Fall, so fleeting and beautiful.

For how many years did I wander slowly
through the forest. What wonder and
glory I would have missed had I ever been 
in a hurry!

~Mary Oliver

Leaves and Blossoms Along the Way

Mary Oliver does say it the best sometimes. In our forest, the dogs and I take our sweet time. I let the dogs lead while I look around it leads to interesting wandering.

Fall/Autumn flashes by so quickly. I wish I could slow it down. I know I can't. But that is the my wish.

I wish the trees would take more time and slowly change colors while hanging on to their leaves.

But nature is the boss and we are just the witnesses.

Happenings.....

Hannah was not impressed with her 'outfit' for Halloween. I picked it up when I ordered a reflective vest for Charlie.

The look says it all. 

Hannah:
I'm not fond of this! I will be a statue and not move and give mom the LOOK.

However, Charlie didn't seem to mind his new reflective vest. It fits him so much better than the one I've had for him in the past. What a difference a few years makes in the availability of sizes.

I think they will wear these outfits while Trick or Treating with the grandkids at the end of the month. Not a bad idea to have a reflective little black dog!

I'll have to put the dress on Hannah a few more times so she can get over the statue thing. However, I've found that a t-shirt or snug stretchy dog shirt seems to calm her down quite a bit. I wonder if that is the same theory behind Thundershirts for dogs.

I've always thought 'clothes' for dogs were kind of dumb, but I have to admit, I am having fun with these two.

Drum roll please.

This is what it looks like from just above the house on the lane through the woods. There is a pretty green yard that now surrounds the concrete pad instead of piles of junk and weeds!

I cannot believe how beautiful the place looks now! The trees in the left side of the photo will be trimmed down so as not to be a hazard to the shed. 

From this shot you can see that our house sits in a hollow with a long drive that goes to the ridge. I do wish Rich had lived to see how beautiful it would look without the busted garage and stuff laying around.

Oh yes, we still have the outhouse. I was going to take it down, but maybe I'll clean it up inside and use it for rakes and shovels.

Yesterday in the late afternoon,

the tree dudes showed up and parked their bucket truck.

Charlie who is a my Security Chief

went out and made and inspection. Once he peed on all the tires, he pronounced the place secure.

He'll stay in the house when the crew comes back and starts up with the chainsaws. He really gets nervous over loud noises. Chainsaws, gunshots, and lightening all cause him to cower and shake.

Onward!

Today ought to be interesting. If the noises are too much for Charlie, I may have to take them somewhere for a while.

Trees

I noticed my neighbor on the ridge had someone cleaning up her dying trees at the edge of her yard. She has had these guys out there before doing work for her. I drove by slowly to see what they were doing.

One of the big guys gave a regular country wave as I started to go by. Now, by nature, I'm not the sort of person who just stops and talks to strangers. But. 

I'd been having trouble getting any recommendations for people that cut down trees. There are so many services that have sprung up in the past few years, it makes your head spin. I've called and had no luck. I've had others search for me with no luck.

So I stopped. I figured, no time like the now.

I'm little, this guy was HUGE as in very tall and very imposing. However, he smiled and walked towards me.

I stuck out my hand to meet his big meaty paw and said:

"Hi, I see you are dealing with Linda's trees. I was curious if I could ask you to stop by my place and look at two trees I have that need some work so they don't fall down on my pole shed."

"Oh sure we can! We have to finish up this job and do another job over at the church," he pointed across the ridge. "But we can come down and take a look at what you need this afternoon. I'm Don Stussy, and he pointed to another fella and that's my brother. We do trees."

I looked over and saw the Stussy Tree Service truck with a boom on it. Perfect. These guys were local and have been around for at least 30 years. 

"We did Linda's fencing back a while ago too." He offered.

"I recall that! You did a great job."

I gave him directions to my house and then waited for them to show up.

The guys showed up later and walked around the two locust trees I've wanted trimmed or cut down for years.

One of them walked around one of the trees and said, "Well dang look here, you can almost see through this tree." He pointed out where holes were in the upper trunk.

"Ma'am, these will come down, don't know why they haven't. I see what you mean, be a shame to ruin your nice pole shed."

The guys walked around and sized things up and we chatted.

"We'll be here next week after we get the church done," Don said. The others nodded. "We'll cut them down and you can use what we leave as posts. $800 bucks a tree, how's that sound?"

"Deal." We shook hands and I'll see these guys next week.

I've only been trying to find someone to do this job for 5 years. Granted, with the garage mess no longer there, the job will be much easier to do. 

No wonder I've never found these guys on the internet, they don't do internet. They are good ol' boys with cell phones and no time for social media. However, word of mouth is how they get referrals. 

Don handed me a card that was made out of card stock and home printed and laminated. I wrote down my cell number on the back of another and gave it to him.

Looks like I'll have a huge brush pile when all is done. Bonfire this winter anyone?

Not only that, I'll be able to look up at the NE sky in the future too!

Wyalusing. Knocking off another two trails.

When I did get home on Thursday morning my furred friends were very annoyed that I'd left without them. I did chores and decided that the yard wasn't shaggy enough and other indoor things could wait until I couldn't be outside.

We headed to Wyalusing State Park to chip away at two more trails that I/we haven't done. 

I wanted to go and do the southern trails called Mississippi Ridge Trail and see the Cathedral Tree Drive/Trail.

I'll have to do the Sugar Maple Trail without dogs as they are not allowed in the Pictured Rocks area.

The Mississippi Ridge Trail was pleasant and tree covered. It was actually a pretty wide trail that meandered through the forest. It was wide and not difficult like many of the other trails. When I checked the map it made sense, it is a biking/hiking trail. In the winter the trail is groomed for x-country skiing.

One has to pay attention to the trail usage come winter. Snowshoes are not allowed on ski trails nor is hiking. [unless of course ... there is no snow...]

That aside, it was a pleasant but rather undemanding trail.

It was pretty, it was easy, and the dogs had the best time enjoying the hike.

I'd driven down the Cathedral Tree Dr to park at the picnic area and make the loop. The plan was to walk down the mile and a half tree lined drive and enjoy the light and shadows along the way. 

Boy, was it ever gorgeous. We didn't hurry, we dawdled along [Okay, I made the dogs dawdle because I held the leashes!]. 

There sure is something about a trail or a road that twists through a tree lined forest in the fall. The two photos below look like they are the same part of the road.

They aren't. I just must have loved the same curvature I saw.

I must really like roads that curve to the right? Right?

We really took our time. It is unreal to feel 'unrushed' these days. For so many years any adventures or hikes I went on were on a 'time' limit. I had to be back to make something for hubby or check on him. I still went, but I rushed always.

It feels very strange to take my time and not worry. It seems that my previous life had been on a tight schedule. I am discovering the freedom of doing things on my own time.

A predawn morning on a bluff to start the day and a relaxing afternoon hike with the dogs for the late afternoon.

We saw one truck on the Cathedral Tree Drive and that was it. Of course having the ability to go hiking in the middle of the week is an advantage to avoiding crowds.

Seeing the burial mounds along the way was unexpected. The Park keeps the burial mounds mowed and clean. 

The things one can learn while just hiking along.

We stopped at the picnic shelter and I forgot to take a shot of the sign explaining why the area was called Henneger Point. 

The area was named after Rick Henneger a DNR attorney who dedicated his career in securing thousands of acres for state conservation. 

I used to ignore the signs and the plaques I'd find, but now I find it interesting to see the history behind the places I hike.

We sat in the shade of the shelter and gazed down towards the Mississippi while we had snacks before heading home.

My supervisors in the back seat were silent. I think that meant they were happy campers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next up?

Hannah and toilet paper. Honestly, it won't be what you think.

Tonight I am meeting up with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy to go on a 'star walk'. Those leading the hike will be talking about stars on this New Moon night hike.

See? 

I'm actually trying something I'd never would have done before.

Fall Beckons.....................

After fighting a gnarly cold from Sunday morning through Wednesday morning, I decided to go kick some stuffy head a$$. When I was in my 20's and 30's I was a distance runner. I'd get a head cold and wait until I could 'just' breath and then go running. Stupid, you know? But I always felt better after getting the 'juices' flowing.

So Wednesday morning after chores I grabbed a backpack and my two cohorts [dogs] ran to sit by my car. The vote was in. I could clean house, make the bed, and dust ----> or take off and do something fun. The weather was perfect in every single way that fall can produce.

The drive to the Reserve seemed to hold the promise of something beautiful.

But since I was still not recovered from the cold [think stuffy nose and stuffy head]. I decided we'd just take it slow when we hit the trails.

And we did. I took nearly an hour for our first mile. I strolled slowly letting the dogs trot ahead looking for interesting scents.

I took a maintenance trail that is almost never used. No bikes or equines are allowed there, but foot traffic is okay.

I know that last year I stopped and photographed this wild grape vine. I've always intended to come back and see it in the winter. Maybe this year.

It almost looks like some sort of alien creature!

The shot last year was much better, but I'll have to wait until later in the year to try it again!

Last year:

The bare branches of some of the young maples under the pines held my attention as the needles have been dropping from the winds decorating the bare branches.

For fun I tried a double exposure in camera. I pointed the camera at the bright part of the forest and took a shot of my hand, then pointed at the dogs for a second exposure. The effect is rather interesting.

I swapped the camera over to B&W and serendipity gave me this view of Hannah. I liked it.

I turned and spotted this highlighted maple branch that looked like it had spikes. It is just pine needles.

We lollygagged along in no hurry, so Hannah ran off in front to be called back to me. Charlie was smart and just walked alongside me unless a smell was too overpowering.

We did greet two horse back riders. But otherwise we saw no other human. In the distant ponds in the valley we could hear Canada Geese and other waterfowl calls. 

Over the years, I usually stop at this stump on the Little Canada Trail. I ask the dogs to sit on the stump for a portrait. I think these two portraits tell a tale at the different characteristics of these two dogs.

Hannah -- a goofy face.

Charlie, so stoic.

The Dragon Tree. Or.

Whatever you might see in it!

This tree has seen so much I can tell by its expression:

It took us a long time to get this trail done, but it didn't feel like it. I'm still learning to try to NOT hurry through each of my hikes but to slow down and take it all in.

Fall:

The smells of fall, 

the dropping leaves, 

the whispers of the wind in the pine trees,

The air carried a kind of quiet promise,

the kind you only hear when the season shifts.

Every trail felt like a story half‑told,

begging to be explored.

Fall didn’t just arrive — it beckoned.

it appealed to our sense of wildness,

of adventure,

and of awe.

Mornings around here

So mornings have been pretty much the only time I've been doing a lot outside. The bugs have been awful in the mornings unless there is a good breeze.

Thursday morning looked like it was going to be foggy/smokey so I jumped in the 'Ru to avoid the skeeters. 
The smoke and fog were moving in when I parked.

In the skies above, I could see the clouds and sky...

Soon the smoke really decided to move across the landscape.

Chart of the air quality:

Neighbor's cattle on the ridge.

A doe and her triplets. There is a third in the weeds you 

can't see. I caught them in 

the next shot.

A cute little family.

So most of the day was spent doing something I don't like that much. Moving everything and doing a deep deep clean. Walls, floor trim, and even anything else that could keep me going.

I used the left over water in the shallow water tank to wash some pieces of rugs that needed freshening up but can't go in a washing machine.

Wednesday morning I did walk out to the ridge with the dogs and saw some incredible fog and sunlight shining through the logged forest. It almost was worth the attack of skeeters that I encountered.

Mornings and late evening have been the only times I've been out and about doing chores and gardening until the bugs start to chew me up.

Here is to staying out of the smoke and heat. Hang in there. Winter will visit us once more, I hope.

Lots of Orange and chasing Fall

Can't sleep? 

3AM and the house is silent. Too quiet.

Since nothing else worked, I got up. 

I lit up two candles and then noticed the nice light that shone on the fall decorations. I couldn't help myself but to set up the camera and see if I could capture the orange light tossed off by the candles.

By the time the sun rose, I was ready for something else to do. Charlie and I decided to take a very early morning walk. This is where our driveway meets the ridgetop.

I spent the rest of the morning clearing burdock and making brush piles in the mule's winter pasture. I cannot believe how many burdock plants there are! 

This area can't be mowed as it is full of rocks and logs.

We decided to take a break and hike the Rockton Trail on the Reserve. Bright orange and yellow were the colors of the day. There are some bow hunters in parts of the Reserve, but they are usually not near any well used trails.

However, bright colors are best thing for hiking at this time of the year. 

I parked at the Rockton canoe landing and headed down the Old 131 trail which is paved. Actually, it should be called the Old County P trail. The northern part of the Old 131 trail [as it is named now], was actually a county road that met up with the old highway.

Any time there was a heavy rain the County Road was closed due to it being right next to the Kickapoo.

You can see that the trail had river water on it from Tuesday's rain.

The river. 

I was standing on the paved trail when I took this shot.

One thing most people miss while biking, hiking, or riding horses on this trail are the cold rock vents. These little bluffs have cracks and vents in them. On a warm day you can stand on the trail and feel the cold damp air coming from the rock face. I've walked up to the rocks and cooled off on hot days.

The loop I did stayed mostly on the Ho Chunk land which is open for public use. This covered bridge replaced the county road bridge over a small stream.

After the bridge, I followed the Indian Creek Trail to the second Ho Chunk bridge. This trail leaves the Old 131 Trail and used to be a secondary road also.

Charlie perked up once we got into the woods again.  This section was rather muddy and the little dog really got his little jacket full of mud splatters.

When I got back out on top of the ridge I came across a gent who just loaded up his Spring Spaniel. We talked about Pheasant Hunting, Quail, Deer, and dogs. He was also a Forester who helped people decided what trees should be taken and how to keep a forest producing. He had a lot to say about clear cutting and poor forest practices.

We probably talked for a half hour. 

When we finally got back to the Blue Beast, there was a mom and two grandma's loading kids into strollers for a walk on the paved trail.

I was done chasing colors and leaf peeping for the day. Brush piles waited for me at home as well as a Charlie bath.

Charlie did not like his bath.

Another beautiful fall day completed.