It all started with a over cast and rainy day

Larger than a serving Platter it was~~

defining Snap and shuffle

There she was just a-walkin' down the street,

Snappin' her fingers and shufflin' her feet, singin' "Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do"

George was barking, I looked outside and saw no New car in the drive way…the rain continued to fall… ~~~~~~~~ George was persistent, the rain was persistent…Which is a good thing ya see.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I was going out, taking trash out I saw IT...

~~~~~~~~~~

~Do Wah Diddy, by Manfred Mann~

~~~~~~~~~

There she was just a-walkin' down the street, singin' "Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do"

~~~~~~~~

[Tee hee on the next line…Turtles, least snappers have a defining Snap and shuffle!]

~~~~~~~~~~ Snappin' her fingers and shufflin' her feet, singin' "Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Larger than a serving Platter it was~~ Thoughts went to this ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BUT then it was the Rains fault!~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The audacious Chelydra Serpentina plundered forth

~~~~~~~~~~ Snappin' her fingers and shufflin' her feet, singin' "Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Snapping Turtle lives in all kinds of aquatic habitats from rivers and lakes to ponds and small streams. While in the water, the snapping turtle loses its aggressive behavior and becomes very shy. They will move away from people and other animals in the water, unless of course they are the prey of the turtle. They avoid encounters by being bottom dwellers in their water homes, but they do occasionally come out on shore or a log to absorb some of the heat from the sunlight. They have been seen crossing roads and entering yards while moving from one habitat to another or during their reproductive season moving to suitable nesting sites.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

WHAT TO DO

~~~~~ I grabbed the camera…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How to clean a turtle!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Turtle Soup

~~~~~~

YmmOooo Turtle Soup "Do wah diddy diddy dum diddy do" THEN if you are NOT willing to go through that… this is an option!

~~~~~~~~~~~ Common Snapping Turtles: Catching, Cleaning, Eating

~~~~~~~~~~~

Mock Turtle Soup

~~~~~~~~~~ It gets better: Oh YEAH! The wild Turkeys came through!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How to Field Dress a Turkey

~~~~~~~~~~~~ PS: we have raised our own turkeys and have eaten them…I highly recommend the Bronze Backed to the white ones…more dark meat and larger and extremely tender. The broth is AMBER so lovely.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ One year we dressed two of our own out, one-weighed 40 pounds the other 42…OH yes this is a truth! Just ask my Sweetie… I helped too I am one PLUCKY wife! Tee hee Lucky as well! :)

MOON

Something neat to check out!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Picture not of a recent Moon however…

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BIG FULL MOON: This week's full Moon (Oct. 25-26) is the biggest full Moon of 2007. It's no illusion. Some full Moons are genuinely larger than others and Thursday night will be as much as 14% wider and 30% brighter than lesser full Moons we've seen earlier this year. Check http://spaceweather.com for the reasons why. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This week's full Moon is a "perigee Moon" with extra-high "perigean tides."

On our drive back home we passed a favorite landmark of mine.

Check those old cars

Antiques are fun to look at as well.

This was a great place that I would like to go back to.

Yokum’s

Harper’s Old Country Store since 1902

Seneca Rocks is a large rock exposure (outcrop) of lower Silurian age Tuscarora Formation quartz sandstone and a local landmark in Pendleton County in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, USA. It is easily visible and accessible along West Virginia Route 28 in the Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area. One of the best-known scenic attractions in West Virginia, the sheer rock face of Seneca Rocks is a popular challenge for rock climbers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every time I pass this place the The Legend of Seneca Rocks pops into my mind.

~~~~~~~~~~

The Betrothal of Snow Bird, Princess of the Seneca Indians

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The only daughter of chief Bald Eagle and his wife, White Rock, was Snow Bird. As a young girl she played at the base of these towering rocks, often gazing at their topmost peaks and longing to be able to climb to the tallest of them. As a young woman, she became the most beautiful of all the maidens of the Senecas. Her rank and beauty brought many men from her tribe and neighboring tribes courting her. The rivalry caused her to face the serious problem of choosing a mate. When the day arrived to choose a mate, seven young warriors, all suitors for the hand of the Seneca princess, assembled in an open space and arranged themselves in a semi-circle facing the mighty rocks. The faint-hearted had dropped from the contest, not daring to face the ordeal to which they were sure they would be subjected. Silence reigned on all sides. This rush of expectancy was on all until the beautiful Princess Snow Bird clad in the royal garb of her tribe, moved swiftly and gracefully into the circle and faced her lovers. She lifted her hand and silence fell upon the assembled. Ever since I was a little girl, I have watched yonder rocks push their rugged summits into the heavens and many times I have longed to be able to climb to their topmost crags. There have I spent the happiest, the most enjoyable days of my life. Of all the Seneca Indians, I am the only one who has accomplished the feat. One day, about a moon past, I decided upon a contest, a trial of bravery and endurance. You will soon engage in this contest, and to the successful one of you, I will give my hand, my heart and my life."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Princess Snow Bird set out on the journey, followed by the seven braves. Upward they climbed, the sure-footed maiden always leading. As the climb became more and more difficult, three of the seven turned back, dispirited and disappointed. Another followed to the fifth pinnacle and then wearied of the struggle and gave up. A fifth man crumpled in a heap near the same pinnacle and was rescued from death by the fourth, who led him back to safety. The two that remained followed closely in the footsteps of the maiden. Finally, with renewed determination, they set out on the last and most dangerous stretch of the journey, the maiden as always, in the lead. At last she reached the summit and turned to look for her most persistent suitor. He was only a few feet below her. In this moment of waiting, his foot slipped on the ledge of rock. The maiden hesitated for a fraction of a second. Was he not the bravest and strongest of the Senecas? Where would she ever find his equal? So with the alertness and strength of her young arms, she caught the falling brave and drew him to safety and to herself. Long they sat together talking of their future, and then as darkness approached, the two lovers descended by the trail at the rear of the gigantic rocks. They stood before Chief Bald Eagle and White Rock. The great chief conferred upon his newfound son-in-law the authority to become his successor as chief of the tribe.

Quandary

DO you know how hard it is to get just the RIGHT name for a pet, let alone naming anything?

~~~~~~~~~~~

Little boy is 2 and ½ pounds sis is 2 pounds.

~~~ They have been here just a little over 24 hours…they have begun to play with a string toy. Male purred first Sister is very shy, but she finally purred.

~~~~~~~~~~~ Mom comes here Thursday after her surgery…she has been called Bernadette…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So far here are the considered names for the kittens;

~~~~~~~~~~~ Today youngest son and I split wood, the leaves the mild wind and the gentle drizzle made my mind go to Middle Earth as in The Lord of the Rings.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Names like: Galadriel ["galAYdriel" with a long a] and her brother Finrod.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Celebrían is a fictional character created by J. R. R. Tolkien. She is an Elven noblewoman, the daughter of Celeborn and Galadriel, wife of Elrond, and mother of Elrohir, Elladan and Arwen. She was referred to as Lady of Rivendell. Her name means "silver queen" in Sindarin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celebrian means "silver queen." The word celeb means "silver." The ending rian means "crown gift" from rî meaning "crown" and anna meaning "gift." sel-EB-rie-anne

~~~~~~~~~~~ THEN sense and sensibilities prevail???????????

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Little girl WILLOW, cause she is so gentle as the breeze mingles with the leaves of this tree.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Little Brother: Jacopo (Character) from The Count of Monte Cristo (1934)

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Then MOM cat: EVITA

~~~~ Ya got to think CALL NAMES you see!

~~~~~~~~~ So goes the Fall and the trees and a day of splitting wood the thought just went on and on as the log splitter screamed different melodies from the different woods.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fall pictures as we return from Richmond, The Eastern Continental Divide runs from a triple point or triple divide on an unnamed peak near the town of Gold in northern Pennsylvania near Wellsville (village), New York down the Appalachian Mountains, through Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, along the northwestern border of South Carolina, Georgia, and down through the tip of Florida.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Eastern Continental Divide separates the waters flowing to the Atlantic from those flowing to the Gulf of Mexico. The airport at Blacksburg is on the Eastern Continental Divide. Some rain runs off it to the north, into Cedar Run and the North Fork of the Roanoke River and down to Albermarle-Pamlico Sound in North Carolina. But rain running to the south will drain into Stroubles Creek and then the New River. That water will flow through West Virginia, down the Ohio River, and with the Mississippi past New Orleans. After dropping a little bit of sediment from Montgomery County into the birds-foot delta of the Mississippi River, the water from the Blacksburg Airport will finally enter the Gulf of Mexico.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ …Will update when I FINALLY decide the names.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow however is a keeper name!

Big Day here

the male kitten

Little female kitten OH she is so lovely

Side view of Mom Cat

The male kitten looking just toooooo CUTE

Mom Cat below

Her three kittens above

It has happened AGAIN. I was INNOCENTLY getting medications for our dog George. As I waited in the Veterinarians office my head looked toward the Bulletin Board. YA the ones with PLEASE ADOPT this or that animal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The gentleman in front of me was picking his dog up from surgery and the wait time was longer than usual. So there I was, needed to entertain myself………………………… That is when IT Happened.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pictures no less, I sighed and told myself NO NO NO! Myself did not listen too well. I took the phone number down anyway, thinking I would, on the drive home, talk myself out of the mad desire to get kittens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It did not work!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later in the afternoon I assembled a new bed, toys, new feeding dish etc. I think SUCKER is written across my forehead! I called the number and the lady sounds so nice…MAN am I an easy mark or what?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So all the way to Richmond and all the way back pondering names for the soon to be brother and sister littermates. Yes, for sure I am excited. I will pick up these wee ones late this afternoon after they have been vetted. Also George will have time to re settle on from our trip.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BUT it gets BETTER, I think! I talked to the lady last evening about sending pictures via e-mail so my Sweetie could see what was coming here. She, the lady said, {I paraphrase here ~~ “would you consider taking the MOM Cat?”]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ YIKES and YE GADS…I tip toe into the Family Room and interrupt my Sweetie and the Steelers Football Game…I get the comment from my Sweetie “Go for it”! Awwwwwwwwwwwww he is so sweet!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So here it is three new felines. Already talked to the Vet today and we are scheduling “Mom” to be Spayed etc prior to her coming here, Safer that way for sure. Perhaps Thursday the Mom will have been scheduled for surgery and recovery time might be this weekend. YE GADS!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BUT wait, look at them, aren’t they just tooooooooooooooo cute? Now to watch them and decided upon names…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shades of: The music for "My Favorite Things"

~~~~~~~~~~

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,

bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

brown paper packages tied up with strings,

these are a few of my favorite things.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels,

door bells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles.

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings.

these are a few of my favorite things

SIGH

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Life is GOOD

Recommendations while in Richmond...

The Strawberry Street Café and 81 warm sunny skies, the Wedding was lovely. But before the Wedding some sight seeing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yummmmmmmmmmmm the VEGETARIAN BEAN BURGERBlack and white beans blended with spices and lightly sautéed…a healthy alternativeToppings for Burgers Topped with sautéed mushrooms and Provolone!

~~~~~~~~~~

WOW

~~~~~~~~~~~~ My Sweetie enjoyed the FRENCH DIP ~Thinly sliced sirloin on a bakery fresh croissant with cheddar cheese and au jus for dipping.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Let me tell you about the dessert, it was amazing! CHOCOLATE WALNUT PIE alamode ~Homemade pie loaded with chocolate and walnuts, prepared with a flaky crust. Served warm, topped with vanilla bean ice cream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Sweetie had the CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKEWarm homemade chocolate cake with a soft truffle on the inside. Served with vanilla bean ice cream. Topped with chocolate ganache.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

ganache [Ganache (pronounced [gəˈnɑʃ], "guh-NAHSH") is a French word (literally translated as "fool") for a mixture of chocolate and dairy (milk, butter, heavy cream, etc). Ganache is used as an icing or filling for pastries, filled chocolates, chocolate truffles, and other desserts. Its origins date to around 1850, possibly invented in Switzerland or in France.[1]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ganache is normally made by boiling heavy cream, then pouring it over chopped (bitter) chocolate. The mixture is stirred or blended until smooth. Ganache can be enhanced with liqueurs or extracts.Depending on the intended usage of the ganache, the proportions of chocolate to cream can vary. Typically, a ganache is equal parts chocolate and cream; this is used for filling cakes. For a chocolate truffle base, a ratio of 2:1 (chocolate to cream) is used. For making a glaze, the ratio is 3:1.] And whipped cream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the FIRST TIME EVER I REALLY heard him say I am “chocolated” out. As I live and breathe he DID say this!

~~~~~~~~

~ Inside the restaurant~~~ The wait staff were Excellent! Intricate stained glass, rich woodwork, antique mirrors, fresh flowers and candles on every table all give the Cafe a sense of coziness and intimacy. On each wall is a chalkboard created by artist members of the restaurant staff who change their work seasonally.

~~~~~~~ Recently, Strawberry Street Café experienced national recognition on the game show Jeopardy.

~~~~~~~ Host Alex Trebec read the answer: The Strawberry Street Café in this Virginia capitalis famous for its bathtub salad bar, to which thequestion was: What is Richmond?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I located this recipe from Epicurious

~~~~~~~~~

Chocolate-walnut pie

~~~~~~ Nathalie Dupree's Comfortable Entertaining September 1998 Nathalie Dupree

~~~~~~~~~~ This is a variation of a classic pecan pie recipe with the addition of chocolate. It’s a bit hedonistic. It is very easy to assemble, but it takes 45 to 50 minutes to bake. Servings: Makes 8 servings

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ingredients 4 ounces semisweet chocolate

1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust made from Basic Pie Pastry

3 large eggs,

lightly beaten

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted and allowed to cool

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups broken walnuts

Garnish (optional)Whipped cream

~~~~~~~~~~

Preparation:

~~~~~~~ Preheat the oven to 350°F. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or in a heavy pot on low heat.

Pour it evenly into the unbaked pie shell.

In a large bowl, mix the eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, and vanilla well.

Stir in the walnuts.

Pour the mixture into the chocolate-lined pie shell and bake until the filling is set, 45 to 50 minutes.

Remove to a rack and let cool.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ The pie may be made ahead several days, or frozen for up to 3 months.

Serve with whipped cream if desired.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AHEAD is a good thing goodness

Thanksgiving is approaching!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PS~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Mountaineers beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs by a count of 38-13.

Hard day for us, no access to a televised version to the game, no radio feed, BUT limited access after we left the reception from the travel PC.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Whooooooooo Hoooooooooooooo!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Also never fear, I had a “softened” outfit on with muted Blue and gold…even for the wedding, Dressier for sure, BUT I had to do it. Silly MOI!

Sunflowers, birds, berries, burning bush, Sweet shrub pods

And WVU

********** The tail end [pun intended of the Cat walk]

************

I could not get a good picture of the birds feasting on the Sunflowers heads………………..

********** Black-capped Chickadee, (Parus atricapillus),

****

and Tufted titmouse ( Baeolophus bicolor)

********************* BUT I got a BLUR of one. Rather hard when Castor was with me. As I look at the picture of the sunflower head, they look as if they had been put in the pilgrims public stocks. ;)

************************* Skies opened up this am and sent forth some needed rain…we will take what is given.

****************************************** Now off for a relaxing weekend ~

Cat Walk ~~~~ Part Three

A connection is made on this early Fall Walk

A Cat Walk ~~~ Part Two

A Cat Walk~~Part One

The other evening after planting the bulbs, Castor, one of our cats came along for a photo OP!

~~~~~~~~~~ Three of our cats like to “assist” me in the garden, Castor and his brother Pollux and Mufasa.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [The name "Mufasa" means "King" in the Manazoto language. from the movie The Lion King]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Castor and his brother Pollux indeed were littermates. They, all three I have spoken about, are pet rescues.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[In Greek mythology the Dioskouroi (Διόσκουροι), Kastor and Polydeuces (Κάστωρ και Πολυδεύκης), in Roman mythology the Gemini (Latin, "twins") or Castores, Castor and Pollux are the twin sons of Leda and the brothers of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. According to Liddell and Scott's Lexicon, kastor is Greek for "he who excels", and poludeukeis means "very sweet".]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We do tend to name our animals non traditional names, for the most part. Seems to have been a trend even when I first dated my Sweetie. That cats name was GOOSE…ya I know, but as a college student what fun to call for it in the neighbourhood.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hope you enjoy! I of course HAD to put in a few pictures of BLUE AND GOLD cause WVU plays this Saturday. Gooooooooo Mountaineers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (9) West Virginia [(5-1)] v Mississippi St. [(4-3)] at 3:30pm ET