On Thursday, I found the calm pleasures of winter in Chattanooga.
I decided to drive down from my home in Knoxville and see my parents and clean off the undeveloped lot I own on their former Mountain Creek farm, which is being converted into a subdivision.
Just as I was arriving at the lot around 2:30 p.m., the skies started to clear and turn a pretty blue, bringing the equally pleasing temperatures as well.
Not even slightly smashing my finger while carelessly placing some fallen tree limbs by the front curb could dampen my experience.
As I tried to cut down with non-mechanized tools the honeysuckle, blackberry, baby pine trees and other brush that had grown over the last year in the back part of the lot leading up to Godsey Ridge, I was enjoying the mild winter-time experience.
The ticks and snakes were away for the season, and the woods had a calming and welcoming feel that they do not always have in the warm season, when one has to keep an eye out for Southern critters.
After cutting and hauling for about an hour, I decided to climb about a third of the way up the steep woods of the ridge, which is dissected at its top by Corridor J.
Despite the numerous trees around me, I felt very alone and tranquil. It was a great feeling.
But even nature in winter is in transition, and I found some mahonia bushes getting ready to sprout some blossoming berries a few feet up the ridge. How they ended up there was a question mark, but they seemed to be thriving.
As I came back down the ridge a few minutes later, I saw a row of daffodils already shooting up near an old home site. I found several buds, letting me know that yellow flowers will likely be noticeable there within the next few days.
After working a little longer, I went and parked down by the nearby Mountain Creek Church of Christ on Runyan Drive, and jogged a little on the grass around it while my four-year-old Westie dog, Maisie, tried to keep pace with me.
Signal Mountain looked gorgeous as I continually looked up at it.
After putting Maisie back in my truck, I continued running down to the Church of God a couple hundred yards south and enjoyed going around its spacious field as well. I stopped and looked at the creek behind the church, and it seemed so peaceful and calm on this mild and beautiful winter day.
The time had then come for my last treat of the day – a bowl of tomato artichoke soup, a Caesar salad, some flavored iced tea and delicious desserts at Rembrandt’s in the Bluff View Art District.
As I drove back up Interstate 75 afterward with my box of dessert samples to enjoy later, all seemed right with the world – except, of course, for my swollen finger. But it will hopefully heal long before my memories of the day fade.
Jcshearer2@comcast.net