Freaky Snow Storm in Tennessee on November 1, 2014

A Snowy Pumpkin in our Yard

I don't usually show pictures of such a tiny snow---but our entire area had a crazy snow storm  beginning on October 31 and ending November 1.... Here on the Cumberland Plateau,  the rains began on Halloween --and the temperatures got colder and colder as the day progressed.  I felt sorry for any Trick or Treaters who might have been outside that night.  The snow began after dark and we woke up on Saturday morning to find 1/2 inch of wet snow at our home...

As most of you know,  I am one who LOVES snow (even tiny ones) and hubby (who was raised in Indiana) would prefer NEVER to see snow again.    SO---when we get a small one,  he is happy not to have to scrape the driveway!!!!  I am happy when the snow is a 'wet' one and clings to everything... SO---we were 'both' Happy Campers on Saturday!!!!

The crazy thing is the DATE... Our area has rarely had snow this early in the season.  AND---the Smoky Mountains  (Mt. LeConte) had 22 inches of snow (probably the most ever on Nov. 1st)... I heard on TV that there are snow drifts WAIST deep in spots in the mountains...   AND---due to trees falling,  some of the campgrounds in the Smokies had to be closed.  And to think:  All of our area had temperatures in the 70's earlier this week!!!!   We will be talking about this storm in Tennessee for a LONG time!

Today I'll share some of my snow pictures taken early in the morning on Nov. 1st.... We will say goodbye to our blooms I'm sure ---and will have to wait 'til Spring for some blooms in our yard (except for the Pansies --which can make it through this kind of weather)!!!!! 

Almost the end of our Canna Lilies for this year!

Snow on one of our Azalea Bushes

Another Azalea

A DayLily

Poor little Vinca  (Our Vincas won't make it through the weekend.)

Chicago Peace Rose --(should be named Snowy Peace)

Two of our shrubs:  Jasmine (really a Glossy Abelia) and an Azalea

IRIS ---see all of the buds???  We have had quite a few Re-blooming Irises to bloom this month.

Another Iris  with buds---wonder if these will bloom now?

Burning Bush covered with snow

Another photo of the Burning Bush (which definitely was not 'burning' on this date)

One of our Container Roses --full of snow!

Our big Rhododendron in the backyard (near the Bird Kitchen)

SO---that is our 'freaky' snow on November 1,  2014.... The snow did last all day since the temperatures stayed right about freezing most of the day.  AND--that night,  the temperature went down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit!!!!

I don't know what Winter has in store for us this year --but a lady who studies nature's signs always writes an article in our local newspaper each year giving her forecast... AND--she is usually always correct with her predictions.

This is what she said about our area this Winter:
-NINE snows with 3 of them being heavy (She counts the August early-morning fogs to come up with that number.)
-Our mast crop (nuts and acorns) is HEAVY this year --denoting a hard winter.
-Our tree foliage is particularly thick --denoting a hard winter. 
-Hornets' nests are right on the ground --denoting a hard winter.
-Spring Flowering Bushes blooming in Fall denote a hard winter.  Here at our home,  our Azalea bloomed this Fall--for the first time in FALL.
-An all-black Woolly Worm denotes a hard winter (and we have seen one in our yard).
-Trees that hold their leaves longer are another sign of a hard winter.
-When opening a persimmon seed,  we are seeing a SPOON design (which says that we'll be shoveling snow all winter).  George hates this one!


There are more signs ---but you get the idea!!!!  We are in for another humdinger of a FRIGID Winter here on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee...

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Welcome to November.... Our November 1st came in like a lion this year...   Since this is a new month,  I also have a  blog post on My Photo Blog.  Click HERE  to see a new header and another Fall photo from our yard.

Also--don't miss seeing the new quotes I have this month on my sidebar.  AND---do you like my header?  I took that photo after we got the leaves OUT of the front yard... BUT--we'll have to do it again SEVERAL more times until all of the leaves are down!!

Hugs,

Emoticons

More Fun on Galveston Island, Texas 9/20/14

If you missed Part I of our visit to Galveston, Texas,  click HERE.   Today,  I'll share some more of our visit that glorious day.   I was surprised at some of the comments from Part I  saying that so many people have never heard of Galveston and didn't have any idea that it was on an island... It is truly a neat place ---and other than the worry of hurricanes,  it is a fantastic place to live and to visit.

Most of this post is about and for BIRDERS... Galveston is one of the top places for birding in the United States.  Many birders come to Galveston looking for the Reddish Egret,  which is only found in a few places.... There  are many online sites talking about birding in Galveston.  I marked three for you:  HERE and HERE  and HERE.

I love my backyard birds but truly don't know much about shore birds. I do know that my eldest son --who lives in the Galveston area--- has become a real birder and knows alot about the birds in his area.  We were only there for a few hours,  but I got to see several 'new to me' birds....  Since my pictures are not too good in spots (too far away plus having to crop them),  I am enclosing some other pictures from the internet also --so that you can see how gorgeous these birds really are.

First were the ROSEATE SPOONBILLS.   Wow --what gorgeous birds.  Wish I could have seen them closer and not sleeping!!!  Bert (son) raved and raved about these beauties --which were not far from where he lives....

This  is what I wish I had seen instead of them taking their morning naps!!!!! ha  (Photo from the internet)

OR-- wouldn't it have been fantastic to see THIS????? Wow--one of the most beautiful birds I think I have ever seen.  (Photo from the internet)

This is another picture (not cropped) of the Spoonbills --but it also shows a couple more birds,  a Great Egret (white one) and a Tri-colored Heron (darker one)....  What a great place for birds to enjoy!!!!

When we were riding around Bert's resort,  he saw a LONG-BILLED CURLEW...  I jumped out of the cart and tried to get a picture.  But--he kept running away from me.  This is the best I could do!!!!  Look at that bill!!!!!!

Here's another photo (from the internet) of the Long-billed Curlew.  Beautiful birds, aren't they?

As we kept riding around the area on the golf cart,  I also saw an immature BLUE HERON.  I have seen Blue Herons before --but it was fun seeing one in Texas.

Later,  while we were riding the ferry across Galveston Bay toward the Bolivar Peninsular,  I enjoyed watching lots of birds following the ferry.  There were several different birds around including PELICANS.

Then Bert saw HIM......  (Lots of excitement here!!!!)    There he (or she) is:  a MAGNIFICENT FRIGATE BIRD.  You can't tell it from here --but the wingspan on this bird is HUGE.... Wow!!!!!!

Here  is a picture of a female Magnificent Frigate Bird  (from the internet).

AND,  here's another one from the internet showing the female and a male Frigate Bird (which has a red neck) ----'blowing' himself up to get the female's attention!!!!!  Wonder if he will POP?????? ha ha

IF you want more information about any of these special birds,  there are quite a few sites on the internet.  One I chose for you today is All About Birds.  Click HERE for any info you are looking for when checking out birds.

Back to the ferry,  another area of excitement for me during that day was seeing the DOLPHINS.  They jumped in and out of the water ---but neither George nor I could catch a picture of them totally ABOVE the water.... ha

Here's  another DOLPHIN ---or is it part of two Dolphins??????  We had so much fun watching them --and 'trying' to get some good pictures... ha


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OKAY---for all of you who are not interested in Birds or Dolphins,   I have four more cute pictures taken when we were wandering around the STRAND in Galveston that afternoon.    First, I took a picture of son Mark in an old telephone booth...

Then,  George just had to take one of me in that telephone booth... By the way,  that door was heavy... Maybe George wanted me to STAY in that booth for awhile... ha ha

More Info:  Do you see the crown  above the word TELEPHONE?????  That means that this was a British Telephone Booth.... Bet my British Blog Friends will know something about this booth....


Finally here are two cute shots of George and me ---while visiting a HALLOWEEN Shop on the Strand....

George seems to be having a conversation with a couple of Cutie Pies!!!!  Ya think????

I was trying to have a conversation with this guy --but he wouldn't talk to me... (A little boy walked by at this time, and gave me a strange look....  I looked at him and said:  "This man won't talk to me."  The boy's eyes got big,  and he ran back over to his mother probably telling Mama about this strange old lady!!!!!! ha ha)

I'll  finish my posts from Galveston, Texas by sharing one last picture of my THREE GUYS:  Son Mark,  Sweetheart George,  and Son Bert.   (photo taken from the balcony at Bert's condo)

Hope you have a wonderful day.  We are in for some cold weather on Saturday --with a low of  26 degrees F  and a high of 42 degrees.  We also 'might' have some snow showers....  Wooooo--welcome to winter...  (Think I wanted to enjoy Fall a little more--although I do LOVE snow!!! ha)

Hugs,

Emoticons