This morning felt & looked like January in East Tennessee.  What I mean is, it wasn’t super-frigid-freeze-your-fingers-off, but there was a heavy frost.  As I drove to work, I took the time to admire all the ice crystals glimmering in the pasture fields & birds sitting close on power lines. There were cattle gathered at gates waiting for their breakfast to be brought around by the bundled up farmer on his tractor. As I drove through hollers, smoke generated by woodstoves & fireplaces lay low to the ground. There was a stillness to be envied by all those in cities rushing around, too busy to look up (and probably nothing to look at but buildings anyway).  I couldn’t help but smile as I looked at the mountain ridge & thinking, “I’ve hiked that…I will hike it again soon.”

So you’re probably thinking I crashed ol Patsy into one of those beautiful bare branched trees, but no.

I pull into the parking lot & I get a whiff of polecat.  I speed around the building, hoping it won’t get stuck in my truck all day.  The smell just gets stronger. I hurriedly open my door & bail out gagging.

Skunks.  Now, that’s life in the mountains.