Maggie's Journal

Tags: Astronomy
Happy New Year everyone! This year's New Year Eve just happens to coincide with a blue moon. That happens only once every 21 years, so I heard on the radio yesterday. If that's true, the next New Year's Blue Moon will occur in 2030 - I'll be 79. I think I'll make a point of looking for it tonight.

A blue moon is a full moon that occurs twice in one month. Here are a few excerpts from earthsky.org: On this last night of the year, nearly everyone worldwide will see the full moon all night long. The full moon will rise around sunset on this New Year’s Eve, climb highest in the sky around midnight, and will set around sunrise on the first day of 2010. This is the second full moon in December for the Americas, Europe, Africa, and far-western Asia. Tonight’s full moon is also the closest full moon to the December 21 solstice. In the northern hemisphere, where it’s winter, tonight’s full moon is often called the Long Night Moon.

Here are the lyrics to the memorable song that was inspired by this astronomical event, hum along with me:

Blue Moon, you saw me standing alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Blue Moon, you knew just what I was there for

You heard me saying a prayer for

Someone I really could care for

And then there suddenly appeared before me

The only one my arms will ever hold

I heard somebody whisper, "Please adore me"

And when I looked, the moon had turned to gold

Blue Moon, now I'm no longer alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Posted by Maggie Davis At 12:59 PM Location Sky | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: News
Looking in the Around The Lake Calendar, St. George's Channel Hall is hosting a New Year's Eve Celebration from noon to 6:00 today and Marble Mountain will be holding Games Night this evening, as usual, but there may be additional goodies to celebrate the evening.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 9:27 AM Location North Mountain and Neighboring Communities | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life on Marble Mountain
This 6 - 8 " of snow was not in the forecast. We were expecting flurries and a dusting. Everyone is out shoveling, snowblowing and plowing. Don't expect it to linger, a warmup is in the forecast for Saturday.

We probably will have to do the Polar Bear Dip on New Year's Day at 1:00 on the beach at Lime Hill.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 5:11 PM Location Outdoors | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life In General
Today the canine fan club, consisting of Misha, Riley, Gus, Clancy, Flyn and Lily, had another fantastic hike this afternoon. Jim and Dave met up with me at the top of the road behind the cove at 2:00, as usual. We walked to the end of the road and the weather was too windy to stay long, even though the dogs wanted to swim and fetch sticks from the water. From there we walked back and turned down a driveway to the back side of Black Cove, which was protected from wind and much calmer. I threw sticks for the 4 pooches for a minute or so and we commenced our walk. As we headed up the incline of the road by Graveyard Cove, along came Gus, then Jean and Clancy.

Jean and her dogs had missed much of the walk so we decided to walk along the beach across from Pistol Island. It was very windy until we got around the curve. Jim considered walking a circuit around the pond back to the cars but Jean and Dave said they thought it would be difficult and too much work. I agree with them.

As we got near the cars, we came across Pat. We talked about her hike with John yesterday. John had been looking up the mountain and found a spot that he wanted to investigate. Across the street and up the road they went and they think they got to the creigin (or however that word is spelled). While there, Pat took quite a few very good picures of the surrounding areas and the water, with the islands. The landscape really looks different from up there, we were having trouble identifying some of the landmarks. It's all so very interesting.

Pretty soon we'll make the creigin our hiking destination. We also resolved to hike over the mountain once the ground is frozen. That's probably the best way to navigate the deep puddles that have been created by the atv's that run around up there. Otherwise, we would have to work our way through the thick woods, which is unpleasant, time-consuming and difficult.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 3:44 PM Location Marble Mountain and Vicinity | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life on Marble Mountain
The 3rd Annual Marble Mountain New Year's Polar Bear Dip will be held at 1:00 Friday afternoon. Jump in! If you can't bring yourself to join in, come along for the fun. Warming refreshments will be served on the beach.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 8:39 PM Location Marble Mountain Beach | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life on Marble Mountain
Last night we heard a dog barking nearby. Or so we thought. As we tried to figure out what dog was barking, it turned into choppy barks, then overlapping yips and, after a few minutes, evolved into the howls of coyotes. From the sound, they were at the top of our driveway on the road. We listened to them for a good 5 minutes or so. Then they took off quickly going east. Whew!

There is something about the coyote calls that intrigues. We listened to them through the open window until we could no longer hear them.

I do not worry all that much about them coming into my yard. We have two healthy, strong canines that leave plenty of scent messages for other canines. Canines of all stripes have a strong respect for territory and I suspect that keeps the critters out of my yard. I hope I'm right about that.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 7:53 AM Location Home | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life on Marble Mountain
We just got back from a dog walk on the beach and it was wonderful. The sun is shining, there's a gentle beeze blowing a light ripple on the water's surface and the temperature is above freezing. You won't get better weather on Christmas Day than this. The dogs had a good run and swim.

Big Christmas hugs, everyone!

Posted by Maggie Davis At 12:29 PM Location MM Beach | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: 'Tis The Season
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with your loved ones. Hopefully Santa will bring you the good things you want. Hopefully you won't end up with any duds that need to be returned or, worse, a handmade sweater with too-short sleeves that you feel compelled to keep.

The weather is very accommodating today. I walked the dogs and it was warm enough that by the time we got back to the car I had peeled off my hat, mittens, scarf and jacket. It's hard to remember the last time we had a Christmas Eve day this pleasant. The air is still and the lake surface is glass. Beautiful!

Merry Christmas! and don't eat too many sweets. But if you run out, come to my house, we have extra. As my cousin Martha said, it's an Anderson family thing, we all do that.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 1:24 PM Location Everywhere | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: 'Tis The Season
We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ We Wish You a Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas ♥ ♥ ♥ We Wish You A Merry ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ Christmas ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪...And A Happy New Year! ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪... Copy and paste~keep the wave going

Posted by Maggie Davis At 11:32 AM Location Musicland | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Where's Maggie?
If you want to reach me, drop in or call 625.5818 or 625.0302. I'll be here until 4:30, with a break for lunch.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 9:07 AM Location 304 Reynolds Street | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life on Marble Mountain
So much for all that snow that plagued southern and western areas, we have only rain and the temperature is 37F/3C. Dave, Jim Rachel and I had soggy walk with the dogs but it was pleasant nonetheless. Hopefully this rain will presist until all the slush is washed away. As long as we don't end up with loads of ice underfoot, we'll be happy. This might not be a white Christmas.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 3:19 PM Location Cove road | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life on Marble Mountain
The sky surely does look like a goodly snow is coming and we all expect to see the first flakes soon. We just did our daily dog & human walk and we saw nary a flake. We had a very pleasant walk, with the guys trailing behind. Jean, Rachel and I led the way, with Kit and Jim keeping Tom company. Tom's using a walking stick and getting along pretty well. The dogs had a blast, running and barking and playing with each other. They all get along very nicely.

If you want to join us on our daily dog walks, let us know. We usually go out in mid-afternoon. When the road behind Black's Cove gets too difficult to traverse, we'll walk on Militia Point Road or up at the old Calder farm or at a place in Lime Hill. Just so you know, we do have permission to hike on these properties. It's actually a good thing to have us hikers there, I'm pretty sure we deter thieves from breaking in.

On our walk today we noticed tire tracks down all the driveways, as if someone is looking for unoccupied properties. Uh-oh, here we go again. We'll have to step up patrols and make a point of having a camera and notebook with pen handy, just in case we come across anyone who doesn't look familiar.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 3:07 PM Location Road To Buecken's Bridge | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Food & Fun
9:00 - Noon. Adults: $6 Children $3

Proceeds from this event will be donated to the West Bay Pastoral Charge Food Basket Drive.

Enjoy a morning of good food, camaraderie, Christmas spirit – and, at the same time, donate to a very worthy cause

Posted by Maggie Davis At 6:43 AM Location St. George's Channel Hall | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Wild Weather
According to the WP: The biggest Washington-area snowstorm to hit the area in years is about to become a reality, with 8-16 or more inches likely for the metro region. Here, that much snow is business as usual and we drive a little slower, at least some of us will, and we keep the snow shovel beside the front door. We have perhaps 6 - 8 inches here, they have us beat for accumulation. That kind of snowfall will shut down the D.C. metro region. It has been a few years since that region saw that amount of snow. They are not prepared and do not handle it well. I'm very glad to not have to deal with it.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 7:46 PM Location D.C. | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Birds
Now that the temperature has plummeted well below freezing, the chicken's water freezes night & day. This means that by the time fresh water comes out to them, they are very happy to have it. To warm the hens and to slow the freezing, the water is brought out to them quite warm and they really like that, they all come running for a hot drink as fast as their chicken feet will take them. You know they are happy by the sounds they make, they chirp a low trill, much like the purr of a contented cat.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 8:55 AM Location Chicken Coop | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: 'Tis The Season
Jutta and Armin wish a good and safe Christmas and a Happy New Year to all their friends in and around Marble Mountain. They will be on their way to Bangkok tomorrow.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 8:29 AM Location Germany | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Horoscope
Looking Forward To Saturday!

Avoid arguments with relatives who might be conservative and outdated.

Move forward if you want to turn your life around.

Don't take sides if you wish to remain on good terms with both parties.

Invite people home to discuss your plans for group fundraising events and outings.

Your lucky day this week will be Saturday. (I've no idea what this means but I hope it's something good!)

Posted by Maggie Davis At 10:26 AM Location Who Knows! | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Inspirational Proverb
Whatever relationships you have attracted in your life at this moment, are precisely the ones you need in your life at this moment. There is a hidden meaning behind all events, and this hidden meaning is serving your own evolution. ~ Deepak Chopra

Posted by Maggie Davis At 10:08 AM Location Life | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life In General
John is plugging along. He's doing very well I think. I'm trying to keep him entertained. Some of our friends have brought him more books so he reads a lot. We go back to PT and OT tomorrow for the first time since his surgery last week and he is doing exercises at home every day. We have to wait until his incision heals and the stitches come out before he will start his radiation/chemo therapy - probably next week.

Anne said the new ramp is in progress, measurements have been taken and construction could start as soon as the weekend. - Mag

Posted by Maggie Davis At 9:17 AM Location North Carolina | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life on Marble Mountain
What time was last year's Polar Bear Dip? Was it at 1:00? We'll figure this out. If we can drive down to the wharf or beach, it will be there. Otherwise, we'll have to find an accessible location.

Who will participate?

Okay. Time for my nap. I'm home alone and the house is quiet. If I can kick this bronchitis ... things will look up for the New Year 2010. People keep asking me if I'm going to do the Polar Bear Dip and when I say no they ask me why. Are they crazy???? Me, jump into icy water? Please plant marguerites over me when I'm 6 feet under.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 3:59 PM Location Beach | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Adventures
Full or half day 9-noon, 1-4. At Audrey Fraser's. Jeff MacDonald will officiate. All will be done in Gaelic. I've been told it will be fun. $10.00. Lunch included.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 6:16 AM Location Blues Mills | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life on Marble Mountain
A light, fluffy snow fell overnight.  This will be a good day to take pix of the cove at 3:00 in the late afternoon light. I hope I get some good ones to share with you. That's assuming I'll be able to walk on that road, depending on the snowfall.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 8:17 AM Location Behind The Cove | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: 'Tis The Season
It's that time of year and I have a hankering for some good cookies. Biscochitos. Chocolate drops. Oatmeal raisin. Masurkas. Filled shortbread. What else? At this point, I'll feel successful if I can manage one kind. Sometimes I have to set the bar low.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 5:46 AM Location Kitchen | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Health
I seem to be solidly on the mend, though still weary. I had a chest x-ray and it was good, no lingering infection or other problems revealed. I think I need to be very patient, rest a lot and take good care of myself. I don't bounce back from these things like I did when I was younger. So much for Christmas cookies, gift shopping and cards. My xmas gift to myself this year is a full recovery, no matter what it takes. (A trip to Maui could be very therapeutic.) For some mysterious reason, a walk outside seems to help clear out my lungs, then I nap. Anyone for a good, slow, little walk? Oh my, that sounds like a singles ad! LOL!!!

Posted by Maggie Davis At 5:42 PM Location Home | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Local News
It's still in the calendar for last Sunday but it was postponed to this weekend due to weather.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 12:27 PM Location West Bay Hall | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Local News
Should be fun. Hopefully someone has entered details in the Around The Lake calendar.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 12:20 PM Location West Bay Hall | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Health
The pneumonia has departed but the bronchitis remains. I need a hug! In the absence of hugs, I need prayers. Forget that I'm a heathen, I need all the help I can get. I think it's time to go back and see the doctor again.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 7:55 PM Location My Airways | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tags: Life & Health
They are still fghting battles with his health. This is quite a challenge they are facing as they come into the new year. I'll keep you posted. Call or email me for further details. (I don't want to put everything in this Journal.)

Posted by Maggie Davis At 9:32 AM Location North Carolina | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Weather
The first day of winter is still nearly two weeks away but you'd never know it by the weather. An accumulation is hardened on the ground from the 4" - 5" that fell on Sunday. Tonight we're expecting more, wait a few days and we'll be getting yet more. It's looking like another icy winter in the yard.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 7:21 AM Location Marble Mountain | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: 'Tis The Season
This afternoon, several of the Ladies Who Craft For The Tea And Sale gathered for a relaxing pre-Christmas, post-sale lunch. In attendance were Betty Mueller, Michealette, Berle, Marjorie, Betty Talbot and myself. Helen (she moved to PH) and Anne couldn't make it this year, though Anne made a significant contribution to the crafts. In all, 4 decades of women were present and had Helen attended that would have made 5! From 50's to 80's. Pretty impressive, yes?

This particular date was chosen weeks ago to accommodate the schedules of all the very busy women who are involved in the tea & sale fundraiser. With the cold that I caught, followed by bronchitis, pneumonia and H1N1, I nearly didn't make it and I'm glad I did. I had a blast!

This is a particularly pleasant group of women and we all enjoyed ourselves. Betty Talbot brought a wonderful salad and she started out our meal with a scallop shell-filled appetizer of mixed shellfish. Lovely! Then we dipped into the salad. Michelette made a pot of aromatic mixed rice and a seafood casserole of halibut, scallops and shrimp. You couldn't ask for a better spread. We followed that with a dessert of homemade green tomato mincemeat, that Michealette made from Betty T's garden tomatoes, over ice cream. Marjorie treated us to a plate of her wonderful home made shortbreads. Are we spoiled? Maybe, but we're not complaining.

We talked about how the sale went, what sold, what didn't, what's a good thing to repeat next year and we came up with a few new ideas. I won't tell you what the new idea are, you'll have to go to the 2010 Tea & Sale and find out for yourself. Remember to bring some money with you.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 9:52 PM Location Betty's house, Orangedale | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: It's The Season
There's a coating of white on my doormat. Last week there was a dusting, our first snow of the season. I listened to rainfall overnight and as dawn arrived, the temperature dropped enough to turn the precip to snow. It's looking like xmas.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 6:16 AM Location Outdoors | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life & Health
From Anne yesterday, regarding her husband's recovery: We went to Physical Therapy and Occ Therapy this morning at UNC.  It was very encouraging.  They seem to think that he may be able to get all or most of the use of his arm and leg back.  His leg is much better already.  We have to go twice a week for the foreseeable future barring unforeseen developments in the MRI next Tuesday.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 2:30 PM Location North Carolina | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life In General
“The Colour of the Year is an airy and optimistic blue that symbolizes infinite horizons, new beginnings, renewed energy and a positive dynamic. This clear, transparent shade encapsulates a sense of purity and goodness – a hopeful colour full of possibility. It puts over an image of vast skies, breezy ozone freshness and the energy and essentiality of water. Given these associations plus the fact that it is a receding colour it will always create a sense of space.

Blue, in colour psychology terms, is the colour associated with sky and sea. Airy light blues are recognised as being refreshing, soothing and liberating. They are good in helping to combat mental strain and stress, physical tiredness and feelings of exhaustion whilst at the same time being re-energising and encouraging fresh starts. They are also thought to enhance powers of communication which can help to promote feelings of confidence.

A balance of the spiritual and the intellectual is represented by the allusion to air, sky and water – the freedom of the spirit married to the rationality of the mind; the vision of the artist to the knowledge of the scientist. Both in interior and exterior setting this blue has an important role to play. It complements perfectly the contemporary materials and modern neutrality of glass, steel and concrete, but also works with stronger and more traditional interior shades such as crimson, burgondy, plum, teal, pewter and gold.

This colour speaks of hope and clarity – a pure, clean and unpolluted direction for the future of our planet; a chance to reclaim possibility with renewed vigour and energy – the clear new horizon of tomorrow.”

-from Akzo Nobel Colour Futures book.

Posted by Maggie Davis At 8:28 AM Location Everywhere | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: 'Tis The Season
I got this directly from the L'Arche website:

The Christmas Pageant will be held on Sunday, December 13th at 2pm at Strathspey Place in Mabou. Come and get into the Christmas spirit and see the Christmas Story told as only L’Arche can! Tickets available at the door. Donations Gratefully Accepted

Posted by Maggie Davis At 12:04 AM Location Strathspey Place in Mabou | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: A Dubious Distinction
I went to see my doctor today. He said I have bronchitis, pneumonia and H1N1. I am on a 5 day course of medications. Do I have the distinction of being the first person you know to take Tamiflu?

Posted by Maggie Davis At 2:59 PM Location MM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life In General
Do you ever wonder what the cost for these wars is to us personally (not including deaths, ruined lives and well-being)? The governments have not been forthcoming with this information. My cousin, Matthew, put this on his Facebook page. I think you'll find it interesting. http://costofwar.com/

Posted by Maggie Davis At 9:21 AM Location Iraq, Afghanistan | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tags: Life on Marble Mountain
I doubt the frosting will last long but it's pretty for now. Soon enough each new snowflake will bring groans. I wonder what this full moon has to do with the first snowfall arriving last night.

Doesn't it make you feel like Christmas is coming?

Posted by Maggie Davis At 4:38 AM Location Outdoors | Permalink | Comments (1)

Tags:

Posted by Maggie Davis At 8:25 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0)