And…back to frigid (lest we get too complacent).

Today I’m hunkered down in front of my native plants books and sites, learning plants I thought were harmless ornamentals (commonly sold by nurseries) are actually noxious exotic invasives, that harm or even destroy natural habitats.  At least I know what not to plant.  Make Tennessee Native Again!

Here is a sunset (when it was still balmy), Misu perched strategically right under the bird feeders, and E’s latest challah.

It almost reached 70° again today.  It’s bipolar weather. You can see it in these photos.

I was outside retying the strings I use to mark the property boundary between us and the [evidently drug-trafficking] neighbors, when one of them, a young woman, came over, introduced herself, and apologized for their dog using our lawn for a bathroom.  It’s the first time one of the many people who appear to live there has reached out in a friendly way, rather than trespassing or acting surly.

She described a scary break-in and burglary that happened to them recently, resulting in all the security cams and lights they’ve installed.  She didn’t bring up all the other suspicious activity going on there day and night.  But the good news is, they’re trying to move.  That will definitely improve the neighborhood (until some other crackheads move in).  At least this girl seems to be pursuing her education and working at a respectable job, while raising many kids (hers and others’), one with medical issues.

And I now know “Joey” the friendly black cat is actually called “Midnight”, so that was informative.

There is some culture shock to overcome here in TN, as there was in Ohio.  But it has its good points, too.  It has much natural beauty, some of which I hope to restore to our tiny piece of it before I go.

It was almost 70° out today, in early January!  Craziness.  So I got all my seed starting supplies organized, and relocated all my herbs and plants to make room for veg seed flats.  We bought grow lights at Lowes and E set them up.  Now I just have to finish tweaking my seed orders and send.  It’s all I can do not to start work on the garden!

Meanwhile, Misu lounged in her carrier/bed on the porch all day.  She’s the Lounge Queen.

This weather is crazy-making.  It poured again all night and morning, now it’s a sunny warm 64° out, making me feel like I should be gardening.  E is out working on the deck.  My son is here hanging out, and we finally cracked the Pleiades beer, an interesting brew, so I’m feeling euphoric on top of confused about which season it is.  I’m told winter will eventually arrive, but I’ll believe it when I see it.  Not that I’m complaining.  Just a bit disoriented.

In a rare break between deluges, Misu and I took a frolic around the yard, finding lots of green life in amongst the dead.  She’s a real fierce stalker.  She lies in wait and pounces on my feet.

Winter in TN is so ambiguous and shapeshifting.  You feel like you should be out gardening, instead of just hibernating, but it’s just a teaser.  Time-killing, not my favorite pastime.  I feel like a lichen on a dead log, just sitting here, breaking it down.

It’s almost 60° out, I’m feeling almost better, so I took a stroll and noticed all these daffodil buds coming up, plus a couple of flowers still persisting, and a colorful wild plant out in the field.  Most of my tree transplants seem to be making it.  Hope springs eternal, in with the new, and all that.  So I repotted some propagated basils, and some sprouted ginger roots.  Next month I’ll be germinating veg seeds.  Maybe Winter is Coming in some dark fantasy, but I like to think we have another Spring coming.

(Think “No Reservations” with Anthony Bourdain, may he RIP.)  I’m not even bothering with stupid resolutions this year.

No I’m not drunk or even hung over.  Our NYE was quiet and non-eventful.  The only remarkable item was the very weird weather last night–temps rose to ~70°, and the wind (and downpour) was like a banshee.  Also some suspiciously gunshot-like “fireworks” nearby.  It’s E. TN, so what else is new.  We’re still here.

Meanwhile, my son and Gkids are somewhere in PA, hopefully doing OK, and he’ll be headed home tonight.  This is the new reality of 2019, everyone you care about scattered to the winds, and redistributed every so often to keep you on your toes.  If it weren’t for the internet, I’d be totally disconnected, so I put up with the spam and security breaches just to stay in touch.  I hope my Gkids will remember me in a somewhat positive light.

The best part of the new year for me was getting my Annie’s Heirloom Seed Catalog!  I’m like a kid hanging at the mailbox waiting for a gift.  Along with my Seed Saver’s Exchange catalog, I’ve already pored over seeds and made tentative lists.  I also found a certified native wildflower seed grower/supplier, so my goal of a sustainable eco-friendly habitat can get off to a good start.

Anyway, Happy New Year to any stray readers I may still have.  Seize upon any spark of hope you find in this dark world, and breathe it back to life with your actions.  Toxic waste from the past will quickly kill a fragile germinating seed, but just a little warmth, water, and light will transform it into the healthy, productive life it was meant to be.

But enough with the new year’s platitudes.  Stay warm and safe.  Cheers!  Beer.