Wednesday, November 19~Winter is Here~

I would be the first to say that I LOVE winter, but even I have been taken aback by the abruptness of this recent snow and cold snap.  It has provided for some lovely landscape photos and because of cold, cold temperatures the sunrises and sunsets have been spectacular. Unfortunately, you can't stand to be outside to enjoy them for very long.  I guess that is why we have windows.

Monday morning view from our front deck

American Goldfinch

This little bird just recently returned from their nesting grounds in northern Canada, could it be this little Dark-eyed Junco's fault that we had early snow?  He is commonly called a "snow bird"

The Little Darby

The last few weeks have been rather emotional for me.  Rae LeCompte died on the 22nd of this month, exactly one month after my dad died.  She was many things to me as I recall our long association spanning nearly 51 years.  I had Rae as my PE teacher when I was an 8th grader at West Jeff  and she was a coach and mentor to me throughout high school.  I credit her with helping me to see the endless possibilities that were ahead of me.  My college choice of Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee was no surprise, it was Rae's alma mater. My major was physical and health education with minors in biology and music.  I was fortunate enough to be hired to teach PE at West Jeff at the middle school level and for awhile I worked with Rae until she moved to the high school to teach biology.  At the end of my career Rae came back as an administrator for the middle school and she became my boss.  It is safe to say that Rae was the most influential person in my life with my Grandpa Wilson being a very close second.  I could not have modeled my life after a more beautiful person.  Her Memorial last Sunday only served to show how many lives were impacted by Rae's teaching, counseling and friendships over her 77 years.  I will miss her deeply.

This is the sunrise from this morning over the Little Darby, I think of you, Rae.