TN condo - 3

Continuing my view from the second floor TN condo deck, one could tell that these trees had been hit by the same late freeze as had struck down in SC and they were just starting to recover their leaves. A gentle breeze was ruffling the ‘feathers’ of the trees and it was a bit on the cool side with the mid-forties predicted on last evening’s weather. After a while OB came out and we discussed some of the whys, whichs and wherefores of these natural growths and several other miscellaneous things.

The coolness eventually started to seep through my light clothing and flip-flops and we went back inside. We threw breakfast prep in high gear with the Spice and FSISIL overseeing the later portion thereof and shortly we were munching happily away on grits, eggs and biscuits. After this I took OB and FSISIL back down to the admin building to hear an orientation or ‘presentation’ or possible sales pitch concerning the condos.

Then it was back to the condo to wait for the completion of whatever agony they were to go through and then went back to retrieve them at the appointed time. A wait then ensued and I watched the antics of some of the feathered critters around the outside of the building. One small drab-colored bird was perched on a limb nearby and a second bird that was more distinctly marked flew up and by its fluffing and bobbing, I knew that it was the male and was striving to impress this female.

Shortly another male flew up and was trying to do the same thing – the other definitely took offence and flew to challenge this newcomer. After a short ‘scuffle’, the second left in a hurry with the first in hot pursuit. Just after they left, the female took off in the same direction and one could assume that she wanted to see the outcome of the fight. Shortly FSISIL came out and we chatted while waiting another 30 minutes on OB – he finally came out looking somewhat irritated.

Back at the condo, we had sandwiches for our noon repast and OB took a nap while the others of us took a walk around the area. Checking out the flora, we found some trees and plants that were similar to our area and others that were not. The fauna was much the same with the exception of chipmunks – these were much in evidence there but I don’t recall seeing any back home.

We were out about an hour and when we returned, OB was up so we took a ride down into the Crossville area to pick up a few items at the grocery and just generally look around a little. Crossville is not a huge place but it has a large ceramic tile producing plant and we drove past that just for a look-see. We got the needed items at the grocery and headed back to the condo.

The Spice and I had brought a beef roast that she had ‘spiced up’ and frozen and we had put this on in the AM to cook slowly all day. We added some veggies and rolls to this and partook of a pretty decent supper. With appetites thoroughly sated, we just relaxed for a while. FSISIL was on the deck and called for us to come out to look at a member of the local fauna.

About a hundred feet away was a real live skunk, with somewhat different markings than I had seen, but a skunk nonetheless. We were fortunate to be on the second floor with the wind not blowing in our direction – also that this animal did not feel threatened enough to leave its ‘calling card’ for the whole area to smell for days. It looked to be eating a mushroom and after 10 to 15 minutes it finally ambled off into the surrounding woods.

Morning and evening, this was our first full day at the condo and I was grateful for the experience. God is good, all the time. TBC ec