I don't even know what to say....

I've talked before about meeting my Geologist friend on a New Year's Eve hike in the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Little did I know how our friendship would develop into a relationship good for the both of us.

Let me be clear. This is a friendship.

This friendship has extended to my husband. Hmmm, let me clarify.

I got a text from Jason asking if I'd like a day this weekend to get out and go hiking. He'd come and stay with Rich and make sure he stayed safe for me to take as much time as I wanted to go hiking and photographing.

He volunteered.

He volunteered to drive two hours to come and spend the day with his fluff ball dogs and care for my husband while I took a DAY OFF. No limits on time. Just go and do what I love to do.

Jason showed up and immediately Rich and Charlie were ecstatic. Rich, because he enjoys Jason's company and gift of gab. Charlie, because he likes his hiking pals Piper and Felix...oh and let's not forget Jason, his other most favorite human who has dog treats.

Rich and Jason settled down with a cup of coffee and I started to chat with them. Rich said, "I thought you were going hiking?" Jason smirked and said, "Get going! We have this!" [or something to that effect]

I grabbed my backpack and hesitated. The guys shooed me out the door with a "Take as long as you like!"

I started down the Visitors Center Trail and then stopped, stunned. This was the first time in 10 years that I didn't have a time limit on my hikes. Always, always before, I tried to get out and back within at least 3 hours. Since my last exploration in the first week of January, I've not been able to go hiking at the Reserve.

I literally had to sit down on a rock when it hit me. Jason and Rich said, "Go do whatever you want and take your time."

Wait. I had a free day with no time restraints. If I wanted to wander about for hours AND take my time, I could. Is this what freedom feels like?

I was able to stop and ponder lichen on fallen oak branches. I could sit in the dirt and gaze at the Kickapoo River and listen to the sounds of the water and the birds. Since I was taking my time I searched the south facing bluff for signs of ephemeral plants.

The twin leaves of the Spring Beauties were emerging from the leaf debris. And then I spotted a patch of Wood Anemones. 

Normally, I would have taken a quick shot and moved on. But I didn't. I swapped out lenses to try out my Lensbaby Sol. 

...and why not? Why not take the time to explore something much different.

I did move on after enjoying some quiet time out of the cold wind. It was cold and cloudy with a breeze from the NW. But overcast days do make for good photo opportunities.

I could hear Canada Geese squawking and making noise in the west pond, so I headed through the muddy trails to get close to an area where I could hide on the pond bank behind some brush and photograph them.
To my delight I did find the Trumpeter Swans again this year!

I didn't have my 100-400mm lens as it is pretty heavy to go brush busting with, but here they are!

Ducks are so spooky! However eventually I will hopefully have the freedom at some point in my life to set myself up in a blind and sit for a long time to catch beautiful ducks.

I moved on and went off trail to follow the river. The winds kept me busy putting my hood up and taking it off. The sun would flash out for a moment and then disappear. I wasn't worried. I was happy even if I had to wear gloves.

I heard a Ring Neck Pheasant calling, I heard more Canada Geese, Ducks flew overhead to other ponds, and Song Sparrows sang. Blue Jays complained, and a Northern Flicker chatted from a scrub oak tree.

And after trekking through lowland fields I was amazed to find this bird alighting on a scrub oak!

Further beyond this mystical yellow bird was an area that I knew Sandhill Cranes like to hang out.

Photographing the Cranes was very tricky. They were beyond an area of thick brush next to the Kickapoo River. They were walking along quietly. I felt like I was spying on them. I did get one decent shot I think. They reminded me of secret lovers looking for a place to hold a tryst. 

The highlight of the day was laying on the multi use trail in the sunlight and seeing this fellow.

The black top was warm from the sunlight that emerged and I had the Reserve to myself. So Why Not?

I think I laid on the ground watching this guy for at least 10 minutes. Something I generally don't have the luxury of time for.

I'll stop right here as I've got to get out now and continue with cleaning up gravel and cleaning up the multiple flower gardens I have as well as many other household chores waiting for me. 

There are more photos, but I'll save them for another time.

When I got home, the 'boys' were laughing and having a great discussion.

Sometimes having someone else around to talk to is more interesting as old stories are new to the visiting friend. It worked out so well, we are going to try it again.

Let 'er rip!

Okay not like pant rips or other things like that.

Snow. It went from an Advisory to Winter Storm Warning. Color me happy as a lark.

One. I don't have to drive in it.
Two. I can play in it.
Three. I don't have to plow it. We hired out for that.
Four. The first snow is always pretty.
Five. I like snow. Except when it covers up ice by the mailbox.

Charlie and I had to make a trip up to the mailboxes at noon. We'd had about 5" of snow by then. Our UPS guy and I have an understanding. He always always comes to the house. But I told him not to come down the drive if the weather is bad and to leave the delivery in the big orange tupperware container.

Some meds that hubby gets from the VA have to be signed for and handed to an adult at the residence. Tom called us on his cell phone and I trudged up the drive. I didn't want to delay on the meds and Tom didn't want to risk our long hill. Talk about cooperation from a delivery service! I've know this driver since 2008 when I did Security work way back when.

I got the meds in hand and....Boom- bang- slip- butt smack on the ground!
I forgot about the ice right by the mailbox that never melted off. So I started to get up again and whoooopppsyy! I was snow swimming.

I did not hurt myself but had cold snow go up my coveralls sleeve and on my wrist. Ick. I like snow but not down my cuff!

Too much excitement for me! 

Charlie just stuck his nose under the snow and paid me no mind at all. By the time I got back home, I looked as if I'd been out doing snow angels.

The girls were comfy and out of the wind. They had their snow blankets on and later they took snow baths.

It sure is pretty out, I do love our first real snow.

I hope to get to tromp around in it more on Friday.

Update:

Whoo hoo! The plow guy showed up!

Manus Manum Lavat

This family of eagles with two juveniles and two baldies are still hanging out around our place. I guess I don't mind at all because they are such incredible looking birds.

I have to scan the trees each day before Charlie gets to go out and do his thing. 

Mica has improved immensely with her diaper padded/booted foot. She was trotting around in the farthest part of the pasture at feeding time last night. It doesn't seem to me that there is an abscess, but what exactly do I know? Perhaps she bruised her foot or something. All I know is that it makes me happy to see the old girl happy again.

I got Rich in for an eye appointment finally! He normally goes to the VA for his eye appointments, but getting anything done through their vision department is at best a bit difficult. I imagine it relates to staffing shortages. And who wants to drive 5 hours for an eye exam anyway? [Especially since I have limited distance vision now!]

Today is my consult with the cataract surgeon. While at the appointment yesterday for Rich I asked if they would be dilating my eyes at the consult/exam. The answer was yes. 

Oh. Crap.
When Olive came over to help me with Mica and do a quick walk before she went to pick up her son, she decided that she would drive me to the appointment. I was shocked but pleased at her offer.

I figured I'd have to sit in the waiting room for hours to get some eyesight back from being dilated.

I told her I wouldn't want to impose on her. She laughed. Of course just this week she announced that she was pregnant and I offered my services to help out with anything she might need. Someone to play with her 2 year old if she was tired, or whatever I could do.

She quipped, "Don't worry! There will be times I call on you to come keep an eye on Aiden while we go for baby scans!"

Yep, that sure sounds reasonable!

I got a text from my neighbors at the top of the hill. Would I feed and walk their dogs this weekend when they went out of town? They hated to impose...but they would compensate me.
I replied that there would be no compensation, I'd be thrilled to do it.

There is an old Latin saying that I learned in my first year of  High School Latin.

Manus Manum lavat.
"One hand washes the other."

It certainly works in rural areas with good neighbors.

I Got This Deal!

Many years ago I worked in an office and often I would be working on files when an old fella would walk in with his son who was in High School.

Sev couldn't read or write, he was one of those old timers that grew up on a farm and probably left school to stay and work on the family farm. I was a captive audience when he came in as I was stuck behind a desk and had to stay there and answer the phone for the Chiropractor I worked for.

Sev rarely washed up either. He'd lost all of his teeth at some point in his life. He'd bring in his son Sy and they'd sit and wait for doc to have an opening. They usually smelled of oil, gas, and diesel with a faint under odor of sweat. The lines in the father's hands were always dark from grime or grease I think.
However, he was a rather pleasant fellow and had some of the most unbelievable stories ever.
These stories were not made up.

"I got me a good deal," he told me one day when he and Sy came in.
"Oh yeah? What's that?" I kept typing and would glance up at him as he leaned on the counter.
"Well the landlord was gonna sell our farm we was rentin'. We only rent the house yah see, he got the land. But the well it's bad and it don't pass. Says it has oil in it." Sev paused and smiled his toothless smile.
"So there ain't no workin' septic neither."

I stopped typing and listened, giving him my full attention.
"Oh?" I asked.

"Yep so the landlord he asks if me and The Boy want the place for our own! And I tell him sure! But I can't afford no mortgage and bank payments as...we are on ..." Sev waved a hand in the air ... "You know government help."

I wait.

"So the landlord he says he'll sell me the place with the acre on it if I pay him in payments I can afford."
Sev stood back and put his hands in his pockets. "So I am buyin' the place for a thousand dollars in payments. And that's a good deal!"

"What do you do for water then if the well is bad?" I asked.

"Oh we just use it to flush the toilet. I'm using the cistern when it gets water in it for things like dishes when it rains. The septic just leaks out on the corner down by the junk pile where we have cars for parts."  Sev smiled with his toothless grin. "Once in a while we git enough water in the cistern for Sy's half brother to come up with the kids and they get a bath!"

Sev's wife had passed away a few years ago. So it was just him and his son Sy. His wife's son from a previous marriage The Half Brother, had moved a trailer onto their land with extension cords to the bigger house that had electricity.

Sev was tickled pink that he was now going to become a home owner. I mulled the situation over a bit and didn't want to burst his bubble. He'd own a condemned well and septic. No doubt that the house should be condemned also.

He and his son were so happy to finally 'own' their own place.

I actually drove by the place that year. There it was a dilapidated house with a trailer parked down the hill from it. Dead vehicles of the same make and general model were in parts here and there. Neat piles of stacked wood were near the house. Some windows were covered with plastic, some with boards.
There were kids toys spread out around the yard and a broken 4 wheeler.

Last year I went down the same road. The house is gone as are the vehicles. Looks like a bulldozer came through and rearranged the land so it could become part of a crop field.

So I wonder what ever happened to Sev and his son Sy.
I don't think Sev ever thought he was really poor. He'd grown up dirt poor and his family had their farm taken by the Government in the 1960's. Sev said taken the Government says purchased. This was for the La Farge Dam Project that never happened.  Well, the project was stopped in 1975.

The area is now known as the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. I'm grateful to be able to use this land but never forget the history and heartache behind it.

As I will never forget Sev and his wild and crazy stories.

Big Snow

While slogging through the snow up to the neighbor's house I took several measurements with a ruler. 7 inches here, 8 inches there, and 10 inches in another spot. I stopped measuring. It was obvious we had a snowfall and there was more to come later on.

I had debated wearing the snowshoes, but taking them off to go in the neighbor's house...well I just didn't feel like taking them off and putting them on over and over.

All the goats were good, the rabbits were fine, ... chickens...good! I shoveled around the coop and the doorway to the goat pens and opened the door a bit for some air.

I heard some rumbling noises and figured it was the town truck up on the ridge. When I got done feeding I was surprised by being able to walk back down the driveway. There was a Good Samaritan who plowed.
Word has gotten around about Rich being ill. Over the years Rich was the guy who jumped on his tractor, skid steer, or ran over with his truck and chainsaw...or whatever else was needed to assist anyone. He'd even fix things just because a good neighbor needed something fixed. As an ex welder, he knew how to do it properly too.

I have clean up to do in front of the shed and next to the horse trailer AND the little turn around. But I put my big girl pants on the other day and fueled up the skid steer and did some pre storm cleaning. I did it super slow and it went well.

Charlie tried his best to play in the snow but got cold in the morning. He has been rummaging around in the big shed. Last night I think he ate something that upset his stomach, this is the second time he has done that. No more chores with Charlie unless I can keep him close for a while. [I think he looks for bird feathers in the shed and then eats them? Ewwwww....]
We'll try some walks on leash [it is coyote mating season] these next few days.

Well there you have it for right now.

I took a long snow shoe hike yesterday during the storm through the valley. It was wonderful.

That Good Samaritan came through again this morning and blew another 5 inches of snow and drifts off the drive.
I am so grateful.

This above is a shot of one of the summer pastures. I just loved the fresh snow...

Have a good day. Time to get my day going.

Photos from my walk coming soon.

Neighbors

A lot of things happened over the weekend and I'll try and get into some of that later.

Hay.
My one source of hay for the winter miscalculated her inventory of round bales and at first I left it to Rich to do the 'hay' search. He has always been the negotiator and hay purchaser.
Over many years though, I've watched, listened and learned.

I called a gent we bought from last year. I figured he'd be out of hay too or it would be beyond my price range. I left a message and when Darrel called back we had a nice chat. I explained what was going on and that Rich had a major setback in his health.
In the end, I settled on some large square bales.
Darrel called me this morning.

He worked out a plan, he'd deliver and if it was okay, ...he'd use our skid steer to stack the hay in the shed.
[Rich has always taken the hay off from Darrell's trailer and stacked it.]
He'd even would deliver our neighbor's hay and stack it in our shed since they didn't have a good spot to put out of the weather.
I did remind Darrel that I always paid cash, but it was Sunday and the bank was closed.
He laughed and said, "I know you guys, you are good people."
In country speak that means", "I trust you.

Darrel came down with his huge truck and trailer and I had the skidsteer warmed up for him.

Darrel came in a talked with Rich for a little bit and then went out to move hay.
I finally walked out, Darrell came back with the skidsteer. He couldn't get the bucket to detach. The bucket wouldn't come off.
We tried once solution after another. Rich even dragged himself out to try it. He had to be helped out of the skid steer and I got him back inside...

No go.
Hmmm.
Darrell thought perhaps the fuse or relay for the Hydralulic Attachment thingy wasn't working properly. [thingy is MY term]. We searched the skidsteer up and down looking for the fuse box...thingy. Both of us stood out in the wind and tried using our smart phones to look it up too...to no avail.

We finally settled on Darrell knocking the hay off the trailer with the bucket and my neighbor could place it in the shed with his little tractor.

With that sorted out, Darrell parked the skidsteer back in the shed and I said goodbye and I'd drop off the money after Christmas.
I went in the house and dug around.

Rich always has manuals on our machinery. I found the manual for the New Holland L220...

A bit of candy, an apple and some sticky note paper and I was suddenly...studying a machinery manual.

And there I found it. The relay and fuse box thingy that would perhaps give me a clue as to ... well, something, right?

I had told Darrell that I could have someone come out and service it after the Holidays.
He had wrinkled his nose at that.

My cell phone rang while I was doing chores.
It was Darrell.

I answered with a bit of pride in my voice, "I found the fuse box, I found the manual!"
He asked if the fuse box was located by the left side near where the driver's calf would be.
"Yes!"
Then there was a pause and he said, "My goodness you are just like me. Got a problem and you just have to see if you can solve it..." he paused. "I got home myself and had to look it up."

We talked a bit and then Darrel said, "I'm probably going to take a drive tomorrow and stop by to check it out."
My turn to pause, "Darrel, it is Christmas Eve. It is a holiday."
"Huh. Well I'd like to see what I can do. I'm sure it is just a relay or fuse. It's probably very simple and I can learn something. Besides," he said, "you are a good neighbor and neighbors help neighbors, there just isn't enough of that going around these days. Besides, I don't want you to have to pay for a service call if it is an easy fix."

I told Rich about the phone call when I got in. I got a smile with a thumbs up.

I spent the rest of the afternoon actually reading the manual.

Yuck. I have never liked machinery, but I learned something today also.

Last point though. I wonder if neighbors are also those who live 10 miles away.

Well, back to the manual...

Look at that, I will be able to find the air filter!
Score one for me!
That is after I find the fuse thingy.

Good Enough Friday!

Friday morning at sunrise just outside Readstown.

The geese came flying in above and I panned with the camera.
The K-town gang wanted to go to one of our favorite sunrise spots.

After breakfast, the guys went to get small bales of hay. While Rich and I had to take a trip to the nursing home to sign some paperwork...Daryl worked with the chainsaw on the giant oak tree that fell last year over the fence. The upper part of the branches held the trunk off the fence, but I could see that it was slowly sinking.
The last thing I wanted to happen was for the fence to get ruined if I had cattle in that pasture.

Thank you Daryl and the girls. I know they worked hard on the tree and unloaded the hay from Rich's truck while we were taking care of business at the nursing home.

We had planned a trip to KVR on Friday. The weather was supposed to turn cold and rainy by nightfall. We planned our Saturday hike to be close to home.

I know how much my friends enjoy seeing our unique 'ice' caves so I took the gang on a short side trip to explore two ice formations before we decided to do the Black Hawk Rock Hike.

Note that Charlie was being picked up a lot at this point. The ice was wet and very cold. I think Charlie was shivering from the excitement and not necessarily the cold.

However, Charlie proved himself to be quite the avid hiker on groomed trails.
Yes, we had his little cord on him. It doubled as a leash at times.

The two dogs got along famously. 

Charlie continued to be a source of entertainment.

Here he decides to carry a Big Stick. 

By the time we reached Black Hawk Rock, Charlie was in need of a nap. I tucked him in my flannel jacket and zipped it up. Charlie settled and and started to snore.

At this point, I'd wished I'd brought some sort of bag to carry him in. However, we made do and around we climbed to the top.

The views were incredible. The winds were bone chilling.

And...Charlie slept through it all.
He woke up and went back to hiking when we descended off the rock.

[According to the app MapMyHike our route had taken us 3.68 miles. The top of Black Hawk Rock was at an elevation of 1,442 feet above sea level.]

It was a grand hike. One I won't mind doing again.

We got home just in time to do chores and finish up an incredible supper. We'd put a large arm roast in a roaster and cooked it all day. Daryl added the finishing touches and we sat around the round table and shared our day with Rich.

The two dogs wrestled in the living room.

We discussed our hiking plans for Saturday.
The Lost Valley.

And we all went to bed early.

Night Stalkers of Ice

Our fearless co-leader, Daryl walked ahead of our night hiking group.
My neighbor, Lauren met up with us at 8:30pm. Her kids were asleep and her hubby watching live stream video.
Daryl and Amanda's girls were watching a movie.

All was peaceful as we headed down into Awesome Creek. Well. Peaceful as can be with three women gabbing and hiking through the snow.

We got to the Ice Wall and I set up a tripod and the camera. Daryl used his flash light to light up the ice wall from behind the ice.

We used a red light for a bit of drama.

Then he lit up the wall for me.

And...how could we not resist us three gals lined up at the wall with funny faces?

Daryl set up my camera...

And took the shot...

The Night Walkers!
Okay, the three of us gals hamming it up in the dark next to an ice wall in the dark...in a creek.
Being goofy and letting our hair down was the whole point of leaving the kids behind.

We were all surprised with the speed that we could accomplish with just the four of us. I made a comment that sometimes having Morris along was like taking a 2 year old on a hike. I constantly had to keep an eye out for him and keep him under close watch. Morris always has his own ideas of where we should go.

In no time at all we'd reached the crossing.
I set up my camera and we took some amazing night shots.

The shots with the DC 2017 are from Daryl's cell phone. Some cell phones today are incredible and amazing aren't they?
The shot in red was ice lit up by a red light.

We spent a fairly long time experimenting and looking at the ice.

I decided to take them back to my 'office' chair in the woods and see if we couldn't get a group shot.
We had fun trying to get this shot to come out okay. This time, I remembered to bring the flash for the Olympus.
However, I'd left the spare batteries at home. So this is nearly the last shot I got before the battery warning light came on.

Daryl used a flashlight to light up his beard nicely, don't you think?

We went to the 'Curve' in the creek past the campfire ring, picnic table, and grill. Yes, there is about once or twice a year that someone actually comes to this spot and camps or cooks out.
It is pretty rare though.

I explained that we could go down further in the valley but it wasn't quite as interesting as this part of the valley.

We decided that it was time to lighten the load and have our adult beverage.

I mean, who can resist a Spotted Cow on a cold winter night while standing on a rock island in the middle of an icy creek?

Really?
We even had the smart brainy idea of trying to chill one of the beverages... a bit more...but it nearly washed away as it was partially empty.

We decided to try a group selfie and then head back up stream to explore the eastern part of the creek.
And have more fun adult time.

And...
we did.

Late that night after the goodbyes were said on the porch and we all went to bed...
I lay awake and thought to myself.

This was one of the most interesting and fun events I've had in a very long time.
I was happy.