Weekly Bounty

Everything from our garden, minus the carrots.  We primarily used them for salad toppings and have been eating a lot of salads lately.

Backdoor guests

These afternoon visitors are becoming regulars.  They are easy to spot.  This doe has a large scar across her right shoulder.  Her friend has an all black tail.

Weekly Bounty

This is about what we average per week.  Always green beans, usually something else as well.  Usually enough for a a side item to feed our family for one meal.  I think I will plan some more stuff soon. With the mild summer this year it should do fine, especially since it stays warm enough here well into November.

Afternoon Visitors

Harvest Time!

With each passing year our garden does a little better.  At least we're learning and making progress.  Below is the bounty from our 6th harvest of green beans so far this year.  We were on vacation while these grew, so they got a little bigger than we like them.  Pick often and early for tender produce!

Chicago! from the John Hancock building

Bridgestone/Firestone Centennial Wilderness WMA & Virgin Falls SNA, TN

Another great trip with beautiful weather, abundant water, and hiking friends.

We started at the Virgin Falls SNA parking area, and decided to hike a loop through the WMA and SNA.

One of the first stops was at Screw Cliff Overlook to take in the view.

We weren't so sure about the trail at times.

We knew we had to cross Copper Cascades, and it was swift and cold!   Our campsite the first night was just past this crossing along the Caney Fork River.

Big Laurel Falls was neat.  You could climb behind the water.... 

...or on top of it. 

 The campsite the second night was nestled in the woods next to Virgin Falls.

It is crazy to think that all of this water comes out of the ground, goes 25 yards and then falls 110 feet before all of it going back into the ground.

I decided to explore Sheep Cave. I went in maybe 50 yards and never saw the end in sight.

Of course I couldn't see anything until I approached the entrance and light started to appear once more.

San Antonio

Our January Friend

This guy has frequented our area for the past two years.  Within the past couple weeks he has sought out our yard, and I even saw him catch a fish in my pond.  I always thought he was a red-tailed hawk, but after getting a good long glimpse of him the other day I now see he is a red-shouldered hawk.

Roan Highlands, TN

We wanted a good winter trip, and by the looks of things when we arrived at the trailhead, the Appalachian Trail was not going to let us down.

It started off mild enough in the pines.  A balmy 12 degrees with 10-inch snow drifts.  We didn't mind post-holing our way along; we liked virgin trail.

Once we left the trees, however, things got a little dicey.

Visibility was around 20 yards tops at times.

The forecast for the area called for gusts up to 70 mph.  I don't know that we quite reached that magnitude, but they were certainly in excess of 50.  I was narrating this lovely video by literally yelling into the camera, but you can't hear a word I said.

Everything in our white world was simply just trying to survive.

Just as quickly as the clouds moved in, they also moved out and provided a wonderful respite from the all encompassing dullness of winter.  The wind, however, never let up all day.

Our first climb was also characterized by deep snow - a heart-pounding combination.

In case you can't read the sign, it indicates we had reached Grassy Bald.

We were afforded great 3-second snapshot views like this one whenever the clouds parted.  You had to look quick though, because the clouds returned just as fast.

While filming this video I slipped into a snow drift up to my knees.

Mount Mitchell (highest point in NC) off in the distance rising above the clouds.

There was a good bit of belly crawling to get past the thick vegetation that was weighted with snow and ice as we climbed away from the AT and onto Grassy Ridge.

We were glad to take the side trip up Grassy Ridge, which afforded a vast windswept landscape.

The wind was relentless...

...but the views were worth it.

Like a freight train, here they come to envelope us once more.

Back to the AT and off the ridge, we descended to a more tranquil setting.

Rime ice covered the trees.

Our home for the night - Overmountain Shelter.  I've always enjoyed the history of this place.

The view outside the shelter indicated where we would head in the morning.  This is not a black and white photo by the way; it was fairly grey to put it mildly.

After a windy day and a cold night, the next morning was relatively mild - high 20s and only 10 mph winds.

There were views in every direction and as far as the eye could see, including Grandfather Mountain shown at center.

The saddle just below Little Hump.

Climbing the Humps.

The snow and ice up Big Hump made the going harder, but also enjoyable.

The fence to nowhere.

The last pull up Big Hump with the sun beating down.  What a difference a day makes.

After lunch the temperature rose into the high 30s.

Looking back, we could see Big Hump was aptly named.

Back into to forest, Rhodadendron lined creekbeds beckoned.  The lure of the AT had once again answered man's need for wildness.  Until next time....

Mid State Trail, PA

Another beautiful Thanksgiving week along the Mid State Trail, this time it was ushered in with wonderful sunny weather and perfect camping conditions.

As I headed into the woods, I couldn't wait to get lost in the leaves.  The trail, at first, looked like it hadn't been traveled in years.  There was no depression in the earth....only blazes to follow, which I was thankful for!

Not too far into my hike I came upon a beautiful creek, and there I paused to hear what it had to say.  I soaked up the sunshine while I snacked, and let Maple Run tell me the secrets it had been longing to tell since it was last visited by human life.

Maple Run kept tempting me with its tranquil pools and moss-covered banks.

 Maple Run was good to me.

Off in the distance, I could look into the valley and I spotted a small tip of Raystown Lake and its mountain backdrop.

Before the sun began to set that first night, I enjoyed more magnificent views of amber-stained mountaintops.

The next day the trail brought me out of the woods, through farms such as this one, and into downtown Williamsburg, PA.

Williamsburg is home to the Lower (rhymes with 'flower') Trail.  It is an old rails-to-trail bike route, and the MST shares this thoroughfare for nearly 11 miles.

The Lower Trail follows Little Juniata River for most of its length, and crosses side streams that flow into the river, such as the one crossed here on a covered bridge.

The Little Juniata talked to me as well; she had a little more to say than Maple Run. 

I got so tired of these views :) 

I knew it would be damp and cold down along the water, but after 20 miles on the day I didn't have much choice and I camped that night not 10 feet from the river's edge.  I was glad the river didn't rise any through the night. I woke up to frozen fog.

The next morning I had some climbing to do.

 At least the climbing was rewarding.

 As I turned on a trail switchback, I looked back to see where I had come from.

About that time, I gained the ridge and the rocks began.  PA is known for its rocks.  I wouldn't have earth beneath my feet for the rest of my trip.

Ridgetop walking is a lot of fun, but often hard-going and waterless.

The rocks wouldn't give up grabbing hold of my ankles as I walked.

I walked well into dusk, searching for water and camp.

I arrived at camp that night late and beat, but thankful for the blessings of the trail and such a wonderful view right outside my tent door.  

The next morning was equally refreshing, and I enjoyed an early start.

 I looked back to the PA rocks one last moment, and turned to head out of the woods until the next time.

After 4 days in the woods, I made it back to syphilisation just in time for Thanksgiving grub.  I enjoyed a bite from everything.