Peak of the Bluff

This morning I spent 45 minutes sitting on the couch staring into space while two Yorkies piled on my lap and slept, emitting small but distinct snores. It was chilly and Karma and Tantra weren't ready for the season change. Dressed in their newest sweaters but still shivering, they climbed into my lap and snuggled sweetly, all the while prohibiting my slightest movement. Tantra gave me a piercing glare when I dared wipe my drippy nose.



Later, when I could sit still no longer, I took them outside. Here is how Bluff Mountain looks this morning from my front porch. The leaves are brilliant. Always at this time of the year, I wish that I could paint so I could capture that riot of red and orange and gold mixed with the green.



There's not anything much cuter than Yorkie butts, is there? I know you would think I'm crazy if you heard me say this (I'll let you in on a little secret - I am crazy) I would like to have two more Yorkies. Yes, two more! The only reason I don't have two more is threefold: 1) We have carpet - ruined carpet - and I would like to have Yorkie resistant floors before we attempt housetraining anyone else. Karma was a year and a half before she was completely housetrained and Tantra is just a year old and still not completely there. 2) Barkley. Barkley is like 10 Yorkies rolled into one, plus, despite his more or less easy-going temperament, he's a danger to tiny dogs. My heart always stops dead in my chest everytime I see him with Tantra's whole head in his mouth, and doesn't quite resume it's normal rhythm until said head emerges still attached to it's body. Barkley has been known to murder and attempt to murder creatures who are much larger than Tantra and it was just not a good idea to try and mix the big dog with the little dogs. 3) We don't have a fenced in yard. I die a thousand deaths every time I open the door to let Karma out and she runs as fast as her four inch legs will carry her down the driveway into the street. She doesn't know about the danger of cars and my neighbors, regardless of the two dozen children who live in this neighborhood, insist on driving like our quarter mile street is the Autobahn. Tantra would do likewise except he doesn't leave the house except on a lead. Not only does he pelt down the driveway and out into the street, he runs down the neighbor's driveway, through their front and backyards and is in the next township while I'm still standing at my front door blinking stupidly after him. Thank the powers that be for Barkley then. "Go get Tantra!" I command and Barkley is on a mission. He runs down the little man like a ... well .. like a dog and detains him until I can arrive on the scene to bring him home.

And for those of you who have complained commented that there aren't enough pictures of Simon and Gracie on my blog:

Moon Over Karma

Here is a shot of the moon over Three Top Mountain as I was leaving for work one morning this past week. The leaves are at their peak this weekend, I imagine ... late this season. Locally, we're expecting some unseasonably cold weather tomorrow through the first of the week. So far, we haven't experienced a frost but I can feel it in the air tonight. Tantra is wearing his new "harness hole" sweater. This is a sweater which allows me to hook his leash through the sweater so he can wear it easily when he is walked. He fights me like a squirmy toddler while putting it on but gets over it right now once it's on. So now you know what I've been knitting. I started a new project today. It's a hat. You'll have to wait to see it, though. I'm altering it slightly so we'll see how that goes.



Meanwhile, the nights are getting colder and longer. Thanksgiving is still 33 days away (that's when I'll see Terry next) and Halloween just a week from now (my favorite holiday). I think I'll have some mulled cider, pop in a DVD fraught with suspense and settle in for the night ahead.

Greyhound, Man, Greyhound

I delivered Terry and 347 pounds of luggage to the bus station today. He's en route to Terre Haute, Indiana by way of Nashville, Tennessee. He's playing music in the lounge at the Holiday Inn for a week then back to Nashville next Sunday to catch a flight to Orlando to start teching for the Christmas Across America tour with Radio City Music Hall. He's in Orlando for a week and from there he goes to Myrtle Beach and a return engagement at the Palace Theater. As you may or may not know, Terry was house audio engineer at the Palace from 1995 until 1998. He'll be in Myrtle Beach until December 10 and then the show moves to Owens Auditorium in Charlotte, NC where he'll finish up January 3.

So, until then, I'll be ronery. Sigh. Just a little ronery. Poor rittle me.

And today would have been the 65th birthday of John Lennon. We all shine on.

My Karma

We have recently found out that Terry will not be returning to Detroit for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular this year. He has been assigned to the Christmas Across America tour which means he will start out in Myrtle Beach and finish up in Charlotte. This is really good news as it means he will not be so far from home and will make it easier for me to travel to see him.

For the past two years, Karma and I have flown to Detroit for Christmas. Karma is an ideal flight companion even though she does have to be stowed under the seat in front. She is usually asleep before take-off and doesn't stir until we land. (Don't you wish the children on your flight were that well-behaved?)

I have fond memories of the past two Christmases in Detroit but am looking forward to a new Christmas tradition a little closer to home.

Here is Karma on the plane in 2003:

Karma Chameleon

Red, gold and green. Red, gold and gree-ee-een.

Oh the leaves, they are a-changin'.

Speaking of changing - if you haven't already, hie thyself over to myspace.com and listen to Terry's latest recording.