Places we go

And...

Tales on Trails

Bluffs and Hemlock Pines

Secret springs

fresh cool waters

Incredible landscapes

Coral Fungi

 Strap shaped coral fungi. 

I find them each year on these pine bluffs.

Spiney Puffball

The trail we were on is no longer found on any map. I rode it with my husband years ago.

When the Kickapoo Valley Reserve was created this trail became a hiking trail only mostly because of the unique landscape and micro climate that the bluffs and river create.

Five years ago the KVR management took that trail off their map. I understand why they did it. It is a difficult trail. A winter storm took down quite a few trees in one section which blocked off a section of the trail. 

Any work to clear the section would require nearly a mile of hiking with a chainsaw one way and would require a crew to do the work. The trail has a rather deep and wide water crossing at one point too. I assume that maintenance would be rather difficult.

The bluffs and the river create a unique micro climate that isn't found in any other parts of the Midwest.

Each August and September I explore this area. The trailhead is overgrown and no longer visible from the road. But IF you know where it is and push through the brush, you can find it. There are a lot of deadfalls and little detours along with some 'bush whacking'. The effort is well worth it.

I usually find so many different varieties of mushrooms and odd ones I rarely see anywhere else.

Boletes

Charlie hanging out at the beach ... 

The view of the unique river and its bluffs...

The dogs had a blast exploring and using their sniffers. 

They spent the rest of the day snoozing and maybe dreaming of all the cool scents they discovered.

Sometimes

 
Sometimes...

I just stay outside to drink it all in. I know I am lucky to live here -- far removed from busy places. 

I am still pinching myself about meeting Rich on the Wagon Train and becoming his lifelong partner in a slice of paradise like this.

He found this place on a Walmart pin up board in the early mid 1990's. For Sale: House on 25 acres, dead end road. 2 bedrooms. The original price? $25k.

He took the whole sheet down and found the nearest pay phone to call the number. He met Glen, the owner and builder of our cottage and they had coffee. With a handshake, Glen sold this place to Rich.

I think of that story often and just wonder how the stars aligned to make things happen for him and then for the both of us. 

Mornings like this I just stand in our meadow and have...a feeling of awe. I'm witnessing something that is wonderous, vast, inspiring, amazing, and mind-blowing all at once.

Before the sun hits the meadow to the east of us, I can smell the sweet scent of millions of Queen Anne's Lace Flowers in the heavy damp air.

Oh yes. And admire the thousands Orb Weavers who stretch webs between the plants.

Everything is wet with fog and dew. 

And then the sun clears the trees to the east, the area lights up with golden fog and dew drops.

I make my way to my where my 'campground' is and look back towards home.

I often wondered if this place would suit me when I lost my best friend nearly a year ago. As I walk through the wet grasses towards the house I believe that it will. At least for now. 

It suits me just fine.

Busy is as busy does!

My youngest son Jer, came to visit this weekend. He didn't have his other children so he and Mari came to see me. 

We spent the first part of his visit moving a deer stand and dismantling part of it. I wanted a view from the 'campground' in the forest that was only about 8 feet off the ground. On these cool mornings, the deer will come out in the meadow that is east of us. I like to sit there with my long lens and 'deer watch' in the hour before sunset and the hour after sunrise.

Over the years, I've gotten lucky and have been able to catch a few nice photos of deer. If I don't get the shots, it will still be a neat place to observe mornings and evenings.

Two years ago [not on a deer stand] but standing on the ground:

We finished that project and we went to Wild West Days in Viroqua. Years ago, they built an 'old' Western town across from the Fairgrounds. For 20 years on the second weekend in August they fill the buildings with vendors who dress up in period clothing. 

There are fake shoot outs and fun activities for kids.

On the other half of the WWD's grounds, they have rodeos and horse competitions. Barrels, poles, pig wrestling, cattle sorting, roping, and so forth.

The weekend event draws huge crowds and quite a few tourists to town. This past Saturday they had the Farmer's Market, Wild West Days, and live bands playing on a street that is closed off for people to gather and dance.

The grounds are also leased out for other events including a 'Christmas Town' with the western town all decked out in Christmas lights and vendors in all the shops.

There are also horse shows and competitions on the rodeo grounds at other times of the year.

Viroqua was a 'dying  town when I moved to the area. It is hoppin' now.

Mari got a ride on a mini donkey and a cart ride too. She was infatuated with the donkeys.

This couple with the donkeys were so patient and sweet with the children that came to see them. 

We talked about donkeys of course since I've raised them and have always admired them.

We came back home to chill out for a bit and eat an early supper. I had saved a little Lego project for when kids visited. Mari dove right in to it and actually did a great job at following the directions. She needed help once in a while. It kept her busy.

Towards evening, we headed out to the 'campground'. We used the 4 wheeler and cart to bring out the camp cot and sandwiches along with refreshments.

We enjoyed hanging out at the campfire and chatting about nothing and everything.

The camp cot proved very useful. Hannah slept with Mari and Charlie took his place on my lap.

 

We left the camp around midnight and tumbled into bed. Everyone but Hannah slept in. As soon as there is a hint of light outside, she lets me know that she'd like breakfast.

Sunday was another whirlwind of sorts.

Below is the view of the meadow/old pasture that is south of the house. I had contracted Patrick who did forest mulching for me this spring, to brush hog the pastures for me twice a year to keep weeds down.

He came on Sunday afternoon.

It makes a huge difference and it helps me keep down the burdock. These pastures 10 years ago were filled with donkeys, horses, and mules who kept everything grazed down. We fed hay almost all year long back then.

Now that I have just a couple of grazers, I have to do something different.

15 years ago, this area looked like this:

This section will be the winter pasture with rotation in the summer to the other two decent areas I have.

Remember the busted up garage? I have a time for demolition! Frank was supposed to get back to me and I'd called him weeks ago for an estimate. He never got back to me. Patrick does only this sort of work for a living.

I'm giving him the job. The other old pasture areas out front will be smoothed out and seeded down so that I can mow it with my mower. It adds work, but I feel that it also will add value to the place to have it looking tidy and not weedy.

Progress is slow, but things are shaping up. Remember this spot?

It looks much nicer now.

Progress is slow but coming along.

Last but not least. I decided to move this tractor tire to get ready to finish off this last bit of cleanup near the large machine shed.

We drug the tire with the 4 wheeler over to an old truck bed that is on the ground. I should have known, I should have looked more.
I lifted an old water tank and shoved it onto the old bed as my son said, "Mom, are you sure there are no evil critters under there?"

I gave the tank another shove and gave him a look. He hollered "Ground Bees!"

As I felt the worst hot poker sting in my ankle. Literally, a sting by a ground bee feels like what I imagine getting shot and zapped at the same time. We ran. Thankfully, I was the only one that got nailed.

I grabbed an ice pack and sat on the kitchen floor. What an idiot! The pain was immense, it felt like I'd broken the ankle. [I didn't]

A neighbor brought me Benadryl later on.  The Benadryl knocked me out for the night by 8pm.

I went out at dawn and sprayed their nest. I won't mow in that area now for a few weeks either because the ground bees will be done. I'll let them be if they survive the spray. 

But dang, it was a fun weekend and so much got done!

The ankle is red, swollen, and horribly itchy this morning. Back to the ice packs! I may take another Benadryl and read a book this morning until the dew dries off the grasses.

One day at a time. One step at a time. I'm thinking that the bees just may have given me a part of the day off. 

It seems like a beautiful morning to have a cuppa coffee and read a book after I take the doggos for their morning walk.

Quiet rainy days...

Sometimes I like to really mess around with photos. Most of the time I just make a mess of things and delete it.

I mixed up an ICM [intentional camera movement] shot with a photo of a morning glory. Then I dropped it into a paint program [since I cannot paint!] and did an impressionistic painting of the photo.

I like it for the colors and what looks like paint strokes.

ICM shot:

Morning glory shot:

I am an experimenter when I can't get out to take fresh shots. I did these photos on the porch in the pouring rain. 

Well, that was my experiment in manipulation the other day.

I did something I don't normally do. I went into Deep Dream Generator and asked the program to paint my Morning glory.

The result was nice-ish.

 

Just for fun, I thought I'd try DDG with this shot too. I asked for a watercolor painting.

...and then once more...

I like this last one mainly because there is so much color and I like the watercolor feeling to it.

Alas, beyond my abilities!

But, since it is Saturday, and those who have cats love to call it Caturday, here is Glenda...

Glenda is outside playing with her cats!

Have a good weekend!

Just

This....


 

Getting an apple.