Bear and I

I got to take a little walk in the neighbor's forest to the east. I wanted to see why they seemed as if they were cutting every single tree down in one of my favorite places. I didn't get far. The logger was cutting trees much closer than I thought.

...and I had an idea in mind and ... well, honestly, I didn't want 
anyone to see that I'd brought Bear on the walk.

However, Bear insisted.

He loves the forest as much as I do.

He asked to be set on a stump so he could look over the situation.

He slumped the longer he looked at the damaged forest he loved so much. He looked absolutely miserable.

He wanted to know why the trees in this beautiful forest had to be taken.

How do you explain 'greed' to a Teddy Bear?

Bear was sad, he wondered why they had to make the forest so ugly with nothing but stumps and twisted tree tops. 

I explained that they didn't want the tops, just the trunks.

"But Bears like to climb into the tops," Bear told me. "We like tree branches to get away from scary things."

He was upset and decided that the forest looked very 'Scary' to him now.

Bear decided we needed to get home where he felt safe.

"I'm comfy here," he said quietly. "Just let me sit on your bed. I'll even share it with Charlie. Maybe we will try a walk in the forest again some time. I need to think about it."

 

Respite day

I finally got the cot I ordered and set it up. It looks pretty cute where I put it. And it is handy. I have a nice light to read by and it is almost comfortable.

I ordered a more comfy cot mattress as this one is a bit thin. I can feel the supports underneath me as I sleep.

My friend Jason showed up early on Saturday morning. For him to come out, it is a 2 hour drive. I should say now...our friend as he and Rich really enjoy each other's company. The guys shooed me out the door and Charlie and I took off.

I hit the trails walking. Charlie and I stopped once to talk to a dude with an extremely impressive long lens and a shiny new tripod attached to his shiny new Canon with a huge flash on its top. He was by one of the ponds I'd been to last month that had been filled with a variety of ducks and Canada Geese. I said hello and asked if he'd seen any cool birds.

He said he'd just seen Canada Geese in the ponds. I said that he'd see turtles in the afternoon once in warmed up and perhaps he could find more birds if he took the field trail towards the river. He said he was staying on the old 131 trail so he wouldn't get lost.

I asked if he'd seen the Virginia Bluebells yet. I'd passed some walking towards him. He said no, they weren't up yet. 

He commented that it was a nice sunny day. I commented that my favorite days were slightly overcast as the sky became a softbox.

He asked me what a softbox was and then he shrugged and said "I'm new at this." I directed him towards where I'd seen the Bluebells and the Virginia Beauties next to the trail and bid him good luck.

Charlie and I were headed for a deep narrow valley to look specifically for wildflowers.

We were not disappointed. This valley has a tiny creek running through it. It is perfect for producing massive growths of Skunk Cabbage plants.

Once we made it to the south facing rocky hillsides, we found Virginia Beauties everywhere and a huge area [s] of Dutchman Breeches. 

I was literally in heaven. 

As always, my sidekick and photography assistant helped me out...

I didn't care, I was in a huge patch of these beauties.
Ever try to walk through a huge patch of wildflowers and not step on one?

Before I left this valley I found Blood Root, Dutchman's Breeches, Skunk Cabbage, and Virginia Beauties and a plant I hadn't found before. 

Here is a Cutleaf Toothwort. Now there is an odd name. I saw large patches of this on what used to be a county road over 55 years ago. The road is gone, but these plants grow all over the place.

My regret is that I won't see them flower, but will add their location to my list of places to see next year...I hope.

[cell phone shot]

I may or may not get to see the Trout Lilys flower this year, but I did get to see some buds. I think they are some of the most beautiful little flowers.

After explored this valley, I climbed the bluff and went to the pine forest on top to explore. I'll save that for another day I think.

Hopefully this monster storm will leave us intact. I have a few things to take care of to prepare for it. The Hospice Team called today [Sunday] to see if we were prepared for bad weather with all the meds and O2 tanks in case the power went out. She assured us that we could call their number if we needed any assistance at all and they'd send someone to help.

I assured her that we had a plan and I was dealing with that at the moment by moving the things we could need into the basement along with a way to get my husband down the stairs and back up the stairs safely.

Lessons from a Teddy Bear

We had a great thunder boomer and downpour on Thursday night/Friday morning. Some areas had hail. Luckily we had no hail.

Well before the storm arrived, I walked out to the meadow and thought I'd take a 'gander' at things. If it was moving in swiftly, I'd vacate the area. 

When I saw lightening, I packed up and hustled back to the house. I have a pal that is a storm chaser. He goes out to bluffs and gets the most amazing time lapse photography along with some fantastic lightening shots.

I'm a wuss. I'll photograph a storm from my porch but never out in the open.

2 years ago lightening struck a tree in our donkey's pen and literally blew a tree up. The hot wire fence was fused part of the way around the pen. I lost Thor about a month later, his donkey 'tude just went away. The Vet said he probably got electrocuted. 

Any...way.... so yeah, I fear lightening. 

The thunder was so intense later that Charlie become a quivering mess. I snuggled  with him on the couch. 

Well fast forward to Saturday. I had Big Plans. I wuz gonna go to KVR for a morning hike and rock climb.  I looked out the window to see a thunderstorm brewing to the Northeast. 

Instead I grabbed Bear, coffee, and camera and took off up the road. Maybe the clouds would produce something interesting and maybe they wouldn't.

The skies were mostly bleh. Bluish greyish, and a bit of color tossed in. I decided to be like Bear and sit down and be patient. The sunrise itself was hidden from view.

It was a flop. So I grabbed Bear and headed towards the car. I forgot my coffee and walked back when something interesting started to happen.

So, I decided to watch a bit more. Bear hollered from the car:

I TOLD you to be patient!

Bears!

Then this happened...

"Wow! Would you look at that!" I exclaimed.

Told you so.

[See, it is like this. Bear goes with me so I can have a conversation with him. Otherwise I just have to talk to myself and that surely would be very weird, right?]

Finally I looked at the time and decided to start home.

Uh. Ummm.

Bear was right. 

Be patient.

Rock 'n Roll

 

Thought I'd have some fun with a different look. This is from the last day in February and the photos were of course shot in Infrared with a 665nm filter. 

Just playing with some art conceptions. High key concepts are fun as well as low key. 

Hint: I got sidetracked again while putting things away in the spare room. I messed with some old fiber board and a piece of white painted plywood. 

I was hoping for a wild and wooly snow melt but it doesn't look as though that is going to happen.

Charlie and I have been cruising the valley looking for signs of the big melt. What I am seeing instead is that due to the dry fall we had, it seems the snow is melting slow enough to soak into the ground.

The Ice Fingers are all gone now with night time temps staying just below freezing. 

Charlie and I hiked for a few hours yesterday in the valley. I stopped for a bit to work on the project I have way back by the obnoxious neighbor's empty land. I actually go to this spot a lot for picnics in the spring and summer. In the spring the patches of Leeks cover the forest floor.

We eventually made our way back down to the creek and headed home. 

Mr. Charlie is getting to be a pretty good assistant. He was tired enough to sit on a rock and watch as I knelt down in the creek to look for Caddisfly houses.

I have some really cool shots of him that I got yesterday. I haven't pulled the photos off yet as they are on the Infrared Camera. 

I'm taking my friend Bill today for a new hike at KVR. We'll park at Horse Camp aka as Willow Camp at Star Valley. Willow trail to old 131 ... a peek at the river ... then on to the pond and back up Star Valley road to the parking area. Bill wanted another easier hike so I picked a rout that would be a nice loop for him and Charlie.

Funny enough how this short legged guy just loves hiking. My cousin told me that Weiner dogs are notorious for disliking hikes. Charlie doesn't know that...I haven't told him that his 3 inch crooked legs were not made for hiking. The lady that I got Charlie from also said that his Pekinese half would be super lazy.

He can't handle the heat, but he sure loves wet, muddy, snowy, sloppy, trails. I didn't think he'd be up for another hike today but as soon as I started putting things in a back pack...

he went and sat on it.

He's ready to rock 'n roll.

Bear and I

What do you want to do?

It is dreary outside. I don't want to do anything.

Oh I think we should. 

Want to go sledding?

Okay. What is it?

I'll show you.

...

This is nice. 

This is scary!

...

and fast!

How about we just set here for a while and watch some birds, Bear.

Yes, I like this very much.

We can do this any time.

Any day spent with spent with you

is my favorite day.

So, today is my new

favorite day.

~Quote

from 

Winnie the Pooh

Hot Cocoa & Making Friends

Sometimes I get a notion and just go with it. 
Chores were done hubby was napping and Charlie was looking for his early afternoon walk. 
It was dreary and overcast.

So I had a notion to try something with one of the Teddy Bears.  

Off we went.

It was cold and damp in the valley so I decided to stop and have some Hot Cocoa.

The past 10 months haven't been easy. Isolation makes a person feel a bit lonely. 

I asked Bear to join me.
He didn't complain.

Bear may not be the best conversationalist but I can tell him anything and he won't tell my secrets. He says he can keep mum. That's the sign of a very good friend.

I tell him I like poetry and I adore the woods. He points out that bears like woods too but he could try to like poetry.

We drink Hot Cocoa and listen to the creek making music over the rocks behind us. It is okay. 

We just sit and watch as Charlie trots around smelling things under the snow.

I ask Bear if he knows Winnie the Pooh. He tells me of course he does. I smile and  think of Winnie the Pooh. Bear is quiet.

When it's time to leave the valley Bear asks for a favor.

I consider it, and then decide it is only fair.

After all, he is such a nice new friend.

Keeping busy

Not the best of photos, but here is the peanut butter jar house after I painted it. The tree came from Amazon and I'll use that in a summer project. I'm considering trying my hand at making a 'fairy garden'.
I'm not sure about the little house, I will most likely have to spray it with a fixative to see if it can withstand the weather.

The little 'hut' is perfect for the toy dachshund that Allison gave me!
And there is Mr. Morris too.

I have this over my kitchen sink at the moment. Just to make me smile while I do dishes.

So I watched a few more videos and decided to try some more projects.

I put a bottom on a 'mushroom' I'd made with a toothpick in it...

Then I thought I'd try using foil to make a gnarly tree.

I know the clay I was using would crack but I didn't mind as I'd use Elmer's Glue and repair it with a bit of more clay. I think the little cracks make it more interesting.

This is after I patched it in places. Now I have to let it dry and do some magic with moss and paint!

These were experimental mushrooms. When the material is not put over cardboard or foil, it doesn't seem to crack!

Those same little mushrooms now with the bottoms and the tops attached with some glue and clay. I set them upside down in a 'possum skull to dry for the day.

I decided to try another form of Fairy House...made out of things I could find in the woods.

Allison and I gathered some branches and cardboard. Then we had a bit of fun spreading everything over the floor first and then picking out pieces to 'do' something with.

Since I didn't know what I was really doing ... I just winged it. Allison said she kept having new ideas and I let her flow with it.

I was aiming for some sort of little wooden house/hut.
It certainly wasn't as cute as what I'd seen on line.

But.

It is sort of fun and cute!

I have a bit more work to do with some moss and final touches.

On these dreary days, I love to try new things.