Settled In

What a busy last few weeks.  Seems that we have a ton of stuff to do each day.  Anne is set for swimming three days a week (me too).  My Plateau Writers Guild is very interesting, informative, and exciting.  It is twice a month.  My Model Railroad Club is fun as well. I am set for golf with my new clubs but have not had time to hit the links yet--that will come soon.  Gearing up for fall plantings of grass and winter flowers soon.  Prissy loves to chase all the bugs on our 5 times a day walks.  By the way--I have lost 6 pounds as a result so far.  Preparing to get propane hooked up by mid August.  We join our new Church in August.

July Fourth

What a July 4th.  Spent the day gazing at our new flowers on the deck and back.  Grilled ribs and all the fixins.  Watched fireworks from our bedroom as they made their way up the hill.  Today is a low country boil.  Life is fun!

Activity List

Signed up for new activities today--annual pass for all the club swimming pools and indoor all year round pool, Model Railroad Club, and the Glade Writers Guild.  These are additions to the Men's Group at Church and golfing once a week.  Anne says that all of this should occupy my time and keep me busy.

Finally Settled and Relaxing

We have been busy beavers now for many weeks before the move and 3 weeks since we made the move.  We are finally settled.  Norm and Barb have been up for the last 5 days and since Norm asked me to save the garage for him, I did.  They left this morning for the trip back to Greenville.  Their departure ended a nice weekend that included a family reunion and barbecue here on Saturday with Lynne, George, Norm, Barb, Amelia and her boyfriend, Justin.  We went to Church for the first time Sunday morning at an outdoor service in the pavilion.  There were over 200 people there.  The Praise Band provided the music and we all joined in.  This is the 9:45 service which is the middle service of three services on Sunday.  The Church has over 900 members and we have been visited by several members already.  Sunday night we went to the Fifth Sunday night picnic under the pavilion.  The Men's Group cooked the meat and provided drinks and everybody brought covered dishes and desserts.  Attendance was around 250 to 300.  The Praise Band provided music and a good time was had by all.  Today we called to become new members and are having our letter transferred. 

Our weather is still fantastic.  Very cool nights and mild days abound and we have rain every 2 or three days.  We had an inch on Saturday and are forecast for more late today.  Our high today is to be 74 with and overnight low tomorrow at 51.

Anne and I have decided to take a day or two off before we venture out and sign up for any activities.  To be honest, we are very worn out from all of this and I have been quite stressed and overwhelmed with it all.  I really need a break.

While Norm was here he built a very nice work bench and put up a peg board behind it.  The garage has taken on a new life.

We hope everybody has a great 4th.  We plan on smoking some ribs here unless something else comes along. 

Home Free

We are now done except for the garage that Norm is coming to do this Wednesday.  He and Barb will be with us for 5 days and next Saturday Lynne, George, Amelia and her boy friend will join us all here for the day and dinner.  Norm and Barb will leave on that Monday back to Greeneville.  We look forward to everybody on Anne's side being here.

I put-out 40 bags of cypress mulch yesterday around the rock gardens and shrubs.  Today I put-up the birdhouses and feeders.  There is nothing left to do except relax now and enjoy our new home until fall grass planting.

We have not run our A/C at all for over a week now.  It is nice and cool during the day and down right cold at night.  I am sure the A/C will need to used--just when is the question.

Have a great weekend.

John and Anne

Life on the Mountain

All I can say is that life up on the Plateau is unbelievable.  For two days now and for the next week we will not need A/C.   Highs in the mid to high 70's and lows in the high 40's to low 50's.  It reaches 70 inside at best during the day.  Actually Anne and I had to pull up the quilt last night during the night.  Today has been glorious and pleasant.  Finished setting up the garage for Norm and ---all inside is done completely.  We love the furniture, knick-knacks, pictures, etc.  We can now relax in our new home.  We do have a resident ground hog out front and Prissy is always on her toes looking for it.  We have met 3 neighbors up the street and like all.  So much for the day--happy day to all--JG  

We Are Here

We made it.  We have been here a week now and are settling in quite well.  The movers arrived last Friday and placed our furniture.  It all fits as we had planned.  Our master suite furniture is united for the first time since Roswell.  Lynne and George (sister in law and brother in law) came last Saturday and Sunday and helped us start to unpack.  We had around 100 boxes and have now narrowed to about 30 left to do as of today.  Each day has been busy for us unpacking and setting up.  We signed up at the Community Club and had our picture ID's made.  We have met several neighbors and have been visited by a couple of Churches.  The pest control people have been here and we are now fully protected.  I went to the local John Deere dealer and purchased a John Deere lawn tractor which was delivered on Wednesday.  Anne and I visited a couple of furniture stores on Wednesday and picked out new living room furniture and table and chairs for the breakfast nook.  They delivered yesterday and took our old stuff away.  We both have slider recliners now in the great room and a new love seat.  All we have to do now is unpack and organize the guest bedroom and office/third bedroom.  Anne's Dad and Step Mom will arrive on the 25th for a week and Norm and I will organize to garage. Prissy loves her new home.  She has adjusted real well to the move.

The weather here has been great.  Our temps have been in the 80's during the day and low 60's at night.  We are enjoying our new covered deck furniture under a ceiling fan and it has rained twice since we have been here.  The weather is quite different than the farm weather.  It is markedly cooler and we are getting more rain.  The time change for us is taking some time to adjust to.  We do like cenral time but the light is the same as eastern time.  It gets light very early and the sun goes down early as well.

As soon as we get the last two rooms done we will take new pictures and post on our web gallery so you can see all the rooms, etc. with our furniture.  Hopefully that will be the first of the week.  You will get an email invitation to see that when it happens.

Well, here we are on our new life and journey.  We thank God for all we have and hope you will visit us soon.

Love,

John and Anne 

Off to Tennessee

Most everybody knows that we have a contract on our farm.  Anne really wants to move, so I have obliged.  We leave for Crossville Tennessee tomorrow to find our new home in a retirement community.  Anne is excited for her future there.  The wellness center in the development has an indoor pool so she can swim year round.  Swimming enables her to have complete mobility in the water.  We will workout and swim and I will play golf on one of the several courses a few times a week.  The lots there are small---just like a subdivision.  What a change from what we have now.  I guess I will find more time for other things.  Anne hopes to use her scooter and power chair around the outside of the house as we are sure to have side paths concreted around the house.  She will be able to go up and down the street on her scooter.  When we get back sometime over the weekend we will update our web page with photos from the trip and our new house providing that our close down here goes through.

New Carport

Here are two pictures reflecting on my new addition to our carport.  Our spring planting info is on our web page.  Be sure to visit there.

Spring Planting

Hi, check our web page for the latest pictures and info on our spring plantings.

Good Friday

Spring is in full swing around here.  Here it is Good Friday and we have a beautiful day.  I think spring has come early for us this year.  We have had over 4 inches of rain for the month so far and our lake is over full pool so we have a lot of water going out the drain pipe at the dam.  I have fished most everyday and caught over 11 bass in an hour about a week ago and a few days ago I caught 5 in 20 minutes.  The osprey have arrived from the south and Anne and I have enjoyed watching them come in once a day and get a fish or two.  They are such beautiful birds.  They are almost the size of a bald eagle.  After the last two inch rain my lake had a visitor from upstream on another persons property.  It is a large beaver.  I spotted him swimming around 10 or so the other night.  My buddy, Ralph, came over to help me spotlight him, but he went back upstream by the time we got started(within 10 minutes).  I need to take him out if he comes back because he will make a mess of my woods by downing trees.  Gary and I rode the gator upstream last Sunday and found his pond that he is building.  It is on a neighbor's acreage but real close to mine.  I am watching for his return and am at the ready with 00 buckshot in my 12 gauge.  I have no choice in the matter.  Beavers are a nuisance to farmers out here and all look to get rid of them when they come on their property.  The Game Warden concurs with our findings and encourages us to shoot them or trap them.  A four to five foot water moccasin made its way from one of my branches to the road where he was run over last week.  A critter got him over night for dinner.  Critters come through every night.  With Prissy being inside with us now, we never know what is on the property.  The deer and turkey are moving.  We lock the gate to the farm every night to keep people critters out.

Eddie (neighbor) and I finished my boat.  I also purchased an outboard motor from him.  Anne and I are ready for fishing Lake Russell now with plans to go next week and crappie fish in Coldwater Creek area of the lake.  The ramp is about a mile from the farm.

It is almost time to disk the garden.  The ground is still cold (had a frost last night.  It is still too early to plant because of the frost threat, but by the first part of April we will be ready.

Anne is just about well from her month old bronchitis.  She will finish her last pills tomorrow.  We are both glad for her to get over this mess.

Anne and I hope spring has arrived for you all and each is well.

Spring in the Air

Just the first part of March and the weather brings temps in the low 70's.  Jamie is coming over this weekend to help get things ready for spring before the snakes come out.  We have a lot of trees and branches to get up throughout the woods and trails along with the point on the lake. Gary, my forest ranger friend says to let trees lay as they fall, but I feel compelled to get them out of the paths of the trails I have cut in the woods over the property.  It makes better riding with the gator.  The trees are beginning to bud and the wildlife is roaming.  I saw two hen turkeys yesterday and two dear crossing the road in front of me.  Prissy is in tuned and alerts me as we make our paths through the woods and trails.  Tonight she found a deer in our woods and I spotted it with my light because I could not get the gator in position.  We made our way throughout the property and the deer made haste in front of us until out of sight and light.  A possum followed us on the road the other day and it was all I could do to keep Prissy in check.  Fed Harvey the duck today along with the fish from our Gazebo over the lake.  Time is close for major action on the lake.  I went over to Ralph and Blanche's today and gathered pecans that have fallen.  I picked about 10 pounds in just a few minutes using a slinky on a wheel with long handle.  That was as much fun as it was amazing.  I sat out on the covered porch and cracked as much as I could before other duties called.  The sky tonight was crystal clear and the stars were magnificent in brightness and clarity.  Living in desolation has its rewards.  If I were to die tonight I would have had my reward from a life in the city.  For those that have not experienced years of life in a very rural setting, you know not what you have missed.  I am completely satisfied.  God is great!

Birthday

Another year has passed.  There sure were some good and bad with the year.  Getting cards and phone calls on my birthday get better each year.  I hope that now that March has begun that Anne and I will finally get over the crud.  No sooner did we get over the Christmas sickness that lasted into Feb did we get it back a week or so ago.  This time mine was not as bad as Anne's.  She has had it now over a week and can't seem to quit the coughing.  We are scheduled for our quarterly well check-up next Tuesday.  It was great hearing from my brother in Canada.  He is back getting around after his prostate surgery.

Our friends here have really been great to us.  We decided to go back to Coldwater from Rock Branch Baptist for one reason which is that our Coldwater friends would just not give up on us. If you recall we left last fall.  We decided it would be best for us not to give up on them either, so at least I will attend this Sunday.

Stay in touch.

We experienced death again this past month in family and friend.  A friend from Coldwater called me early morning on my birthday to wish me happy birthday.  After talking for awhile he said that his Mom had just passed away two hours ago.  I was shocked because his Dad had just passed on Valentines Day.  This special friend never forgets my birthday.  Now it has a new meaning for him.  Life is strange.  It never ceases to amaze me.

The Beginning of March

We are glad to see Feb. gone.  It was a very busy time for us with company here and work to do.  The fish have come up although it is still pre-spawn.  The little males are up and about, but the mothers are still down deep.  With the lake being full pool, it is fun to fish everyday.  Of course I return all that I catch.  I wonder how many 11.5 pound bass I will catch out of the lake this year?  I caught two last year.  The bass grow about a pound a year.  Prissy is enjoying her roam of the house and looks forward to her twice a day runs.  Anne has had a brutal cold for about 4 days now, but is showing signs of improvement.  I have had one as well, but mine has not been bad so far.  Prissy loves to chase squirrels.  Since I keep her on the leash, it limits her hunting activities.  She has nearly caught several on our runs up the road.  She was surprised to see them run across in front of her.  I have held her back from grabbing them.  I got my first birthday card today.  It was from Norm and Barb.  I enjoyed their card.  I hope Anne and I can go out Monday on my birthday.  It will all depend on if we are well.  We do plan on taking Pam and Richard to celebrate Pam's birthday and mine later in the month to the Catechee Club.  That will be fun.  

Marci and The Girl's Visit

Marci, Allie, and Elizabeth came to visit on Tuesday and we had a blast.  Our visit was a long time coming and the girls are just adorable.  They loved riding on the Gator around on the farm and taking Prissy for her daily runs of about 4 miles each.  The weather was beautiful but a bit windy.  Norm and Barb drove down and visited over lunch.  The girls play very well together and fun was had by all.  Marci took a few things back and Anne and I will take all the horse stuff for her when we go to Atlanta in March.

Feb 15 2008 Olympic Moment

Today is Valentines Day.  Anne and I hosted a special presentation at our home.  Monica Erdmann was our featured guest along with Kim and Claudia (her mother).  Anne and I gifted Monica with her new Olympic Rifle.  Monica is a sweet young lady who attends Elbert County High School and is an expert Marksman rated 5 in the US.  She is upgrading to a new class and needed this gun to carry her into the Olympics and College.  She is being recruited by Colleges across the US for their rifle teams and is being recruited by the ROTC to enter their programs as well.  She attends State and National programs as a valued member of her High School team.  Anne and I are proud to be a part of the life of this outstanding young woman's life.

Monday Feb 11

Today is absolutely beautiful.  It did not take me long to get in gear.  I washed the windows inside and out.  Actually that was quite fun.  Prissy is on her way Thursday for her salon appointment to get ready for Marci and the girls.  They will be arriving next Monday.  Anne and I will be preparing all week for their arrival.  I have to take our RV in soon before we go camping because the refrigerator is being recalled.  I got all of that straight this morning.  Richard and Pam are going snow tubing this weekend if the weather is cold enough in NC.  The trees are budding already and it is still winter here.  The lake is full for now.  We pray our drought will ease and won't be bad this year.  Who knows.  Seems most of the farmers use chicken litter to fertilize their fields.  The guy across the way is no exception.  Our county allows it, so he has brought in several tandem loads and is spreading today.  It will take a few day for the smell to leave.  We are supposed to have rain Tuesday and Wednesday.  Maybe it will dissipate by then.  The wind has to be just right for us to smell it.  Here is a picture of Prissy as we went on her afternoon run.

Saturday News

Greetings on a cold Saturday morning.  It was 26 when we got out of bed.  Prissy is always excited first thing in the morning.  Anne made the usual Saturday fair of pancakes, bacon, and coffee.  Kim is supposed to bring Monica over so I can order her new rifle for Olympic Competition.  Anne and I promised to get it for her as a sponsor.  It is very, very expensive, but Monica is a great young woman showing such great promise.  She is a Junior right now in high school and colleges that have rifle teams and programs are contacting her and showing interest in recruiting her.

It is time to do maintenance on the tractor before spring so that is on my agenda over the next couple of days along with putting new line on my rods for fishing and organizing my tackle.

Tomorrow is church at Rock Branch Baptist.  We really love attending and also go to Wednesday Night Supper and prayer meeting.

In case you did not know, I formed a corporation for my business.  It is called Rock Branch Sales, Inc.  Business is steady and I have a trip planned to meet with my national distributor in Atlanta in March.

Later,

JG

Greetings From The Farm

Spring is close by and there is plenty to get done before things start growing.  The winter seems short in nature as it has for several years.  The threat of snow was with us for several weeks, but we only saw flurries that did not stick.  The trees around the power lines to the dusk to dawn lights had to be trimmed and one raised so that our camper could get to the fire ring and campground.  We have had some very pretty wood ducks visit lately and our resident duck, Harvey, has enjoyed the company.  Prissy (our dog) has recently taken up to being inside again and has provided great company for Anne.  She gets plenty of exercise as I let her run about 3 miles or so twice a day at full speed on a leash with me behind on the gator.  Over the next couple of weeks I plan to get the farm ready for spring planting.  Several people will be visiting very soon and our grand girls will be with us in a week or two.  Marci is bringing them up and we plan on sorting the horse equipment out of the barn among other things so she can get ready in Atlanta for the girls riding lessons.