I’m thankful to live in Mountain City, a little city that’s still somewhat (barely) out in the country, to an extent that we enjoy many sights and sounds of nature.

Here, a fox ran across the driveway in front of RonTom this past weekend, going from Lynn Cobb’s yard towards the Polleys.

Here, in mid-November, looking outside with my hands in dishwater, something didn’t look quite right. Looking straight at a gigantic caterpillar, my eyes had not focused. Outside with phone in hand, I located a handsome bright green beauty on a purple poke stalk with remnants of green leaves.

On Facebook, Penny Moulder responded to the caterpillar’s photo, “Looks like the jerks who ate my tomato plants!” Yes, indeed. It’s known as “tomato hornworm”.

Penny raised a few in a bucket one year, sacrificing pieces of her tomato plants to see what they grew up to be. “They can strip a tomato plant in just a couple days. They grow fast.”

They pupate in the ground. Penny commented, “They buried themselves in the dirt. The cocoon was a brownish maroon color. When it’s born? The wings are tiny and wet. It only takes a few hours for the wings to unfold and dry out.”

Her “sphynx moth” flew away the day after. The sphynx moth carries the moniker “hummingbird moth” because it’s seen hovering at flowers in early evenings. Surefire distinguish a moth from a hummingbird – look for no bill

•••

Here, in “a little slice of paradise,” neighbors are volunteering to help since the city did not budget money to decorate City Hall. Since there will be no roof lights this year (a major project, maybe again in 2016), we can start lighting the large oak tree by the street. Drop strings of cool white LED lights in the big blue bin near old City Hall. Or, contact me to pick up a check payable to Loving Mountain City.

Here, there’s recognition for neighbors with “best” Christmas décor. Décorate now! Turn on lights the evenings of December 6th and 7th, so a ballot can be compiled with all decorated houses. The weekend of December 11th – 13th, residents will vote to determine the “best” in little sections and the “best” in categories. This boils down to the “best” decorated houses determining the “Tour de Lights” hay wagon route on Friday, December 18th, for the children.

I’m thankful for those who decorate, bringing pleasurable sights that delight the eyes and hearts of those young and old.

•••

In 2015, “Thanksgiving Sunday” is the first day of Advent. I’m thankful beyond measure that “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (II Corinthians 5:21) If you’d like to hear Fellowship Church’s Thanksgiving message (November 22) at Fellowship Church on God’s incredible design from Adam to Christ as revealed in Romans 5:14, listen to the podcast on www.f-pc.org/media

Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Thank you for sending tidbits to ptom5678@gmail.com (subject: TIDBIT) or 512-268-5678 Love, Pauline.