What now?

Last year, I saw an Endocrinologist who put me on another bone med for my severe Osteoporosis.

 Per our agreement in May, we decided to go off the medications 'short term' (her terminology ~ mine was...Never!).  -- I called that discussion -- What Next?

So with that out of my mind and feeling much better, I went back to the gym and started with Mobility Class and then talked with a coach about doing exercises to Challenge my Bones and improve balance, strength, and increase core muscle strength in my lower back and hips. 

After 8 months of working one on one with a coach, I've gone back to the regular classes.

I modify my workouts to suit my abilities. I feel confident and strong. Yippee me!

Then I got this letter yesterday in the mail.

Emily E Peterson, PA-C has asked you to schedule an appointment in April. Please call------ at your earliest convenience.

Talk about out of sight out of mind. I had wished the problem away even though I am well aware of it. Especially while running up the driveway yesterday and leaping over a patch of ice to find myself on another 
patch of ice. Boom. 

I didn't fall apart. I rolled and came up trotting never giving it a thought.

I guess it is time to have a chat with the specialist again and see what she has in mind. In my mind, I want to wait for another bone scan before anything else occurs. Since I am not on specific medications for severe osteoarthritis, the insurance won't cover a yearly scan but I can have one every two years as part of preventative diagnostics.

I did wear my YakTraks later while hiking as Thursday's rains and snows made things a slippery mess.

The sun is strong this time of year so the ice in the creek area was starting to melt.

I hope to take some time on Sunday morning to go looking for something interesting at the Reserve. I hope to see some birds at least, if nothing else.

March 17th last year, I spotted Swans, Geese, Sandhill Cranes, and Red Wing Black Birds at KVR!

Finally

I got out and did some hiking. I couldn't stand being stuck in the house any longer so I must have been feeling better.

I waited for hubby's nap time and started out to just walk around the summer pastures and look around. 

Our driveway was plowed at 10am and I am so glad that Frank had decided to add us to his list of places to plow.

View from behind the machine shed towards the driveway. 

Yep, we really are in a hollow. 

I just kept walking. It felt good even though the deep snow was a bit of a struggle. My snow shoes would have collected the wet heavy snow and so would my skis. The extra effort wouldn't hurt me at all.

This is part of the trail to the creek. I'll have to get someone to come next year and clear it for me again. I've had several trees come down over the past couple of years. 

It makes a nice walking trail down to the creek. It is steep.
The mules don't mind, they often go to the valley on hot summer nights to cool off near the creek.

The creek! I was so pleased to find water in the creek this time around. This part of the creek reflects how much moisture we've had. The last two years have been very dry around here. The creek then is dry in places except for where the tiny springs are.

I just loved how the snow piled up on the rocks and the reflections that were created. 
Looking down...I can see the forest above reflected in the water.

Walking the creek becomes a bit trickier when the boulders and rocks are covered with snow. However, I just take one little step at a time. The extra caution lets me just stop and look and soak in all the winter beauty around me before I take the next step.

I usually walk from one fence line to another just to see if anything has changed and which animals have been down for water.

Interestingly enough, I found very few tracks. The deer will move a few hours after the storm has let up depending on a few factors. 

The answer to water in the creek came to me at one of the dry runs. There was still moisture and melt water coming from the ridge. Water was slowly moving under the snow and dropping into the creek. If you enlarge the image you can see the water droplets coming off the rock.

I walked to the edge of the property and peered under a fallen oak towards the east. It looks like a mess with fallen branches and tree tops from other storms. 

Once past that tree, the valley starts opening up and that is where my neighbor's land is.

I decided not to go further as I'd told hubby that I was just wandering around looking for birds and whatnot in the meadow above the creek.

I didn't see the birds, but I could hear them. I even heard a Robin in the distance. 

The Queen Annes lace and other flowers have released their seeds and they too are waiting on spring.

The weather forecast is for snow this afternoon of 1 to 3 inches more. I imagine I'll see Frank and his plow again then. 

Today looks like another perfect day for walking along the creek. This time I'll head into the neighbor's valley.

Ahhh. And tomorrow the clocks change for us! Yipee! Truthfully, I wish they'd stop messing with the this time change.

Morning trek

I watched the sun come up with a pink - reddish glow in the clouds ...

Charlie and I watched the red fade away and the sky become a dull metal grey color.

I went in for a cup of coffee. Charlie came and laid at my feet. I browsed the news on the internet and decided that none of the news was good news.
I knew that I had some fencing to check and the mules probably were ready for a rotation....
I set my warmed up coffee down and set up a fresh pot.
I hit start...
I asked Charlie if he'd like to check fence with me.

Charlie didn't answer, but ran to the door when I put on my 'woods' clothes and tossed a camera bag over my shoulder.
He saw me headed towards the electric gate and jumped on my work boots. I scooped him up and used the other hand to open the top line. He has a healthy respect for hot wire.

The middle pasture looked pretty good. The grass wasn't as plentiful as it was in the meadow but it had grown at least 3 inches since last week. I decided to check the 'creek' pasture which is on a steep hillside just above the creek itself. I won't let the mules in there until it dries out much more or they'd just tear up the hill 'path' and it would wash and erode.

However I did want to make sure that the lines were all intact. Charlie led me to the creek on a narrow deer trail and we walked below the wire in the water.

The leaves of the trees were still wet from last night's rain and the 100% humidity.

Not a very clear shot, but the low light and humidity probably didn't help.

I even had a hard time getting a shot of my brave assistant it was so dark...when...

Some light suddenly broke through. Not much, but daylight was preparing to come to the valley.

Last night's rain was still coming off the hillsides and creating little tiny falls. I walked towards the bottom of the 'road' where it meets the creek.

And the sun broke through the leaves.

The creek fog lit up like it was electrified. I was tickled to see it though. Creek fog is pretty hard to capture in any light.

"Cool huh?" I asked Charlie.
Charlie put his paws on my boots, he wanted a lift.

Of course. I hiked him up into my arms and we proceeded to the trail and headed up the steep hill. It was terribly hot and even muggier ... if that was possible ... as we headed away from the cold waters of the creek.

There was little rivulets of water in the meadow pasture making its way downhill towards the creek.

Charlie was wet and hot in my arms.  As we passed under the box elders that the mules use for shade I noticed a brightly lit coral fungus. I hesitated. I wanted to get back to the house. I was hot, Charlie was hot, but in a few minutes that light would be gone.

To my surprise I found a slug on the fungi.

A slug hug.

Charlie waited patiently between my feet.

 I picked the little fella up and we wound our way through the sleepy mules and I let him out of the pasture gate. He trotted towards the house to wait for me on the porch.

I opened up the gate for the mules and they all trotted past me with nodding heads as if they had expected this exact outcome.

A shower for me and a bath for Charlie. He'd then be ready to go to the nursing home for a visit.

Happy 4th.

The Creek

There isn't much to say about ... the Creek. Except that I love the creek. I love going there and just wandering.

I like rainy and overcast days the best as the lighting seems more mystical. There have been times I've gone after a rain ... and the sun came out hot and brilliant which created a fog over the water.
Here is a shot from a few years ago...2011 to be exact. Mr. Morris was still a brown faced Jack Russell!

It was cool this time and the sky was overcast, but at times sunlight did drift down.

I went alone which meant I didn't have to watch over any dogs and could spend my time just observing and looking at rocks.

I walked from the western neighbor's side towards the east, going downstream.

I guess I don't have to explain the sense of awe I felt right in this spot. The lighting, the water, the greens, the brilliant rocks, and the moss all seemed to create the perfect scene.

And I did find the fog rising over the creek near where the trail had just been redone.

I didn't follow my usual route and instead of ducking under one end of a fallen tree, I went around to climb over near the stump end.

I normally just duck under the above tree and continue to walk...but I didn't... and...

I was presented with a beautiful site.

You will find something more in woods than in books. Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.
~~ Saint Bernard