On a roll.

Friday we had another unbelievable day for Wisconsin. I didn't need long underwear and I didn't need a heavy jacket.

Yet I still found ice in the valley.

Cell phone shot of the creek below and the forest above.

The sun shines on this area where the ice is gradually melting into the creek bed.

This is a very curious spot. The creek is generally very narrow here, but the trickling water in the subzero weather built layers up and spread the ice out to the edges of the bank. 

This would be the normal width of the creek here when we have plenty of rain.

Charlie went ahead of me scenting for deer and mice. He did get to chase a squirrel. 

His prizes were Rabbit Pellets of course. He insists that he needs to have a few daily. After all, they are Smart Pellets!

All in a little dog's day of work.

I've also been working on two separate 'toy' story lines for my own entertainment.

One is outdoors with the orange and black Titan 13 3D articulated figure. I've set the Lego folks aside for now since my creative juices are mesmerized by these two figures.

Titan 13 photographs very well outdoors much to my surprise. 

A Toy Photographer on Flickr and Toy Photographers [.com] asked me what the back story was to Titan 13. Titan 13 is the name of Toy and all the variations of this printed figure. It is 5 inches or 13 cm tall. 

I replied "No back story yet. I'm wondering if he just got dropped into this world and we'll have to figure out what is happening by looking at the photos."

I'd like their poses and actions in the shot have to speak for themselves.

I do appreciate many other photographers who include a narrative to tell the viewer what is happening in the picture. Wouldn't it be unique to let the viewer decide? Or even yet, another thought popped into my head today.

What if I just gave each shot a one word description? 

Reflections

That would be so challenging with a piece of plastic wouldn't it?

The next two are of T13 and her dog. This Robot/Figure is my current indoor Table Top Challenge -- self imposed challenge.

Unwind

Dreams

Or...
what if there is not title but the viewer decides on the word or vision for themselves?

....

Another thought struck me. What about doing a series of shots without a narrative by me, but a narrative by the figure itself?

Happiness
Sadness
Surprise
Lonely...

Hmm, it is a thought.

And yes, I'll be bringing back the wooden guy this month. I usually pull him out to do a Valentine's themed series of photos.

With the landscape as dull as it is, I need to do something else that keeps my enthusiasm up for right now.

Something Curious

In all my years on this planet, I've never really given a second thought to something like:

Grass.

I mean, grass is something that is walked on, stepped on, mowed, or waded through in the summer if you walk through a wild meadow.

I went out looking for something interesting in the morning light and found this.

It was grass that was at least 4 feet tall on the other side of the fence in the neighbor's meadow. At one time the neighbor let us use this meadow for extra pasture. We mowed it and maintained it. It has been left alone now for 7 years. 

I was surprised at how beautiful this grass appeared in my lens while I was searching for spider webs with dew drops on them.

So I took some photos of it. When it came to saving the file, I had no idea what to call the grass. So I started a search. I kept getting frustrated because I couldn't find good information regarding grasses anywhere.

So I ordered a book. Field Guide to Wisconsin Grasses.

I didn't know there were so many kinds of grasses! There are over 11 thousand species of grasses in the world.
I never thought of grass as very important.

In fact after looking at this book, I am beginning to understand that I don't know much about grass, period.

I never knew the difference between grass and sedges.

So I'm starting to muddle my way through Agrostology. I'm more or less just curious. I'll walk around and clip some tall 'grasses' or photograph them just for fun.

Grasses can be beautiful once you start looking at them without just thinking about the lawn.

I collected this variety just by walking up my driveway to the mailbox.

I have figured out what one of the grasses may be:

Rye Grass.

Here is a hint. My neighbor said he spread a mixture of Rye and something else alongside his driveway last year after we had work done on it.

I need to figure out how to use the book and become familiar with the terms it uses, but this looks to be a good learning project. 

The real test will be getting good photographs of grass in the 'field'. I'm always up to learning new things and photography challenges.

I wonder where it will lead me?

[Oh, that first photo? It just might be Orchard Grass. But I won't say it for sure. I have so much to learn!]

Thoughts while hiking

As I hiked the various trails on Wednesday ... and while getting a thoroughly soaked Butt, I kept thinking about the past year.

Last September my doctor had told me that I had Severe Osteoporosis. She cautioned me against going anywhere by myself [in case I fell and broke apart, I guess]. She cautioned me against riding. Again, I could easily fall apart, right?

Last Fall was spent mulling over being thought of as Fragile. Caution, Do Not Drop, This Side Up... 

Suddenly walking in the woods was dangerous and scary. I wanted to tip toe. I was waiting for the bones to just start falling out of my body.

I looked in the mirror ... and thought about bones.... bones...

Was I doomed? What next? Were my fingers going to fall off? 
I had nightmares about having to sweep up bones that fell off me. I'd wake up while the Dream Me was trying to put my bones back in place. What was the best glue to put bones back?

I was assigned some medications. One for depression and one for bones. 

The first bone meds caused severe pain after two months of taking them. My fingers normally hurt as they have arthritis. But not even being able to hold a book to read was the last straw.

The second kind of meds caused me not to be able to even walk without pain.

The doctors kept offering medications and I needed to feel better. 

I hadn't been going to the gym for several reasons. One close contact with colds -- to protect Rich -- and two? I was sure that my bones would just collapse if I went.

I arranged to do mobility classes and then some 'bone strengthening' classes. What was the worse thing that could happen? The coaches would have to pick up my bones if they fell out at the gym, right?

Anyway, here I was hiking at the speed of Light, just crushing it as they say at the gym. I was reaching a goal that I'd set for myself last January and I was doing it for Me. Just Me. I was proving to myself that I am not Fragile or made of Glass.

In fact, I felt so great that I even trotted or jogged parts of the trail. I don't know, it just happened. I felt great.

I felt like I was smashing World Records [Oh Val--don't be an idiot--you were just having fun!]

I felt pure joy and happiness.

In one year I'd gone from feeling hopeless to feeling I could conquer the world. Mother Nature played a big role in that as well as the support I've had from my friends, family, and my coaches.

I don't know if I have reversed any of the damage or if that is even possible. I do know that I feel good and I am enjoying hikes again. Mentally and physically I feel so much better than I did a year ago.

In my book, that is a plus.

Oh yes. I've been riding my mules... a lot. And guess what? My bones have not fallen out of me yet!

Solivagant

Are you ever afraid of hiking alone? 

I was just asked that again this past week.

That was a very valid question and one I've been asked more than once over the past few years. I'm comfortable in my Forest Skin. I'm happy in the woods with nothing but trees and wildlife surrounding me. 

I know the land around me more intimately than those who own their land. [Yes, I have permission to hike it any time from them.]

I have fair knowledge of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. There are only now two trails that I have not explored.

It isn't so much the hiking as it is being immersed in trees and the forest. 

The woman I met this past week had asked me that question and from her body language I knew she needed an answer.

"When I first came to this area to live, my husband and I often rode together and then at night we hunted with our hounds together. I learned that the forest was not a fearful place at all. After a few years, my husband stopped going and in order for me to enjoy things, I kept going by myself. There was no waiting around for others to join me. I just did it."

I'd like to think that the forest is my best friend. It is so full of magical and interesting things. Despite the bugs and wild creatures. I don't fear them either. Maybe I should. Generally if I am out alone on the neighbor's land [700 acres with two valleys], I can avoid other humans. They are generally trespassers. I can disappear down deer trails. 

While hiking the reserve, I don't worry so much about others. Generally a hiker or rider will just say hello and walk on by. Other times we both stop and converse. Charlie is often a game changer. People are curious when they see such a short legged dog hiking along the trails.

I've come across bears, coyotes, and most all of the forest animals at one time or another. I'm curious and watch them as they watch me. 

The forest and trails are simply places of curiosity and wonder.

I do carry a pistol when hiking the neighbor's land. And recently I added a personal locator device. I carry a backpack with items in case I get stuck in the forest for some reason. 

Most of all. I know my way around the forests and understand the lay of the land[s] after exploring them for the past 26 years.

However apparently there are those who think that a woman my age shouldn't be a forest creature.

I say to them. Why not? 

This past two weeks while recovering from the side effects of a strong medicine, I haven't been able to squat to peer at tiny things in the landscape. My new way of dealing with that is to simply sit down in the dirt and mud [or rocks and brush] and get eye level with what caught my attention.

I'm dirtier than before but have found a way to get around some difficulties. 

Here is something I found! A fungi called Deadman's Fingers! So tiny yet so awesome and cool.

Xylaria polymorpha

Knock off Lego person for size:

For reference, a lego person is about 2 inches tall.

See? 
The Forest is kind to me. If I am patient, I find amazing things.

Solivagant:
a lone wanderer
Alone Going

Projects

I have had this idea for a while. This week I stood with Miss Aurora and we talked about everything under the sun and she mentioned the Wonderland book of portraits that are extremely exotic and beautiful. It is done with models and special lighting effects.

In my head I had a vision of doing some self portraits in woodland settings. I'd done some of that last year when I was out and about with Charlie and Bear.

One of my favorites from last year was sledding with a Teddy Bear and Charlie running alongside us. I used a timer on my pointy shooty camera and set it to 7 shots hoping that one shot would deliver the following.

These are not the same type of photos that the artist Kristy Mitchel has done. But the discussion did rekindle some old ideas I had about self portraits.

I went up into my Magic Room [really, it is a spare bedroom where my paints, crafts, and toys are stored] and looked down at the outfit I'd picked out over a year ago. My intentions were to 'dress' up and take a self portrait in the woods. You know a dreamy shot where I looked beautiful and exotic.

Pfft. 
I should know better.
Most people who call themselves a photographer absolutely hate getting in front of the lens. I didn't like it as a kid and liked it less as my face aged. 

What I think I look like in front of a camera...or wished I did:

What I generally look like [in the winter]:

How I feel before coffee in the morning:

And here are two versions I did this morning while having coffee on a knoll overlooking the neighbor's meadow with Bear.
I like the B&W version much better.

I'm not very good at this and it took quite a bit of running back and forth with the timer set. I could use an app on the smarty phone to do it, but I always end up with the damn phone in my hand.

However, this is more me. I'm not gorgeous and dreamy looking. I have a face that has been beat up by the weather and sun. It has amazing wrinkles in it. If I were a man I'd have a gnarly weathered face. 

But see, I am going to be okay with that because really. No amount of makeup will make me look young and dreamy.

So what will my project be? Oh it will change constantly. But I am going to put on the gypsy crazy lady outfit and play dress up. Well, why not? I have to entertain myself.

I won't even try to do those incredible artistic shots. Those were someone else's vision. I want one of my own.

I'm going to work on the Bear and I stuff too. I really like doing things with Bear.

So...

off I go

to do my own thing.

You never know what I will come up with.

What do you want to do?

The KVR Trail Challenge.

I first decided to try it in 2018. That failed. I really did quite well hiking the trails and starting out. It fizzled with so many PT appointments for the other half and all of the intensive care I had to provide at home. 

I do love setting challenges for myself. If I can finish a challenge, I feel like I've made an accomplishment.

When I was in my 20's my goal was to do a half marathon along with 5k's and 10k races. I did accomplish a half marathon and after several years of training and running I grew tired of distance running and began to work on distance bicycling. My sister and I trained hard and we ended up doing 140 mile overnight trip by bicycle.

When I moved to this area and fell in love with riding mules, I set my sights on  Endurance riding. I did six 25 mile judged rides with Badger and I loved it. When he became ill, I quit distance riding. When Badger died, I had a hard time with going out to ride. I often rode Badger down the back roads, he was always super steady. We were fearless together.

Hiking became my next 'thing'. Well, sometimes it is more of a walk along and look around for cool things sort of a walk. But I did discover that I can really cover the ground if I put my mind to it. 

The 2018 Ice Cave Trail was one a fast and furious hike where I even had to backtrack. I had a good start that year and 20 miles under my belt before it fell apart.

This summer I did a 9 mile hike for my birthday. Okay 8.69 miles according to an app called Map My Walk. I carried Charlie for a good part of the walk as I was trucking up and down the hills bent on doing a good workout. It took me 3 hrs and 43 minutes to do it. This with breaks in the shade and a lunch. I often stopped to offer water to Charlie.

My hikes with Bill are far shorter and average about 2 hours. He isn't a fast hiker, but he is fun to hike with. 

After reading the book about the Appalachian Trail, I knew I'd never get to do it. It is too far away. I read also that it is far too popular too. So, I thought about the Ice Age Trail around our state. That is out too. The day hikes look incredible, but the travel looks like it would be a problem for my situation. These hiking adventures are not close enough to home.

So. Why not go back and do day hikes at KVR and complete their challenge? There are 50 sections to hike. The challenge is to do it within a year. Another huge plus is I wouldn't have to deal with crowds.
All sections totaled up without backtracking [impossible with a solo hiker] would be about 68.5 miles.

This is not a great shot of the map but you can get an idea of what it might look like. 

At least I can get a map and start plotting out the hiking sections. I'm going to get a better compass too. My dinky dollar one that has a whistle on it really isn't very useful. 

So you know what I am going to do on New Years Day 2022? Yep. 

Strap on my hiking boots...

At least that is what I want to do...

I can at least plan on it right? Until then, I will explore a few of the trails I haven't done yet... as soon as it cools off ...

The Hike

Let me start out by saying that I planned this hike for a very long time.

Last year my CrossFit coach, Josh Brown asked me what I had for a long term goal. I said I wanted to do the Tromp and Chomp that had been held every year at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. I am going to plug our gym CrossFit Viroqua, because truly ...I think CF has helped me stay strong both mentally and physically.

I studied the previous Tromp and Chomp maps and even downloaded the map and placed it over a regular trail map. Distances that could be run were a half marathon or an 8 miler. 
No way was I sure I could 'run' those trails up and down and all around, but I sure could come up with something.

So I decided that to celebrate becoming a 'Senior' citizen and age 65, I'd do the T&C by myself. I thought I'd take Charlie.

Charlie is pictured here at a rest stop we took. You can see that he is not a Big Dog. But he has a sweet heart and loves to hike.

This is how we did half of the hike. 

Charlie is half min Daschund and half Pekenise. The result is very short legs, short snout, and doll eyes. He will overheat easily and with those tiny legs, he tires easily. 

The first 2 miles of the hike were in the Kickapoo River Valley and baby, it was hot and windless. We hiked along old 131 with me giving Charlie a 'lift' for a good part of the first two miles. I didn't want him to overheat or get ill as we were walking along a blacktop trail.

We took one nice long break after passing the ponds where kids and camp counselors were observing their charges in canoes who were hollering at each other.

Charlie loves tiny pieces of apple, so we always share on a trail break. I let him cool off at the Artesian Well before we hit Little Canada.

We met 3 horse back riders and a father hiking with his daughters and their dog. Otherwise we were on our own.

Mile 4 found us deep in the wooded canopy and things were so much cooler. Charlie alternated from being carried and leading the way on his tiny cord. 

The amazing part was that Charlie sets a pretty darned good pace. Our fastest mile towards the end of the hike was something like 12 or 13 minutes. 

The terrain is a bit challenging in places and there is a lot of hill work. But it isn't as steep as my daily walks.

Map [free phone app called Map My Walk ~ which works for runs, bikes, and hikes]:

Mile 5 to 6 was the ickiest. It was sandy and grassy and in the valley so it was hot and buggy.

We had another long break where we shared another apple, drank water out of his blue peanut butter jar lid, and chilled in a shaded spot that had a breeze.

Things I carry in my back pack. 

A water bladder which was filled to 1.5 liters. 20 ounces of water for Charlie. Apples, snack bars, dog treats, emergency blanket, whistle/compass/thermometer combo, Pepper Spray for offending dogs [never used yet], a lighter, Duraflame Fire Start, and a tiny kit for cuts or wounds. 

IF a person is reported missing on the nearly 9 thousand acres, they will search for you. 

The latest tech is used and they did find a lost person this spring with a heat seeking drone! 

The layout of the land is pretty simple for me. However I have hiked and ridden it since 1996 so I have an understanding of how it all fits together.

By mile 7, I knew we would make it. Charlie was cool as a cucumber and the breezes were blowing. He was on a mission.
It must have been the apples because somehow the dog treat bag slipped out of my pocket between mile 5 and 6!

I even thought how it might be sort of fun to bring my sort of mountain bike out this summer and try some of this with wheels. A mule would be so much easier but since I have no way to transport them, I guess I won't!

If you would like to laugh, here is a 7 second video of Charlie at MILE 8! Obviously I must have carried him too well for too long!

The tiny dude was on a mission! 

I jokingly have called this a Charlie WOD. Workout of the Day.

I would do this again with any brave souls but really...nearly 9 miles? Uffdah!

The best part? 
Having my tiny dog along to keep me company. We had many short conversations and he loved the 'lifts' because he could use his eagle eyes to watch for Chipmunks who had the audacity to laugh and chatter at us.

As far as this particular hike? I would suggest it in early spring or early fall for cool weather if you are on foot. 

We had a blast and all of my work to increase strength and endurance paid off. I was not exhausted or even sore at the end of the hike or the next morning.

Life at 65? 

Yeah, it is good.

Hi

Visitor on the back door!

The afternoon turned warm and sunny. So Charlie and I went off on a little trek. I took only the 12mm lens which is a prime 'wide' angle lens. I wanted to challenge myself with it. It is really used quite often in landscape shots and astrophotography shots.

What could I do with it in the forest? There is no Wide Open Spaces. 

So I told myself to think outside of the box. Get out of the comfort zone of having the 14-150mm lens that I usually chose.

It was One Of Those Days. You know. Pandemic- Covid-19- Worry About the Whole Damn World Days. Stupid Mind Racing Thoughts Days.

Time to leave the smart phone on do not disturb and--- put it on a window sill--- and ---out of the way Days.

Getting out of the house and away from the endless drone of the TV is always helpful. Charlie was up for it as we'd skipped our morning walk.

We got to the area of the woods where the fungi liked to live. I sat down on a damp log to try and figure out how to photograph a few tiny fungi, when I noted Charlie sniffing and tasting the berries that came out of the Buckthorn Trees.

The berries look exactly like deer poo and I yelled at him, "Stop, drop it!" The mystery of why he was so sick last week suddenly dawned on me. He'd sampled some Buckthorn Berries. No more hikes in that section of woods for him!

So how did my 'challenge' work out? Here I am yelling at Charlie while photographing a Chicken or Hen of the Woods fungi. Apparently they are good to eat when fresh. Nahhhh, I'll watch someone else eat them first and then decide.

You can get an idea of the size of the fungi though with Charlie in the backround.

I did find some tiny mushrooms that should have been photographed with a macro lens, but here was my challenge. Could I do something interesting? 

The full shot pre crop:

And after cropping:

These were just for fun and challenge. I could have done a focus stack with the lens too but I decided that with Charlie's interest in the toxic berries, we'd move on.

Although this lens did prove to be pretty fun to work with even in a macro world! Below, same log different angles of the fungi. The second shot is cropped.

I moved out of the Buckthorn Forest and thought about how to get rid of those trees. A goat herd would certainly help. They were good on the Buckthorn saplings, but those larger trees were an issue. They totally blocked out the sunlight in this area of the woods. I liked it in a way because it was super shady and the mossy logs loved it for fungi. But I hated them too.

A bull dozer and a herd of goats would take care of those noxious trees. 

I ended up sitting with Charlie at a place I used to go to often. The kids called it The Fort. It is a small rock outcropping on our land.

Charlie loved the rock. I think he likes it when he feels tall.

In this photo you can see his twisted foot and leg. He was born that way and I imagine in years to come that may become an issue. No matter, we adore him anyway. 

This pose is SO Charlie. He will NOT look at me directly unless I hold a dog treat in front of my face.

We will probably go back to The Fort more often. It is a nice place to sit and look over the neighbor's land.

And lastly, the photo that summed up how I was feeling yesterday.

I am learning how to be alone but not lonely.

I am surrounded by amazing things.

I will leave it at that.

Comfort Zones

On Friday at CrossFit Coach Luke was watching everyone doing strict presses. We were to do 5 reps at 80% of our best.

Of course I had no clue what that would be for me, since I was still sorting out the movements for each type of lift. I went with a weight that I could handle. Luke walked up to me and said, "More weight Val." I must have had a look in my eye that said, what???
He smiled and added weight and said, "You need to get out of your comfort zone and make it hard. It is supposed to be a challenge. That is how you get stronger."

It was harder. In fact at the 5th lift I wasn't sure I could lock my arms out. With a lot of cheering by Luke standing behind me [spotting me for safety], I did it. I then struggled through the reps with cheers from everyone.

Before I left I thanked Luke for pushing me.

While I was driving to the 'photo' shoot for my friend I was a bit nervous. I'd never done a Family Shoot before.
Rich had said I'd be just fine. I wasn't sure.
My stomach was in knots.

And then I thought about what my coach had said. "You need to get out of your comfort zone."

Well indeed, he was right. Look at all the things I've done out of that Comfort Zone. Looking back on the past year there are so many things I've done or had to do that I've never done before.
As I turned into my friend's driveway I took a breath and almost laughed.

Oh heck, I learned how to drive a skid steer and work on lawn mowers, and build fences over the past year.
This suddenly I didn't feel strange or uncomfortable.

I could do this.

And.
I did.
I had a blast and learned a lot.
So far the family is happy with what I did.

So later today I'll finish up the shots and transfer them to a memory stick.

And I guess I'll be ready for the next Challenge.

Thinking in Black and White photos

I like a challenge.

While hiking with Charlie between storms, I took this shot. It was overcast and gloomy but the yellows and greens were nearly glowing.

This is towards the back of our property almost to the fenceline. It is part of the refreshed trail that Jeff the Bulldozer man did for us.

I could have spent the day just gazing at the colors and the leaves. Charlie was following raccoon trails, and I spotted a couple of deer. Inside the forest it was nearly too dark to take a photo.

Charlie is in the lower part of the shot.

We visited the Gnarly tree with the cool roots in the dry run...

Anyway, when I got back home I opened up that first photo and decided to make it a painting.

I love the softness of the lines and bright colors. I could see this on a wall mural. I'd walk right into it...

So I decided to see what would happen to the same shot in black and white.

I posted the Before shot to my Flickr account and a pal of mine mentioned that it could be more interesting if worked with a bit.
So I looked up a tutorial for an old photoshop program and worked with it.

I think the 'masked' version has more depth.

So I went one step further and looked for tutorials for the ON1 program I use.

Black and White Tutorial

I came up with the following:

So why on earth am I taking such a colorful photo and converting it to black and white?
Well, because I want to study black and white photography.

Here is a photo from last year.

It is a nice pleasant shot of Black Hawk Park near the Mississippi River. The clouds were beautiful and the reflections quite nice.

I looked at it when I reviewed photos, but it didn't 'wow' me at all. There was nothing here to make me take a second look.

After watching the tutorial I went back and looked for photos that could be good contenders for black and white conversion. I needed good contrasts. And now I know that skies with white clouds do provide that. The color of the shore in the above photo annoyed me when I took it and cropping it out didn't really help.

So I took this shot and worked with it.

I cropped out the bottom so I wouldn't be annoyed by the shoreline. There was some mild adjustment to straighten the horizon and then I set to work.

Oh but darn those leaves look nasty in the upper left corner...

this isn't what I really wanted...

back to the drawing board...

It qualifies for the gray gradients and the lack of color actually helps accentuate the clouds in the reflections. That part of the photo worked out well.
Darn some of this black and white was harder than I thought!

Here is another example of that day of fishing that I never did anything with....
The black and white includes using some cropping and straightening ~ things I learned about while watching the judging and going to the Camera Club meeting.

Note to self, that tree across the way should be moved to the right a bit?

Like this....

Last note. This is nice, however the rules of 'judging' require that shorelines and horizons do not cut through the middle of the photo.

So I will continue my learning...

After all, Winter is coming. That is when Black and White photography is almost a no brainer. After the snows come, the world essentially is white ... and black.