It's all you read and hear--Obama's health care plan is in trouble.   His speech to Congress is his last ditch effort to save it.   The town halls on health care showed widespread opposition to health care reform.

 I don't buy it.  My reason is that I have some fir… Read full post »

On  Meet the Press today, Senator Graham said he wants America to forgive Governor Sanford as they forgave Clinton.   What?  Graham voted to impeach Clinton because he lied about having an indiscretion in the White House.  Yet Graham thinks that just because Clinton's favorab… Read full post »

The old farmers sat down to eat sandwiches and ice tea on the picnic table.   The table had been placed in front of the Victorian house by the youngest in the group that had gathered at the old homeplace.  The house was surrounded by older buildings and pastures… Read full post »

While waiting to check out at the local Kroger in Blacksburg, Virginia last week, I noticed that Lucinda Roy's book No Right to Remain Silent: The Tragedy at Virginia Tech was on their bestseller list.   The book is also prominently displayed at the Virginia Tech Volume II… Read full post »

Flying Squirrel (April 26, 2009)

This Flying Squirrel was clinging to the brick foundation of our house one morning. Perhaps he was chilly.  We have had these squirrels in our attic before. I hope he wasn't thinking about residing there because they tend to be very noisy at night.

… Read full post »

Sassafras Tree in Bloom (April 20, 2009)

He was there--a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, a tiny bird who I see every spring. If I had had my camera handy, I would have  a great shot.  Instead, I am satisfied to enjoy the lovely color of the Sassafras blossoms to cherish the memory.  … Read full post »

Just when I thought we had won a significant victory against mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining, the EPA issued this statement Tuesday evening:

In the late morning yesterday, I sat outside on our back deck reading the newspaper, happy it was warm enough to do so. The birds were singing and the woodpeckers pecking up a storm. I put my paper down and closed my eyes, listening and identifying the bird sounds but then… Read full post »

 First an organic garden, now BEE HIVES at the White House!  (see  gmgaston's post about the garden today).   A White House employee, a carpenter, keeps bee hives at his house and suggested it.   So, he will be placing two hives next to the organic… Read full post »

 
Eastern Phoebe (on my porch March 13, 2009)

It happens every year! The Eastern Phoebe, a common flycatcher bird, returns to our yard in late February.


Carolina Wren (on my porch circa June, 2007)

A few weeks later, he harasses the Carolina Wrens from the front porch where they… Read full post »

I went on another walk on Sunday to see if I could get a glimpse of the Mourning Cloak I saw yesterday. Sure enough, the butterfly was in the same area, this time on a large Sugar Maple tree. The tree was oozing sap from the Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker holes all over… Read full post »

About a week ago, I hurt my back splitting wood so I haven't gotten out like I should. The temperature rose to 80 this afternoon so I couldn't resist going for a walk in the woods. I walked so slowly, my dog Kookie quickly got bored and ran way ahead of… Read full post »

When I opened my email this morning, I saw a short message from OS:

 "Bill Maher has added you as a friend."

 I was  so excited I went straight to his blog page to verify.  Sure enough, there was my zebra swallowtail avatar listed first in his list of friends.   This… Read full post »

I live in Appalachia, not the town but the region which roughly comprises the southern Appalachian mountains in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee.   The Appalachian people historically have been a source of stereotyping as being backward hillbillies.    Still,… Read full post »

My favorite movie is Out of Africa without a doubt.  The location, the actors, the tragic love story--all of it mesmerized me back in 1985 when I saw it for the first time.    For years afterward, I had this burning desire to visit Africa, go on safari,… Read full post »

Tuesday was a warm day, in the 60s, and sunny--perfect for working in the yard. My dog, Kookie, was busy chasing after chipmunks who were out that day. She chases them into their hole and then digs them out (why don't they just go up a tree?).  Anyway, I just couldn't… Read full post »

These are my favorite Super Bowl ads.

The first is a wind energy ad by General Electric:

 The second one is by Coca-Cola and likeable because it has a bug in it:

 As I commented on Joan Walsh's post, I liked the ads and Bruce… Read full post »

The essay question: “Is there a single piece of technology that has recently transformed your life -- for the better?” prompted me to think about gadgets I have purchased in the recent years.   Cell phone?  Not really—I use it only about 10 minutes a month, saving up… Read full post »

 "It looks like fog," I said as we drove our rental car from the airport to the hotel in Scottsdale on New Year's Eve.   Looking closer at the haze under the streetlight, I noticed a yellowish tint.   "Maybe it has something to do with the smog warnings I read about on… Read full post »

    Technological innovations have impacted society, forging changes in our culture and how people view the world.  The telephone, radio, and automobile were innovations with the strongest impact in the early 20th century. 

     During the 1990s, the… Read full post »

There are so many ways to achieve sustainability as a country that it is difficult to single out one issue.  However, President Obama could focus the country's attention on sustainability by using the power of example.   He could do so by making  the White House and grounds into… Read full post »

For the last two years I have crafted holiday wreaths for the birds. Last year, it didn't work too well--I tied ribbon around the balls of homemade bird cake. One nibble or two from a woodpecker and the balls fell off the wreath. This year, I used cookie cutters and then… Read full post »

 Grand Canyon Sunset December 26, 2005 

"You're spending Christmas at the Grand Canyon?"

 That was my friend's reaction when she asked me where I would spend the holidays in 2005.   She thought I would freeze or worse, slide down the canyon on an icy trail.  &… Read full post »

 I filled up my tank today and only paid $14 because the gas was only $1.40 per gallon.   That contrasts with the $30-35 I was paying last summer.    I had to pay in cash--no credit cards or checks were accepted at any of the cheap gas stations. It felt… Read full post »