And Then I Remembered......

- Why do I remember November 1-2? Living in a rural section of northern Middle Tennessee in my teenage years, I always looked forward to autumn..... basketball season, hunting season, holiday family gatherings, and so on. But I remember this date in 1966 not for Vietnam, The Beatles, or any of the previous reasons, but for the weather forecast...one that wound up being mostly accurate. On this date in 1966, my Tennessee location received 10" of snow. Shortly thereafter, in December of the same year, while standing around a pot-bellied stove in a country store, having a snack (probably a bologna sandwich, Coke and moon pie), two military men in full uniform walked into the place, which was located in as rural a location as can be imagined. They asked for my uncle, who happened to be standing nearby. We knew. Military men with lots of medals on their attire did not frequent our country store. A few moments later I found out that my 18-year old cousin had become the second Tennessee soldier killed in Vietnam. Some things are hard to forget.

- Brillilant weather continues in our southeast Tennessee location. A couple of good rains last week. Today is another 'Chamber of Commerce' day.....upper 60s, 25% humidity, and brilliant skies. Later in the week, below normal temperatures are forecast. I feel another long hike coming on.

Photos....Bottom to Top......

- The Northern Mockingbird, the state bird of the great state of Tennessee. This one seemed to be enjoying his perch atop an American Holly....so much so that I included two photos. These bold, energetic birds often return to the same tree each spring to build their nest. They are well named, as I have heard them mimic a variety of sounds, some natural and some no doubt unnatural, in their loud, vocal expressions. They even sing at night, often perched atop a utility pole or tree, especially at/near the time of a full moon.
- Acer rubrum....The Red Maple. Some specimens in our area of The Cumberland Plateau are more brilliant than others, but this very common tree is always beautiful in autumn.
- The Praying Mantis...Family Mantidae, Phylum Arthropoda, Genus Stagomantis....These carnivorous insects are unusual in many ways. They are the only insect that can rotate their head 180 degrees...and the triangular shaped head is distinctive. They feed on other insects primarily, and the jaws are powerful for so small a creature. Coloration varies from green to various shades of brown. They grow to 5"-6". This one, in the typical 'praying' posture, was photographed on a home within our properties. The last segment of the front legs is folded back.

- Top photos are of local specimens of genus Carya....the hickories. Both the Pignut and Mockernut Hickories are common here. The Shagbark Hickory, like the Black Walnut (Genus Juglans), is found here, though rarely at the elevations of the Cumberland Plateau. The latter two species are more common in the lower elevations and rolling hills of Middle Tennessee.