Outta Brumation They Come!

An Eastern Box Turtle!

Still dirty from it's brumation too!

How symbolic that it was rescued while crossing the road on Easter morning, a resurrection of sorts -

This dude was sealed up nice and tight. Box turtles close up in their shell as a primary defense mechanism, utilizing a unique hinged plastron (bottom shell) to seal themselves tightly against predators like raccoons and foxes. This "door" allows them to seal their limbs and head away from danger, acting as a near-impenetrable armor. They use if as a defense mechanism when they feel threatened or in fear.

I really wanted to keep this dude. Clean it up and wait to see it emerge and start crawling about.  Was curious what color eye it had and weather it was a boy or a girl.  But alas, we set it down on the other side of the abutting chain link, to keep the dogs away from it, and it has since skedaddled off, alas. Hoping we come across another one or two as we make our drives from Johnson City to Limestone.

In case you were wondering - "Brumation is a state of dormancy and metabolic slowdown in reptiles, amphibians, and other ectotherms (cold-blooded animals) during cold winter months, usually from November to February. Similar to hibernation, it is a survival mechanism to conserve energy when temperatures drop and food is scarce."

The Best Seat In The House

Bella made it home just in time to watch Nickelodeon -

Um, yeah, don't just stand there, can you grab me a snaky?!

It's Said, "When In Rome"...

We stopped in and had lunch at the original Burger Bar, located in downtown Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee. This classic diner has been around since 1942 and is famously known as the last place Hank Williams, Sr. had his last meal and was seen -

It's a tiny place, with the inside looking like two different restaurants joined by a small hallway between both places.  It had an old diner feel with thick stools and a Formica counter -

I went with the "I Can't Help It" burger, which is a cheeseburger with bacon -

The walls and ceilings are adorned with signed one dollar bills, that I'm assuming were taped up by visiting customers -

Seems the blue state of Virginia is keeping in line with their taxation, geesh -

All in all it was a good take. I'd stop in again if in the area.  The burger was tasty, as were the onion rings, and it was nostalgic traveling back in time if only for a short time. I now regret not ordering one of their milkshakes, alas.  They had quite a variety and they looked delicious too, next time...

Can You Spot The Difference?

It's not a children's Highlights magazine fun activity, but can you spot the difference between the two pictures below? 

Before -

After -

And it's not the two black triangle pieces leaning against the end in the below pic.

An Unfortunate Incident

Straw seed blankets were put down after grass seed was spread at our farm.  These blankets are used to cover newly planted grass seed to protect it from harsh sunlight, birds, and erosion while retaining moisture needed for germination. It acts as a protective mulch, insulating the ground and keeping seeds in place during rain.

We needed these at our place for sure due to some of the grading, there's zero shade and often times very windy. It's working and doing it's intended job in most spots, as grass is growing and popping up through it all.

However, seems the good intentions of putting down these straw seed blankets, also have some negative effects too.  I find myself often getting my boots caught up in the nylon nettings and almost falling but it now also would appear it's dangerous to some wildlife, alas.

Like this beautiful Black Rat Snake -

It was SO tangled and caught up that I was unable to remove it without cutting the nylon.  I'm sure it would have been much more difficult had the snake been alive and flailing about.

Black rat snakes are extremely beneficial since they eat large amounts of rats, mice, and other pest animals.  I'm guessing it was headed towards and under our house, as the like and seek out dark, cool, and protected areas to hide, breed, and regulate their body temperature.

Hopefully there are plenty more of these beauties around and that no more critters will get caught up in it the nylon...

About 1 In Every 100,000 Birds

Driving down to the far end of our property the other afternoon we spotted a rarity trying to hide in the tall grass.  However, due to it being all white, it stuck out like a sore thumb, so there was no hiding.

She was allusive and stayed low and hidden well. That's her circled in red below -

Eventually she popped out of the tall grass along the fence line, which allowed for the perfect photo opportunity below -

Certainly seems like a rarity to me, an albino wild turkey. I even asked the Google machine if a white turkey was rare and here is the response - "White wild turkeys are extremely rare, with estimates suggesting they occur in about 1 in every 100,000 birds", so there's that...

Perhaps, there's something in the Limestone water, as the Bright's Zoo, just 4-miles up the road, had a female giraffe give birth to a rare pattern-less baby giraffe back in late 2023.

Hoping this is a good omen and that we'll see more of the her once we get moved in.

Will Wonders Never Cease

Well, well well, look what's begun!

The trim out crew finally began installing the metal skirt yesterday -

Also, the electrician finished their work yesterday too! He'll be reaching out to the electric company, GEA, so they can schedule a time to install their hot electrical wire, in the buried PVC, from the pole on Pritchard all the way up to the new meter at the house!

This is a HUGE milestone and once done our house will have working electricity -

The trim out crew is planning to start building the front deck on Monday, fingers crossed!

We're getting there...

The 10-Gallon Club Baby!

I didn't realize when I posted back on March 24, see post - Tennessee Blood Donation, that my Tennessee donation was going to be a milestone -

My dad often encouraged me to donate when I was younger but I wasn't interested back then. However, when I got older and watched what my mother went through, needing blood so often to help with her medical issues, my attituded changed.

My intention was never to compete with my dad or try to surpass his incredible milestone, but perhaps I now have another milestone to shot for too...

In my dads lifetime, he donated blood to the American Red Cross 124 times for a whopping 15.5 gallons!

Rise And Grind People!

This mornings sunrise through the flowering dogwood -

A bit eerie but still a beauty non-the-less!

The Irony

We did a bit of shopping at Rural King yesterday, as well as price checking on items we'll need once in our new house.

Farm gates for example, we're in the market for (3), and doing our due diligence gathering prices at various places.

How ironic is it that the below sign was taped to the gates we were there to look at -

If we had a means, e.g. truck or trailer, and wanted ten gates, we could have easily shown our licenses, paid and gone off with the above gates.

How funny...

Little Pests They Are

The ants go marching one by one...to their deaths, hurrah hurrah!

With the warm weather, tiny ants have invade our kitchen already, UGH!

We put out some fresh ant traps, in the areas where we're seeing them marching, and sure enough the ants are crawling off with their spoils, hehehe!  Little do they know what awaits them -

Good riddance and Gods speed.

We Got "Buzzed" Wings

This past Sunday afternoon we selected a restaurant in Jonesborough to try out.  A little, diner type placed called, Buzzed Wings. However, what we didn't realize, until it was too late, was that Jonesborough was hosting an outdoor Easter events for kids, so it was busy and teaming with people.

We lucked out and found a parking space a couple blocks from the restaurant. A tad chili but the walk was nice and allowed us to take in the activities and do some people watching too.

The restaurant wasn't too busy.  We got a table and were waited on fairly quickly. The waitress was friendly and chatty.  We ordered chicken wings, asked for well done, with Korean BBQ and Garlic Parmesan sauces and their loaded Mac & Cheese.

The food was okay.  The wings were not cooked well done as request but not too bad.  However, they were drenched in the sauces which was a bit overwhelmed, but of course that didn't prevent us from eating them right down to the bones.

The mac & cheese was okay. It was creamy and cheesy, they used penne pasta, and it was donned with real bacon bits.  Oh, almost forgot the most important, the beers were frosty cold 😋

All in all it was okay.

Floating Bed

Ms. Trixie is her own interior decorator when it comes to her bed.

She constantly pulls and moves that bed in all sorts of directions and when she's satisfied, she'll get in, curl up and sleep.  It's seldom in the same spot where it belongs or where I placed it last.

Here she is, not a care in the world, comfy in the middle of the hallway.  However, the bed should be in the living room, down the hall and to the right -

She's quirky for sure and has a preferences for where and how she wants her bed.

People Just Suck

NOT sorry to add tradesman to my list of POS!  Right up there with lawyers, real-estate agents, actors and politicians!

The plasterer, who's doing the trim out sheetrock repairs in our house, had no problem with dumping the above plaster on the edge of the driveway, right next to the house. Cigarette butts too.

What a complete an utter dick move this is?!  Selfish, lazy, irresponsible, unprofessional POS!

Seems few take pride in their job and work these days.

Of course, my OCD makes this SO much more of an issue than it is but still...

Find The Critter

Can you find the critter in the below photo?

Actually, there are (3) critters!

Find them and name them in the comments -

A Great Rural Find

We took a different route to our farm yesterday, a more scenic and beautiful drive!

In doing so we came upon a cool little place in Chuckey named, Green Pasture Farm and Hatchery.  We banged a U-turn and pulled in -

A creative sign above one of the garage doors read, "The Chick Inn" -

And inside were about 20 individual brooders, each with different breeds of baby chicks!

They were even having a 15% sale, yesterday only, on all chick purchased.  As temping as it was, since we're not setup for chickens or any animals just yet, we had to unfortunately pass, alas, but we'll be back when the time is right -

Behind the second garage door was the the Green Pasture little store with all sorts of homemade and canned items, as well as fresh vegetables too.

Merle, the owner, offered us up a sampling of their sweet dill pickles, which were delicious!  Turned out to be a wicked smaath move marketing move, as ended up purchasing a jar -

And a fresh loft of homemade sourdough bread -

You can find all sorts of interesting places and great sights when getting off the beaten path and taking the road less traveled!

Alignment Needed, Grrrr

The trim out team has reported that the two halves of our house are not in alignment!

Earlier mid-week we were informed of this issue by our Yurezz customer support contact via a vague text in which she stated that she's reached out to the house manufacturer, Timberline. No additional information provided, nor have we received an update heading into the weekend.

 Also, as you can see in the pictures below, the installation of the siding on both ends of the house have stopped. Not sure if this is due to the alignment issue, if they're run out of material or what, as we're in the dark.

Very curious and anxious on how something like this gets fixed, especially with where we are (final phases) of the setup and trim out.

Front End, Driveway Side Before -

Front End, Driveway Side After -

Front End, Driveway Side  - You can see how far off the alignment truly is -

Rear End Before -

Rear End After -

Rear End Showing the Alignment Issue - 

I can't imagine how this will get addressed and fixed.

Thankful that the trim out team caught this AND thought enough to raise this as an issue and not simply ignore it or try to sweep it under the rug.  So, if you're keeping score 1-point to this tradesman for doing the right thing.

Breakfast For Lunch Because Why Not!

Sausage biscuits and gravy with over medium eggs are not just for breakfast -

I stopped in at the 11E Diner in Jonesboro earlier this week following my Tusculum dental appointment. I've had a hanker'n to try their biscuits and wasn't disappointed if I'm being honest.

Just don't tell me cardiologist...

This Works For Me

Luv me some good old Gordon Ramseyisms too!

Getting Closer...

Happy to report that our house trim out is underway!

The plasterer was inside the house working on repairing the wall and ceiling damage that occurred this past weekend and again at the beginning of the week. 

The electric meter has been mounted to the outside of the house! The wood framing that will be used to mount the skirt around the base of the house is underway and one end of the house has had the external vinyl siding installed!

All positive signs as we move to completion.

It's Just Gas

Ms. Trixie has herself a new veterinarian office here in East Tennessee, Cherokee Hospital For Animals -

And had her first visit yesterday morning -

She was having some issues that had me concerned but happy to reports it's nothing serious and we'll be treating her with some medications to help her to get back on track -

The team at Cherokee hospital were great!  Everyone I met was friendly and welcoming.

However, and sadly, I left with reconfirmation of what I've seen and felt for some time now - veterinarians and animal care is BIG business and following in the footsteps of human medical care. Pushing and selling care and products that are really not necessary and really taking advantage of peoples emotions and love of their animals while in a vulnerable situation.

We spent more time in the exam room with the technician answering questions than we did with the actual doctor herself. The doctor came, we did a quick recap of the issues, then she listened to Trixie's heart, looked in one of her ears and lifted her tail to look at her bottom.  She then gave a quick overview of what she proposed as next steps. We convened, so the technician could fetch a printout of what the visit was going to cost AND IT WAS STEEP!  This all happened within the first 15 minutes.

They took blood and x-rays and the next 40 minutes we waited and waited and waited for the doctor to reappear to explain her findings, review the x-ray and explain the medications.

The doctor was pleasant but in a business sense and not overly welcoming.  She struck me as more focused on the business and money aspect than of Trixie herself, as if she was just another patient, a number. Suppose it just is what it is.

Again, the team at Cherokee hospital were great and I'm thankful for their care and help AND that there isn't anything too serious with Ms. Trixie!

Just my two cents.

We're All In On The Fun Too!

Yesterday was a beautiful day here in East Tennessee!

So, it seems appropriate to sit outside and why not next to a roaring fire, that was our plan -

And enjoy some frosty Yee Haw Dunkel beer -

And we nailed this plan!