Chasing waterfalls

After the sunrise at Brockway Mountain and the stop at Esrey Park, we hit the next place my son wanted me to see.

Silver River Falls.

I intended to take shots like the one below so I could remember each place we stopped. Nah, I didn't remember to do that. At least I can look it up on maps.

The roaring water was wonderful. I like waterfalls. I love waterfalls. I love rivers.

Apparently my son and Em and Mari do also. Mari played in the cold water [in a safe spot] while we walked around and I took some shots.

Jer brought the tripod, but I was able to do some hand held shots. 1/20th of a second exposures do give a sense of the motion of the water. The morning was heavily overcast, so it was easier than trying to expose in a glaring bright day.

There is a trail of sorts alongside the river that allows you to check things out. Me? I would have seen how far I could have hiked towards Lake Superior, but we had so many more things to see. 

We loaded up and headed towards Great Sand Bay.

Lake Superior is like visiting the ocean. It is windy, chilly, and loud with waves crashing into the shore.

Because of the blowing sand and water spray, I kept my camera in my backpack. But still, one can take some decent shots with a cell phone these days.

We spent quite a while 'beach combing' and enjoying the thunderous waves. The winds were so strong that the dune grasses drew swirls in the sand.

Jacob's Falls was our next stop.

This was the most curious thing I've ever seen on a roadside trail. Ashes? But in a way, I understood this completely. I doubt I'd have left a whole box.

This was my first glimpse of the falls and this is where most folks stop. Not my group. 

...and yes, I climbed up these roots to get higher while my son was climbing from the opposite side below.

See the blue jacket? That was my kid.

He survived, but I was worried that he'd fall in.

While I was gone, this project finished up.  There is just some touch up work left. But the new view out my back door is now pretty amazing.

 

Our exploration of Gay Michigan was interesting enough that it deserves its own write up. --> Soon.

Old Friends

I've written about Rich's pal from past years. As life happens people lose touch only to get back in touch again years later.

Just before Christmas we got a call and then a visit from one of Rich's pals he hadn't seen in about 15 years. Our lives and interests had gone in different directions for a bit.

Then Steve showed up to visit. The 'boys' had an incredible time reminiscing about their days with their hound dogs and their crazy adventures while fishing together. 

Seriously, it seemed as if no time had passed and they wondered how their children grew up, got married and made them grandpas.

When Rich had his respiratory failure in February, Steve came as soon as he got the text. Steve is so kind hearted. He visited every day and spent time with him when I had to go home and do chores.

The two guys are like brothers that get along very well.

Steve called me Wednesday morning. The day was a rainy and he wanted to know what was on our schedule. 

Nothing of course.

"Well, let's go for a drive then! If we can't go fishing, we can go for a drive."

And that is what we did.

We headed over to the Mississippi River to check out sites for fishing that would accommodate a wheel chair.

We loaded up hubby and headed out with extra 02. We were going on an adventure.

Steve had thought of many things. He brought a Rollator for extra ease for Rich to get from one place to another if we were able to. He brought extra water for us [I'd packed some along with the meds] and off we went.

We spent a good part of the afternoon stopping at different boat ramps to see if they had places we could fish from. We did end up with a place that looked great with perfect wheel chair access.

Since we were in the small town of DeSoto, I suggested a stop at a place called The Bright Spot. It is a small bar with a separate room for eating. 

We were quite the sight. Steve and I walked along helping Rich manipulate the rollator up a little ramp to the dining area. 

We ordered burgers and fries and enjoyed light conversation. The waitress was fantastic. The restaurant is not fancy but well loved for its food. People come from the bordering states to eat here for this exact reason.

Steve was a great chauffer and pal.

On another odd note [seems I always have odd things happen to me]. Steve's wealthy neighbors who own second weekender homes have Steve mow their lawns and does other maintenance for them.

He helped one neighbor clean out a shed. Steve was having a large Garage Sale where one neighbor asked him to sell a bunch of 'crap' his daughter left behind when she moved away years ago.

Steve worked on helping the fellow clean out this huge shed so he could put his boats in there.

Anyway, I noticed these odd pieces in a photo that Steve showed me, I asked if I could purchase a couple. Steve brought a few of these items over to me. They were priced at $2 a piece at the garage sale.

When I got them, they were pretty dirty. So I washed them gently and found a name inside them.

Jason Christoble 1975 and Matchless Grove Tree with the their ID number and date carved inside. 

Apparently this fellow sculpted these items as candle holders with glass eyes that would light up when a light or candle was inserted. 

Jason Christoble created many 'Tree Ent' sculptures and sold them in the 1970's and 1980's. There is almost no info on this artist on the internet.

However I was intrigued by his work and recognized that some of his 'work' is now classified as Vintage Collectible.

I liked the 'Ents', they fit perfectly with one of my pretty but cheaply made 'face' pots I've had for a while.

Below is an example of one I ordered years ago. He stores my headphones and charger cords for a couple of my devices.

Imagine what I can do with these odd faces with eyes that will glow!

I found some on sale at different places like Etsy, eBay, and others. These items in very good condition and with a signature seem to hold a pretty good price. Below are my Tree Ents lined up in front of some sweet potatoes.

What a surprising and fun day we had. Rich hasn't been out to eat anywhere in more than 5 years. He hasn't left home except for his hospital stays and doctor appointments for about the same amount of time.

He was tired yesterday but happy.

Old friends can be the best.

Oddness

I may be in one of those moods. What kind of mood? 

Gosh I really don't know. I walked out yesterday morning and watched the sun rise over what used to be the Merry Meadow. It belongs to the neighbor and we no longer brush hog it or fence it for pasture. At one time it was nice to walk through that well groomed pasture. I think there were about 10 acres of it. Now it is a nightmare to walk through unless the snow has pressed down the weeds and grasses.
Still, the morning sunrise is still beautiful to watch.

The Teddy and his lonely tea party. 
I spray painted the cups and sauces.
They were purple.

My husband's Aunt sent us this huge decoration for our house. I don't have the heart to tell her that it is way too large for my tiny house. I chuckled at the word 'Family' on it. 

Let's just say that I don't get the Warm Fuzzies with the word Family.

I get what it is supposed to mean though.
I was sorting through my mini boney dinosaurs to figure out which ones I'd keep and which ones I'd send to my youngest grandson. I set the ones I wanted to keep for photos on the mini bench in front of the place I stashed the Family sign for the time being.

[I have no idea where I would actually put it. Really...I don't! 

I'm thinking though it would 

make a nice frame without the letters to use for a 

flat layout and still life photography... hmmm....]

Other meandering thoughts. My flower garden is going great guns and it will be time to start collecting seeds for next year's gardens. The barrel I had in the middle of the plantings is now surrounded and one has to peek through the towering plants to see what is on the spool top I set on the barrel.

The Tree Ent looks

pleased.

Think so?

The tiny brass car with the hen and chick in it looks like it is doing well. I have to remember to reach in and water that and the ones in the tea cups....

Maybe I'm feeling the ... well, I don't want to call it stress... but perhaps it is stress...

The stress of worrying about something I can't really do much about. The worry about the coming winter. The worry about world events. 

Perhaps what causes my feelings of unrest come from something deeper. The cost of Isolation and being careful. 
The feeling of waiting for that Other Shoe to Drop.

Sometimes I go to do something and I just stop. I look around and feel as if I've lost my way a little bit. I stand and wait. Then I think of something I should be doing. And of course then I do something else.

Distracted and disjointed.

I sure hope this oddness passes.

I think I'll take Charlie for a stroll now. Unless I should be doing something else.

[Oh...and if my kids read this they'll get the reference to Family. It isn't about them, they will fully understand why I chuckle at the word.]

 

It is only Wednesday?

So.

This week has been an odd one for me.

We had our first time 'out' for an extended drive for a 2 minute lab test for the VA doctors. Secure Messaging for refilling scripts.

~Thank goodness for Secure Messaging. 

Afterwards we ordered 'fast' food through a drive up. The eating areas were closed everywhere in Baraboo, Wisconsin. So we ate in the car with it running and the A/C on. [We wouldn't have gone in even if they were open.]

Sympathy cards in the mail for my MIL. 

~My own family is a bit odd about death and dying. My mother and Grandfather never said 'passed'. People died. Period, they didn't Pass.

Passing was something you did on the road.

Grandpa used to say that he wasn't going to go to 'So and So's' Funeral because by golly...So and So wasn't coming to his.

He used to recite the Ashes to Ashes saying in a much different manner.

I grew up without proper funeral etiquette. My father abhorred funerals, he said it was barbaric to see the dead in a casket. 

Do I acknowledge the sympathy cards? What happens when people write a check? The funeral was pre paid. See, I am at a loss with death and its accoutrements.

[edit: any moneys will be donated to the nursing home for activity supplies...I emailed my stepdaughter to find out what to do!]

My knowledge is so lack that I didn't even know that the updating of the headstone would be taken care of. 

I guess it is time for me to do some studying.

I've jumped back into my Virtual CrossFit workouts. I skipped last week as I was so exhausted from sitting with MIL for days. I had no idea how much that daily effort would simply drain me. I am however glad that I did it. 

It feels good to be back into some sort of routine after feeling like I was in limbo for a week.

Heat/Muggy/Horrid Heat.

The heat and misty mornings are incredible to view and photograph of course.

I went out at 4:30 to watch the predawn from different areas of the ridge.

The heat index is around 100 each day and the yard is beginning to look like we should cut it for hay!

Rich wants to do it, however the conditions are not good for him to be out in the heat.

After my workout yesterday, I took a walk to cool off.

Sven was working on his particular skills as a weed wacker. I made a tiny collage of the things I saw on my walk.

Some of that is from my garden obviously and some of that is from alongside our long driveway.

I saved the books my MIL had in her boxes and thought it would be fun to read what she read.

Um. I'm not into Romance Novels, however during the hot afternoons I can pick a book up and stay cool inside during the hottest parts of the day while Rich naps.

I can say this. The books are easy reading.

The stories are rather predictable but what do I know?

It's only Wednesday!

The Garden Dog

The whole idea was to extend my garden a bit and make it easier to mow.

Or..
just plant more flowers so I'd have more to look at!

Ignore the broken down garage...it is

a project to be taken care of..

one day....

So I started putting the mulch down on the 'walkway' and re-arranging other parts of the garden.

I gathered up my collection of odd rocks and put them all in one spot, so I can admire them.

Really, aren't they odd and strange rocks? I want to say they are concretions, but I have never had any one tell me exactly what they are.

Odd and strange fossils are abundant in our area.

Apparently Charlie believes I put the dirt out just for him to sunbathe in. Won't he be surprised when I put seeds in there?

It seems as if the Unicorns have started to move in.....
I hope they like the big barn I built for them out of a coffee can.

Oh and the Rat Skeleton! Well, I was building this 'garden' on the idea that it would be fun for kids or adults to walk through the flowers and find odd and interesting things.
I intend on continuously changing it of course.

The Squirrels? Well, the Rabbits will come soon and hide out between flowers and stumps I imagine.

Okay...this was a Christmas Card holder...but...
I'm putting it in the garden...
the head bobbles...
It was one of the strangest gifts I've ever had. I've had a mind to toss it, but oddly enough I can't just toss it. I find myself putting it away for a while, then bringing it out again.
People can't help themselves by touching the head and watching it nod wisely.

Maybe this reindeer thing is wiser than the rest of us.


But maybe I just got a Garden Dog instead...

~~ that look...
Charlie has the right idea. Just lay out in the sun light and don't worry about a thing.
I wish I were Charlie!

More UnTree

What on earth are YOU talking about? NO one does Christmas without a Christmas tree right?

Well I'm sure there are folks who do!

I'm just looking for something different and fun.

I don't know exactly where to start, so I'll just start with what caught my eye as I was twiddling my thumbs.

Last year I took some time to wander around the Walmart clearance section. I saw a lot of Teddy Bears lined up on shelves. One had only one eye.

It wasn't something I was looking for. But I drove home with my list filled up and the thought of that Pink One Eyed Teddy Bear kept coming back to me.

I have no idea why.
I needed to pick something up the next day. Most of the Bears were gone. The one eyed bear was pushed to the side. I was so relieved for some reason and stuck it in my basket. At the check out one of the lady's pointed out that this Teddy was defective, did I really want it?
I smiled and said that I was positive I wanted just as it was.

Welcome Pink Teddy with one eye in one of my crates. She has gold ribbons, beads, and a very festive and vintage handkerchief around her neck. She looks happy. The kerchief is actually one of my Grandmother Pearl's fancy handkerchiefs.  I put this together and sat back. Grandma's 'kerchief' and the Teddy Bear no one wanted. Beautiful. I knew this Bear had some sort of purpose!

The next box has some of my 'toys' that I like to take on hikes. I know, but it is fun to find odd places to put Teddy Bears and other toys.

These were Thrift Shop toys. Toys from the back room that had fallen between other toy piles.
I had picked them up and held on to them for a long time. They appealed to me in a way so I brought them home.

Oh look. 3 little bears! And then there is Rabbit and Bear! I bet you are wondering how I got those two beany bears to stand. Hah. Not telling my secrets.

Another item under construction. These are... twig trees with little red light up ornaments. They are not super bright. I used floral foam blocks inside the old sewing drawer to stick them in and then a bag of glass marble like fillers to hold it all in place. The checker board is topping a crate. It was an old handpainted checkerboard piece that hung in my MIL's apartment.

Hopefully this isn't boring anyone.

Here is a look at the whole 'display'...which has already been changed up a bit since I took the photo yesterday.

Note the Gnome with the Skunk Hat! A wonderful young lady who is the DIL of my MIL's sister...okay yeah...that was an odd way of describing her....

...she makes these! She calls them Nisse.
Pretty neat right?

Stay tuned. More to come from the boxes and then I move on to some other fun items.
A story behind most every one with a beautiful memory.

The Ice Cave Trail

So my finger puppet mascot ... Stinky [and I] arrived finally at the Ice Cave Trail. I did this trail last year with my neighbors. The condition of the trail at that time was something I'd call very difficult. It was snow and ice covered and very slippery.

I figured it would not be easy for me. However, I was pretty surprised. The trail was not compacted with snow and ice. In spots it was slippery but it was very easy to negotiate around each bluff.

The ice caves were there. I'm sure they had been spectacular during our subzero weather. This is the result of two major melting events.
Since I have access to an incredible ice cave near home, I merely glanced at these as I passed them.

I was able to walk out near one portion of the trail and glance down on the river.

Sometimes funny things occur on the trail. I was coming up past a curve around a dry run I thought I saw something quite odd.

 Hand made pants hanging in the tree. Amish trousers.
Ohhhh...kay.

I went on and soon I came around another bend in the forest and saw something green hanging in the tree. A doggy coat.

I looked at it and all I could think of was to keep my eyes open for a pant-less bearded man and a Nekked Dog.

I stopped at a point where I could see out over the valley and down towards the river.
I thought it would be fun to set up my pocket camera on a stump and put it on time lapse.

After doing that I reached in my pocket to take out my finger puppet mascot.
Stinky...was missing.
In a panic I tore apart my backpack, turned out my pockets and then did it again.
Sure I could buy another one, but somehow that would not be right. I had intended on this particular mascot to carry me through this Challenge.
I simply needed Stinky.

And then I did something I thought I'd never do. I shouldered my stuff and hiked/jogged back the way I'd come. Past the doggy coat, the pants, the ice caves, the overlooks, and nearly all the way back to marker #5. The further I went the more I berated myself for back tracking.

Imagine my relief when I saw....

Stinky!

I scooped him up and held him tightly.
Two stinkers on the trail.

And since there was only one way back out towards the car, I resumed my hike racing back to the place I'd discovered I'd lost him.
At this point I thought I'd just merely be happy to finish the trail and get home.

Well.

Sometimes you just have to goof around a bit.

I knew I was getting towards the end of the trail so I started amusing myself by interpreting the signs on the trees.

Watch for Bucking Horse.

Horse sees bicycle and bucks.

Bucking horse kicks bicycle and breaks it.

Watch for fallen bicycles.

I crossed Bridge 15 again and decided to take the "Hikers Only" trail along the river.

Remember I said in the previous post that I'd taken a shot down towards Camp "I"?
Here is a shot from Camp "I" towards the bluff I had been on.

Pretty cool isn't it?
And a view of the river.

Just a bit to go and ...

We made it.

The hike was fun and incredible. I made fairly good time except for those times I back tracked. I even feel good two days later.
Maybe I am in a little better shape than I thought I was?
This one supposedly was 6.4 miles. The MapMyHike app lost me a few times in the deep woods and the valley, but that is okay.

I've already plotted out the next 3 hikes.

On a few of my hikes I will need someone to drive there with me and let me park my car at the end of the trail I plan to do.
I'm still working on that.

I'm also cleaning up a large dog crate to put in the back of the Subaru. I think Dixie would enjoy this as well as I do.