Sky, coffee, and last autumn leaves

 

Nov. 5, 5:37 pm - a bit of a sunset!

Interesting cloud formations in Cortez CO last week. (Unknown photographer)

Moments Coffee Shop in Swannanoa. In case you thought I only went to one coffee shop!

Some interesting maple leaves with dual coloration

One of the last shirt-sleeved days in November.

Our weather comes over the ridge outside my windows, usually headed to the left, or east.

Yes, there was the first snow Monday night (see yesterday's post for my photos of it!)

Sharing with Skywatch Friday!

Great morning clouds after the first snow.

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Happy birth anniversary to Claude Monet, see my tribute at Alchemy of Clay.

No agony

 No pain, no agony from dental work the other day!

I unfortunately keep having teeth which just seem to be falling apart. The enamel has almost disappeared from the front lower incisors, and it's like they're shrinking. Then two big teeth broke off in the last 4 months. The first was a canine, eye tooth. It didn't hurt, but left a spike of tooth remaining. I went to dentist to have the root pulled. That meant novocaine or whatever they use these days.

And once again that site of the injections became infected, leaving me with need for another course of antibiotics. Since I'd already had two bouts of pneumonia that hospitalized me this year, I was over my minimum (there isn't one, but they really don't want people to take too many antibiotics.) That site from the extraction took a very long time to heal.

Then a month ago a lower molar which was critical for my chewing broke off. It takes a month to get an appointment at my clinic, and I started avoiding crunchy foods. I've had a permanent bridge break off in the past, so was limited in my chewing ability. I even looked into the price to get dentures. My insurance didn't seem to cover them. Or at least they couldn't tell me how much they would cover.

But I called my dentist before this visit and said I had had these infections from the novocaine sites, and wanted it addressed. An assistant called me back and I discussed it with her, and she said they'd try to find a different method. I was hopeful.

Plus I wasn't in pain. If I had been I'm sure I could have had an emergency appointment. Sigh.

So as I was checked for this procedure, the Dr. said she might do a big filling on top of what was left of the tooth, but it wasn't even enough for a crown. She said in the future it might be pulled and a bridge put on there. But for now she could do a filling. And since there was no cavity, she wouldn't have to drill much, nor would I need novocaine! Yippee!

Dr. Locke and my happy face!

Maria, Dr. Locke's assistant who kept my mouth comfortable during the procedure.

And I went home to be able to chew my crunchy food! No fever, no pain. I'm a happy camper!

Since I have osteoporosis, I asked the dentist if that's why my teeth have broken so easily. She didn't know, but supposed it was possible. She didn't know of any research either.

It should be done if it hasn't. With all us elders out there and our teeth needing attention it's important! Of course maybe dentists prefer to just put implants in...which look lovely but are costly for those of us living on our retirement funds. Not exactly a smart situation to be in.

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Monday night we began to have snow. All day Monday stayed in the 20s F. That used to be too cold for snow, I thought. But there were snow showers off and on all day, though it didn't start to stick till after dark. The highways were slippery however, and I was glad to get home before 4 from the dentist.

At 8:30 I looked out to see lots of snow coming down and coating everything except the sidewalks (so far.) Not much light to see by however! 

Dawn from my pocket balcony 11.11.25. I was going to go out at noon for lunch, then had a doctor's appointment in the afternoon. I figured roads would be clear by those times. But my friend cancelled lunch. So I picked up Mexican shrimp tacos and went to another friend's house for lunch.

The last of the snowfall had included gusts of wind, so very little snow in the trees.

I swept my front steps, but there was ice on the sidewalk until a.) there was salt spread by the maintenance man, or b.) the sun hit it. The temperatures got above freezing before I left for lunch at 11:30. By then my  car had heated enough from the sun to melt all the snow on it.

Around 7:30 am

And I took the time to swing by an illegal parking place where I could get out and take these shots of the mountains overlooking the lake!

Later on Tuesday I met my new doctor, who I like a lot. Unfortunately the old practice has already closed, and though they said they faxed all my records to the new doctor's practice, she didn't have any of them, and there was nobody who could resend them. 

Fortunately I'd insisted that I was to get a copy as well...and it may be over an inch thick but only has the last 2 years of visits included. I was able to check when I went home to see when my last annual wellness visit had been, so we could schedule a next one...not till May. I laugh when considering that I might go that long without seeing her!

Dermatologist yearly visit is scheduled next week. Then the Vascular ultrasound of my legs...another yearly check. At least my Medicare supplement is covering these specialists. I feel so bad for my friends with just the ACA health insurance.

Wealth disparity and climate change

Good climate news as COP-30 is about to start in Brazil.

What about climate energy? According to the Rocky Mountain Institute, the clean tech revolution is “exponential, disruptive, and now.”

By the end of the decade, 14 countries will source all their power from renewable sources and seven countries are already doing so—Norway, New Zealand, Iceland, Costa Rica, Kenya, Bhutan, and Paraguay. Wind and solar are cheaper to build than fossil fuel plants almost anywhere on the planet, and China makes more money from its clean energy exports than the U.S. does from its fossil fuel exports.
 
Clean technology has become dramatically more affordable, while global investment has multiplied almost ten times and solar output has increased twelvefold. Today, 1 in 5 cars sold worldwide are electric, up from 1 in 25 in 2020. “The energy system is being transformed by the exponential forces of renewables, electrification, and efficiency,” the RMI report says. And land use is changing too: heading into COP30, Brazil’s deforestation rates have hit an 11-year low.

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However the world is in trouble still:

We now live on a “planet on the brink” as global warming accelerates, according to the 2025 State of the Climate report. The authors evaluated 34 of the planet’s vital signs, including carbon pollution, ocean temperature, air temperature, and extent of sea ice, and found 22 to be at record levels. 
 
2024 was the warmest year on record and 2025 is going to surpass it: a signal of “an escalation of climate upheaval.” The authors found global efforts to curb carbon emissions extremely insufficient to avoid dangerous impacts, and wrote that this marks “the beginning of a grim new chapter for life on Earth.”
 
“We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet’s vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer future threats but are here now,” the report states. “This unfolding emergency stems from failed foresight, political inaction, unsustainable economic systems, and misinformation. Almost every corner of the biosphere is reeling from intensifying heat, storms, floods, droughts, or fires. The window to prevent the worst outcomes is rapidly closing.”

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The US doesn't send a delegation to the COP30 negotiations, however.

Although the COP negotiations are technically between countries, many representatives from city, state, province, or other regional governments will be in Belem, too. This is why our voices and our votes matter at every level: because they can help catalyze change in the places where we live.
 
For example, in the U.S., California generated 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources last year. The city of Chicago, whose climate impacts analysis I led in 2008, is powering all of its more than 400 municipal buildings with clean energy. In Detroit, nearly 1,400 urban farms “not only address food insecurity but also serve as a model for sustainable land use in post-industrial cities,” as this article explains.

Cities around the world, from Belfast to Budapest, are incorporating climate into planning for healthier and more resilient neighbourhoods. States and provinces from Australia to Brazil are setting their own emission reduction goals, and their plans to meet them. They’re building green schools in West Kalimantan, Indonesia and setting up “climate desks” in every local government council in Cross River State, Nigeria.
 
For all the negative tipping points we seem to be surpassing in the natural world, there are also scores of positive tipping points that can be triggered by actions we take. As Matt Simon writes here, “People can influence communities, communities can influence cities, and cities can influence nations. These critical junctures, then, can spread like a contagion—in a good way.” 

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Thanks Katharine Hayhoe!

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Then there are the obvious signs of wealth!

Borrowed from another blog...Southwest Daily images

"No one really lives here full-time.  Most buyers are wealthy young people from up north who fly in for occasional long weekends.  The cheapest unit in the final tower starts at $3.5 million.  Kalea Bay is an advertisement for the problem of income inequality in this country."

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His next post was about a golf course being built nearby. After all, what's a millionaire to do on the weekend in Florida (or North Carolina?) Many millionaires live in the mountains in  their "cabins." They just aren't as visible being behind trees most of the year!

Meanwhile I talk with friends about food insecurity/insufficiency in our area (Black Mountain and Swannanoa NC). SNAP may be reinstated, or maybe not... according to some media announcements. We can only hope.

See my earlier post about all the local efforts to provide alternatives for those who could no longer purchase their family's groceries each week. 

Grateful living is important in the world because in our constant pursuit of more and better we can easily lose sight of the riches that lay right in front of us and within us.

Guri Mehta

From Black Mountain to Swannanoa

by Van Gogh

Once a week the food bank brings produce, bread, and eggs to distribute to the senior residents at Blue Ridge Apartments. Many of them don't drive. It's quite an occasion to line up and socialize, especially in good weather.

Over at Lake Tomahawk...

Did you know North Carolina's state flag has dates on it for a declaration of independence prior to the US one? 

Wikipedia says: It bears the dates of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence (May 20, 1775) and of the Halifax Resolves (April 12, 1776), documents that place North Carolina at the forefront of the American independence movement.

The pool is shrouded for the winter, while the construction project on the house in the background seems to go on and on. I wonder when they'll have the exterior finish put in place!

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A rainy day to share an Americano and meet a friend at the Dripolator.

We were lucky to get a table.

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The following shots are of simple homes in Swannaoa.

Grovemont Park is a great gathering place for the community.

My friend Judy lives in this nice little house.

Sharing with "Almost" wordless Wednesday on Tuesday and My Corner of the World.

What a Saturday!

 My first goal was to purchase some fish at our fresh market, which is only open Friday and Saturdays.

Then home and domestic stuff. I completely forgot to use the nebulizer, but wasn’t coughing either. With a lovely salad, which reminded me how easy it is to tear lettuce and cut avocado and tomato and sprinkle stuff on it! It wasn’t till I went to be that I did the other nebulizing treatment, but forgot to take my evening meds.

It was good to the last bite!

Then I was invited spontaneously to attend a live performance "a reading" of a Neil Coward play "Fallen Angels." My friend had an extra ticket because her friend who originally was going with her went to ER with shortness of breath. We hadn't found out how she was by the time we went home 3 hours later. (The reading/play was with a very small audience with intimacy of sitting 5 feet from the actors. I had to pull my feet in as they entered and exited the stage area!)

We had a good parking space and walked around the block to the theatre entrance, which was of course good for me!

I'm wearing last years glasses, (on right in picture) which work ok, but leave me without good focus often. My newer ones just suddenly became un-cleanable, so went back  to optician as they were under warrantee. I hope they come back soon.

Then home to cook my lovely fresh grouper. First I had to skin it...why I didn't get Roger to do so I don't know. Anyway then I made a huge dinner of 3 different dishes!

Green beans were the easiest, just heat in microwave. Pour out into a bowl which will become refrigerator savings for left overs. All these ingredients will make 3 meals at least. But I hadn't stood in the kitchen managing cooking the 3 dishes in months! Challenge time. Especially to get them all ready to serve at the same time!

I found a delicious sounding recipe for the grouper on line, a parmesan creamy toping to keep it from drying out while roasted in little oven. I also sprinkled some Panko on top of that. But it didn't cook all the nice thick fish, so I separated it in the middle...and had to turn down the heat so it didn't burn. Experiments with food!

Even I can tell the mac and cheese photo is out of focus...just a package of Krafts did the trick. Now I've lots of leftovers there! I didn't want to eat a lot of carbs, but wanted a little.

Clean-up was postponed till next morning...and it was Foggy out!

And interesting combination of lines, horizontal vs  vertical. Love the muted colors!

Through the screen on the front porch. Sunday night (when this was written) is a freeze so all remaining plants will be left to the fates. I'll try to move the pots to the balcony so one doesn't have to look at them all winter! We may even have a bit of snow in the next couple of days! I am not holding my climate change breath.

Red orange and a good doctor's visit

 An appointment at the doctor's in Asheville, where some trees (at 4pm new time) still show nice color with the brilliant North Carolina blue sky.

The sun still hit the top of this golden orange tree's last leaves.

Golden orange hair in tightly woven braids greeted me as my nurse led me back to the exam room. I asked her if I could take a photo of her hair, and she was willing.

She said it had been pulled tightly while the braids were being made. It shows!

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Twilight struck around 5:25 pm in Asheville. As I left the cardiologist's office to go home, and I followed that almost full moon going east on I-40 all the way home. That was Mon. Nov. 3, when I was still getting used to no more Daylight Savings Time. Gag. Sunset at 5:30 now!

Anything new from the cardiologist? Heart had been examined in Sept by ultrasound when I was hospitalized with pneumonia which left me very short of breath when walking anywhere. So we knew my heart worked, but the lungs were not doing so well.

I had had one episode which might be heart related in early October, when nitroglycerin worked to relieve the pain in 5 minutes. Doc talked about how I need to get my lungs in better condition before we can have a stress test of my heart (not on a treadmill, but with MRI and contrast.) So it's scheduled early next year.

So I'm also interested in my risk factors for a stroke. I take all the proper meds to keep my blood pressure at a good level. I am not a good candidate for exercise until the lungs are better...there's constant coughing and little wheezes there.

We had a few laughing moments when I couldn't remember a word, and basically gave the hint in Charades game fashion...one word, 3 or 4 syllables, means...etc. I don't mind at all that my mental score was 27 out of 30 (normal range!) ...memory and word finding continue to be a laugh! 

I do like my cardiologist.

I am looking into improving my diet somewhat, since the lunch program just gives me lots of carbs. I'll load up on fruits and veggies for breakfast and dinner at least. (I went to the grocery store a few days later, and only got one kind of bread - 4 croissants). Not even the chocolate kind.