Mel in the mountains
@melevanie.bsky.social
Retired govt environmental enforcement atty. Fond of animals, hiking, democracy, whiskey & chocolate, in no particular order. She/her, ally. I ain't afraid o no Nazis. Support freedom & independence 🏴 🇺🇦 & 🇺🇸
The wind seems determined to remove every single remaining leaf from the trees today -- and deposit 95% of them on my back deck. So much for getting everything neatly swept and raked yesterday ...
November 16, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The wind seems determined to remove every single remaining leaf from the trees today -- and deposit 95% of them on my back deck. So much for getting everything neatly swept and raked yesterday ...
SO fun! My college roommate was a consultant on "Coco", & the first time I saw it, in the theater, I was SO excited to wait for her name in the credits. It makes me happy every time I watch the movie (which I do every Halloween).
November 15, 2025 at 10:21 PM
SO fun! My college roommate was a consultant on "Coco", & the first time I saw it, in the theater, I was SO excited to wait for her name in the credits. It makes me happy every time I watch the movie (which I do every Halloween).
"Nothing gold can stay."
-- Robert Frost
-- Robert Frost
November 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
"Nothing gold can stay."
-- Robert Frost
-- Robert Frost
#HIKERS IN NORTH GEORGIA AND NORTH CAROLINA: my college classmate has gone missing on the Appalachian trail near Blood Mountain. Please note contact info if you're out on the trail this weekend, and please pass along to others. Thanks.
November 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM
#HIKERS IN NORTH GEORGIA AND NORTH CAROLINA: my college classmate has gone missing on the Appalachian trail near Blood Mountain. Please note contact info if you're out on the trail this weekend, and please pass along to others. Thanks.
Purrific #CatsNoirFriday to you! Here's my Jett. ❤️
November 14, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Purrific #CatsNoirFriday to you! Here's my Jett. ❤️
We had our first snow (Western North Carolina mountains) a week ago, and it's 60° again today! Crazy.
November 14, 2025 at 5:42 PM
We had our first snow (Western North Carolina mountains) a week ago, and it's 60° again today! Crazy.
I saw a little Northern Lights color about 10 in the northern sky 😍 But nothing now. Gnight butterflies!
November 13, 2025 at 5:01 AM
I saw a little Northern Lights color about 10 in the northern sky 😍 But nothing now. Gnight butterflies!
Early snow in Asheville gave us a taste of winter. It was pretty for a couple of days, I took these Tuesday morning. Back to the 50s today, all the snow is gone.
November 12, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Early snow in Asheville gave us a taste of winter. It was pretty for a couple of days, I took these Tuesday morning. Back to the 50s today, all the snow is gone.
On this Veterans Day, I'm thankful to all who believed in & believe in the promise of democracy & have served this wonderful country. She isn't perfect by a long shot, but she's worth fighting for, at the ballot box as well as on the battlefield. (My Daddy in the Navy during WWII)
November 11, 2025 at 3:14 PM
On this Veterans Day, I'm thankful to all who believed in & believe in the promise of democracy & have served this wonderful country. She isn't perfect by a long shot, but she's worth fighting for, at the ballot box as well as on the battlefield. (My Daddy in the Navy during WWII)
Good morning from Western NC! It's a good day to rustle in the fallen leaves!
November 7, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Good morning from Western NC! It's a good day to rustle in the fallen leaves!
Love the magnolia! These are the last of the dahlias, picked to avoid the frost ...
November 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Love the magnolia! These are the last of the dahlias, picked to avoid the frost ...
My sister Lindsay was so in love with NYC. She dropped out of college in the 60s & went to NYC to model. (Walked dogs & sold crafts while she got herself noticed, then signed with the Ford agency.) It's the only place she ever wanted to live. I'm sorry she left us last summer. She would love Mamdani
November 5, 2025 at 4:48 AM
My sister Lindsay was so in love with NYC. She dropped out of college in the 60s & went to NYC to model. (Walked dogs & sold crafts while she got herself noticed, then signed with the Ford agency.) It's the only place she ever wanted to live. I'm sorry she left us last summer. She would love Mamdani
It's time kiddos! Time to watch Coco on my annual Halloween tradition! Happy Dia de los muertos!
November 1, 2025 at 1:29 AM
It's time kiddos! Time to watch Coco on my annual Halloween tradition! Happy Dia de los muertos!
Gorgeous!
I recently went to the Sagrada Familia cathedral (designed by Gaudi), and the light through the stained glass was the most awesome part. You make me want to put some in my house!
I recently went to the Sagrada Familia cathedral (designed by Gaudi), and the light through the stained glass was the most awesome part. You make me want to put some in my house!
October 31, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Gorgeous!
I recently went to the Sagrada Familia cathedral (designed by Gaudi), and the light through the stained glass was the most awesome part. You make me want to put some in my house!
I recently went to the Sagrada Familia cathedral (designed by Gaudi), and the light through the stained glass was the most awesome part. You make me want to put some in my house!
Thanks! Lots of weeds here too, we get a fair amount of rain, but thankfully no fire ants 😳. Bears, and they can be pains in the garden (this is under my cherry tree, they love eating all the cherries!), but no fire ants!
October 31, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Thanks! Lots of weeds here too, we get a fair amount of rain, but thankfully no fire ants 😳. Bears, and they can be pains in the garden (this is under my cherry tree, they love eating all the cherries!), but no fire ants!
They need shade in the heat. Some varieties are more heat tolerant and some more cold tolerant. Make sure they are in loamy soil and get plenty of water. My mom had great ones in Savannah. They really are such a nice perennial flowing shrub. They're very happy here in NC.
October 31, 2025 at 1:39 AM
They need shade in the heat. Some varieties are more heat tolerant and some more cold tolerant. Make sure they are in loamy soil and get plenty of water. My mom had great ones in Savannah. They really are such a nice perennial flowing shrub. They're very happy here in NC.
I'm glad to be home from sunny, warm Spain.
But really, rain and high of 47?
Y'all stay warm and dry today.
But really, rain and high of 47?
Y'all stay warm and dry today.
October 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I'm glad to be home from sunny, warm Spain.
But really, rain and high of 47?
Y'all stay warm and dry today.
But really, rain and high of 47?
Y'all stay warm and dry today.
Almost home. Been up for 21 hrs, I'm pretty non compos, but on the last plane to AVL. 3 weeks in Spain & Portugal has been fabulous, I've learned so much history, culture & art, seen so many beautiful things, met lots of great people, eaten amazing meals & had some pretty fabulous drinks. Yay!
October 23, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Almost home. Been up for 21 hrs, I'm pretty non compos, but on the last plane to AVL. 3 weeks in Spain & Portugal has been fabulous, I've learned so much history, culture & art, seen so many beautiful things, met lots of great people, eaten amazing meals & had some pretty fabulous drinks. Yay!
Too tired to post anything but this sweet tortie who lives in the garden of the Royal Alcázar of Seville. Nice digs. Gnight.
October 11, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Too tired to post anything but this sweet tortie who lives in the garden of the Royal Alcázar of Seville. Nice digs. Gnight.
19,530 steps today --!! Walked to the top of the Alhambra in Granada as well as through other parts of town. This is our view tonight. Gnight all. I'm beat!
October 9, 2025 at 9:35 PM
19,530 steps today --!! Walked to the top of the Alhambra in Granada as well as through other parts of town. This is our view tonight. Gnight all. I'm beat!
A few glimpses of our walk through the public garden in the center of #Madrid, and the full moon from the rooftop of the apartment where we are staying. Todas bonitas!
October 8, 2025 at 7:27 AM
A few glimpses of our walk through the public garden in the center of #Madrid, and the full moon from the rooftop of the apartment where we are staying. Todas bonitas!
Madrid, finding new little fun places to eat, this def in my element ...
October 7, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Madrid, finding new little fun places to eat, this def in my element ...
Valencia also has amazing street art, here's just a sampling.
October 5, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Valencia also has amazing street art, here's just a sampling.