A good, wintry day here at Possum Cough. Though the temperatures have risen enough to melt the snow, we're still having to bundle up when we go outside. Perhaps in a few weeks, the signs of spring will begin to pulse just beneath the land's surface. But for now, there is no hint that there will be anything except cold and stillness. The quiet that winter enforces is a bane to many. It is a blessing to us. Noise and clatter are increasingly hateful to our ears.
But even though we try not to allow the vulgar world influence us, sometimes it creeps in without us detecting it. A dramatic example would be MeeMaw's flashing gang signs while walking in the pasture.
We've pretty much holed up all day, in holy solitude. MeeMaw is devouring some books from the library, and I'm trying very hard not to think of food. The family room is friendly today; the kitchen is not.
But food does have its place. Yesterday, we decided to attend the Farm Expo at the Meadowview Convention Center in Kingsport. After we arose, we went down to Gate City and treated ourselves to breakast at the Campus Drive-In.
This place has wonderful food, and the breakfast is particularly good. MeeMaw ordered scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and hash browns. I had the steak and eggs (over easy) with toast. Coffee all around. Ate like royalty, we did. 
They had some very handsome ponies on display, too:
The sheep were very healthy, but somewhat combative. One of them kept butting the others.
One young fellow had some 10 month-old goats that looked very fine. He also had a sweet-natured donkey. He looked tiny to us, since we're so used to Shorty at Possum Cough.
Since I have to have this, ah, procedure tomorrow, I am not allowed anything to eat all day today except clear liquids. So last night, I made the most of it. I ate some of just about everything, right up to the cut-off point of midnight. In fact, at about 1150 pm last night, I was harshting down a fried egg sandwich. I'd better change the subject. It's almost time to take some more, um, preparatory medicine.
We've pretty much holed up all day, in holy solitude. MeeMaw is devouring some books from the library, and I'm trying very hard not to think of food. The family room is friendly today; the kitchen is not.
But food does have its place. Yesterday, we decided to attend the Farm Expo at the Meadowview Convention Center in Kingsport. After we arose, we went down to Gate City and treated ourselves to breakast at the Campus Drive-In.
This place has wonderful food, and the breakfast is particularly good. MeeMaw ordered scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and hash browns. I had the steak and eggs (over easy) with toast. Coffee all around. Ate like royalty, we did. The Farm Expo was a great deal of fun. My favorite part was when an exhibitor was explaining the new organic program in local restaurants, and the requirements to be certified organic in order to be able to sell to such establishments. They will be offering free seminars in Duffield in February and March. While explaining all this, the young lady said, "We're looking for farmers like you to help us in this project." Farmers like me. I relished that. And I took no action to disabuse her of the notion that I am a farmer. Soon as we get that first chicken or goat, I will be a farmer. Even now, I'm something of a farmer. We put in a good crop of tree limbs and rocks this year.
Here's MeeMaw at the chicken exhibit:
They had some very handsome ponies on display, too:
The sheep were very healthy, but somewhat combative. One of them kept butting the others.
One young fellow had some 10 month-old goats that looked very fine. He also had a sweet-natured donkey. He looked tiny to us, since we're so used to Shorty at Possum Cough.
Since I have to have this, ah, procedure tomorrow, I am not allowed anything to eat all day today except clear liquids. So last night, I made the most of it. I ate some of just about everything, right up to the cut-off point of midnight. In fact, at about 1150 pm last night, I was harshting down a fried egg sandwich. I'd better change the subject. It's almost time to take some more, um, preparatory medicine.
My good friend Doug fasts two days a week. He told me that during his recent trip to China, he learned that the locals in Beijing drink hot water on fast days, as it serves to suppress the appetite. Doug said it really works. I'll likely be trying it before too long tonight. Tomorrow after we get back from the hospital, nothing in fridge or pantry will be safe from my reach.
Late this afternoon, I went up into the woods while MeeMaw was reading. Gabriel put up a shelter for Domino and Shorty, consisting of a huge tarp, strung over a rope frame and with a straw bed. The wind had stretched and tossed the tarp pretty hard, so I spent some time retying the lines and tightening the structure. Gotta keep those boys warm and dry.
We filled the bird feeders this afternoon, and there are a gaggle of Carolina wrens out there playing around and being noisy and beautiful. They are even messing around with the cat food that belongs to Biscuit and Frito. Such loud noises from such tiny, demure birds.
I have nothing new to report except to ask that y'all pray for my friend Doug as he interviews for a very important job tomorrow afternoon in Nashville. If he gets it, he'll only be three hours from us, instead of eight. His daughter Victoria placed highly at the recent Memphis Piano Recital. It was a competition limited to the works of Scott Joplin. Victoria didn't win, but her prize was to be able to have a solo recital at the massive Orpheum Theatre in Memphis. She played it last night, and Doug said she did magnificently. The lass can play. I've heard her.
Rest well, loved ones.
