places and I was afraid of what would happen when I saw the doctor. That's why I forgot to write a Thursday Thirteen.

6. UNC Chapel Hill has a huge medical facility. I had no idea it was so large.

7. They have specific hospitals set aside for various illnesses and types of people. There is a cancer center, a children's hospital, and a women's hospital. I went to the women's hospital.

8. The doctor was nice and I felt like I received better attention and care there than I have here in Roanoke.

9. I also came away with an actual diagnosis, something I had not been able to obtain in Virginia.

10. My new diagnosis is pelvic muscle tension myalgia.

11. To the credit of the physicians in Roanoke, they were on the right track with treatment.

12. This is a long-term issue with only a small chance of a good outcome. I will probably be in pain for the rest of my life. Physical therapy may ease the pain, but there is no real cure. Sometimes it magically goes away, though, so let's hope for some magic.

13. That's why I didn't write a Thursday Thirteen for the first time in about six years.

Changing Perspectives

The doe and two fawns danced through the backyard early Monday morning. I looked around for my camera and to my dismay it was in the other part of the house. By the time I limped back after it and returned, I could not see the deer.

I ventured into the garage and peered out the door. They had vanished as if sunlight had hit fog. Or so I thought.

The back door opened soundlessly and I stepped out. I moved three feet, and there they were. The mother deer and the two fawns I've seen her with several times.

All I had to do was move three feet to see something breathtaking, to watch the deer watch me, to see them glide silently beneath the fence and into the neighboring pasture field. I watched through the camera lens, finger clicking away, as the elder deer gave a loving kiss on the forehead of one of the children before they meandered on into the woods and out of my sight.

Three feet. I had to move because my husband's pickup truck was blocking my line of sight. I could have easily given up and thought that the deer had bounded on into the meadow and over the hill. But I moved a few feet.

I gave way. I did not stand firm, I was not entrenched in my belief or thoughts. I was curious and I moved in a different direction in order to see a bewitching and beautiful sight.

Afterwards I wondered at what I would have missed had I not made that move. I'd have missed seeing the mother deer kiss her young one. I'd not have smiled at the antics of the littlest deer as it scrambled under the fence. I'd not have seen the sun shining on spider webs wet with dew, creating a field of diamonds.

I'd have missed all of that if I'd not taken three steps.

Just a little change in perspective is usually all it takes to make or break a photo. A slight adjustment of angle, a drop of the body, raising or lowering the camera - all of these changes in perspective can ultimately make for a better or worse photo capture. Following the rules, breaking the rules, or using different lenses - these things make the reality of a photo different depending on use.

I can't help but ask myself what would happen if in, say politics, the folks who are so entrenched on whatever side of the aisle took a sidestep in one direction or the other. Maybe not even left or right - how about north or south? Or up or down? Is everyone afraid of what they will see if they look behind the pick up truck? Would using a wide-angle lens so change their perspective that their minds might also widen? Couldn't we do away with these narrow points of view and stand out in wide open fields so that we can see all around us, all 360 degrees? Sure there are mountains beyond, but my goodness, if we can't even move the three feet it takes to look beyond the backside of the pick up truck, how will we even reach those hills, much less climb mountains?

Three feet. Three feet made a huge difference in that morning, in what I saw, and in what I took photos of. They are small, tiny steps.

Why are those steps so hard?