Conversation with a Low Rider

Charlie: Why do you call me Low Rider? 

Me: Because you have such short little legs.

Charlie: They seem fine to me. What about your long ones? Further to fall down I'd say.

Me: True, but I can walk long distances with fewer steps.

Charlie: But you can't see the little things on the ground!

Me: True. Like what?

Charlie: Like spiders. I like to watch spiders in the grass. I like to grab them. Moths too.

Me: So that is what you are doing when your nose is to the ground?

Charlie: Of course. Grasshoppers are interesting but taste prickly. Spiders, I don't like their taste either, but they are fun to watch. The ones with the very long legs.

Me: So if I am bug hunting...

Charlie: You should follow me...

Me: But I'd have to stop every few minutes...

Charlie: You need to chill out and learn from your dogs. Relax, don't sweat the Big Stuff.

Me: I guess. But..

Charlie: Like naps. And deer poop.

Me: Naps okay. Deer poo, no.

Charlie: You have NO taste! 

Me: What about you begging for steak when we have it?

Charlie: Oh that. Well. Let's get moving. Walkie...let's take a nap when we get back.

And we did.

Return to Duck Egg

First, a morning walk with Charlie to enjoy the morning sunrise and colors.

Below the view at the mailbox on the ridge.

After our walk and breakfast for Rich, I proceeded to wash the siding on the north side of the house and discovered that a broom dipped in Murphy's Oil soap totally cleaned off the moldy green colors with almost no effort.

Next came the gutters once again and then a scrub of the back step which has lichen and green ick growing on it from being in the shade all year.

Then, I left Charlie to watch over Rich during his nap time.

Now this is funny! 
Rich takes a nap right after lunch. I may lay down to read for a bit and during that hour of quiet time Charlie is allowed on the bed and snuggles in and lays as still as can be.

When I left for Duck Egg, Charlie whined and cried when Rich laid down. He said he lifted Charlie up on the bed and gave him a blanket. Charlie slid under the blanket and never moved again until Rich got up from his nap.
OH, I think Charlie has HIS number! 

Our temperatures were supposed to hit 80 degrees and I figured it would be a bit too hot for Charlie to enjoy the hard hike I had planned.

Duck Egg Trail drops into a very steep valley.

The colors were incredible even with a hazy and overcast sky. I got to the valley and came around to the back of the dam.

I don't recall which year it was that where I am walking was under water. The water was to the top of the dam in front of me. It may not look like much from this vantage point, but it is.

The other side of the dam. 
I stopped at the picnic table under the oak tree not far from the horse tie rail. I ate a snack and an apple before moving on.

I headed across the foot bridge. Horses have a path alongside the bridge. The water runs rather fast and after a hard rain it does run hard enough to sweep a dog away.

I headed along the valley and over the foot bridges before taking on the trail that went back up to the ridge. It was hot in the valley and I was happy that I hadn't brought Charlie. 

I'd passed a couple heading the other way and we talked for a moment. They were headed to the old oak and picnic table for a picnic. The gent thought I was taking the steepest and hardest trail. 

I smiled and said that I had intended to do that.

The trail was steep and had a few switchbacks. I tromped on up it to the Lookout. I think all the leg work and workouts I have been doing helped tremendously. It didn't feel so hard.

See that hand? It is pointing to the Oak Tree at the bottom of the dam. The horse tie rail is next to the tree.

Isn't that quite the view?

In this photo, the green is the west end of the dam.

Here is a shot of the valley flooded so you can get an idea why the dam was put into place.

Impressive isn't it?

August 20, 2007. 

The rest of my hike was quiet but enjoyable. I walked along the ridge top prairie and back to the parking area.

MapMyHike said I'd hiked 2.47 miles and changed altitude of 429 feet. I don't know if that was 200 ft up and down? I think it was. All I know is that it was fun and I can't wait to do it again in cooler weather with Charlie.

Duck Egg. What an odd name, but cool place.

Duck Egg a County Park

 

Our county has some wonderful parks that are more like State Natural Areas.

They arise out of dam systems in our steep valleys with streams that like to flood.
The photo above is from Lower Duck Egg. There is a parking area deep in the valley next to Springville Branch of the Bad Axe River. 

Think about that name, Bad Axe. I love the images it conjures.

Anyway, the Duck Egg Dam was finished in 1990 as a flood control project. The details of understanding the Bad Axe River watershed and how the water flows is pretty complicated unless you can study the topographic maps. I won't try to explain it.

Around the dam is 700+ acres of forest and valley with horseback and hiking trails. The terrain is very steep.

I parked at the Upper Duck Egg parking area which is a rough gravel road that has quite a few dipsy-doodles in it. Note. Don't bring a low slung car to the upper lot.

Charlie and I headed from the Prairie Trail to the lookout. The plan was to just hike down to the first junction and head back up another trail called the Stagecoach Line.

We got to the lookout which has been cleaned up since my last visit there in 2011 while riding with Rich on mules.

2011 view:

And this week's view:

Well, needless to say, Charlie and I took a right long before we were supposed to take a right on the Stagecoach Line. Poo. We ended up on an old logging trail and looped around back the prairie. 
I took some photos with the infrared camera which doesn't show off the multiple colors of the foliage.

But the images are pretty neat.

I decided to just walk around the top of the ridge and admire the trees while Charlie tried to make his mark on every clump of grass he could find. I decided to review the trail maps and go back on another day.

My goal is to hike into the valley, past the dam and back up the steep hill to the ridge. I recall that the trek back uphill in 2011 was pretty tough. I know we had to let the mules take a breather on the way up.

Sounds like a good workout, right?

Well I need to feed the old guy and head out. Apples and snacks are packed, the day is windy and warm...I'll pick something up for an early supper on the way back.

Fungi & the project

First some pretty frost photos of Cosmos flowers. In the last one there is a fly that has frost on it!

I've been working on having some fun finding Fungi and Mushrooms. Why not? I can't be running around going to craft fairs or hosting company right now, so a Nature Project seems sensible.

September and October seem to be a good Fungi/Mushroom/Slime Mold time of year. Just as April and May are incredible for finding spring flowers emerging.

We haven't had a recent rain so the wonderful world of Fungi is a bit dry. That presents an interesting opportunity in itself.
The photos you rarely see in Mushroom books.
This is pretty ugly but also pretty telling. The mushroom comes up with moisture, grows rapidly, spreads its spores, and is done.

All within a few short days! I have no idea what this 'shroom looked like in its prime. I'm guessing it is a Jumbo Gym [common name]. 

Below are some little purply red-ish odd fungi that grow all over on the dead mossy logs...

I saw them referred to as Rusty Gills in one place. I saw several 'names' that could ID them. Without a microscope and spore prints [I know! Very technical stuff, right?] I doubt I could ever really say what they are.
Less just call them cool little fungi.

Here is another log with them dried out and shriveled.

I think they are just as interesting like this as they are when fresh!

And then there is this to consider. I'm not even going to pretend to know what most of these fungi are. For example there is a common one called the Russulla with about 750 different species of it.

I have no idea if these are Russulla or some other strange and exotic named Fungi.

Pretty in a way, aren't they?

I wonder if these are the same kind as the ones above only aged?

I really don't know.

But I am having a blast looking for them and photographing them.

Old Oyster Mushroom bunch perhaps?

I find them oddly beautiful in how the grow and how they reproduce.

And for your enjoyment, something I thought was neat.

Not the best photo but kind of a cool common name.

Ochre Spreading Tooth.

Charlie and I explored upper Duck Egg today. We went to the look out, got a bit off trail and explored the prairie on top. Charlie is exhausted from 'swimming' in the grass.

He is such a trooper!

So my next project ... I think, will be a photo book of 2020. This is such a bizarre year.

It deserves being Memorialized. Yes?

Things that matter and Caregiver Class

Mother Nature keeps me on my toes! Yesterday the winds moved in with 40 mph gusts! I cancelled my Duck Egg plans.

I did take a walk at sunrise in the nice cold fresh air. It was 31 degrees and frosty at the house, but much warmer on the ridge. The winds didn't start until after I'd gotten back from my morning road walk.
I don't know why, but I feel I have a better attitude if I start the day with a walk down the road and get fresh air. 
I tried out my 'new' hiking pants that are lined with fleece. I really love them! I also purchased a winter coat. Lime green.

Normally you'd see me purchase grey or black. Nope, for some reason, I decided Lime Green was good as it is very visible. You know, for those times I hike at KVR or some other obscure place.

Enough of that.

I got some indoor projects done while the winds were whistling outside. I covered the window air conditioner from the inside. Today, I'll get the outside covered too. That involves a tall ladder and someone to be there while I put the cover on. 

I worked on my CareGiver Class. Have I learned new things? Sort of. But there is a lot of specific things I would have liked to seen covered. Not just how to deal with emotions and feelings [very important] but how to navigate the convoluted VA system. Assistance in filling out paperwork and forms. Where to go when a veteran needs emergency care. I found the class lacking in those areas.

One of the interesting things is, the instructions ask that the caregiver make sure he/she has a Durable Power of Attorney in case the veteran/spouse is too ill to handle that. A good idea.

However the VA doesn't recognize the DPOA for disabled veterans. Because the Veteran gets federal funds, they need to have an appointed Fiduciary. That fiduciary has to be 'investigated' by the VA which includes a home visit. Generally, the Fiduciary can be the spouse, unless the VA finds that the spouse is unfit in some way to be a Fiduciary. 

I have gone through this process and there are rules to follow while being a Fiduciary. I would have liked some of the other caregivers in my class to understand the process they could face in the future.

None of this was discussed in the CareGiver program. This class was helpful if a person had never been a caregiver at all. It did emphasize self care, asking for help from family and friends, and how to reduce stress.

These are all things I've gone and figured out for myself over the years. 
Stress management.
Exercise for the mind and body. 

Asking for help from family or friends. This is a double edged sword. Family can be far away and they can be rather unhelpful as I discovered during the last years of my MIL's life.

Neighbors have been helpful in my case.

Apparently I am eligible for some respite care. That means someone is hired from the rural program like Helping Hands and they would come out to give me a break of some sort.

Our rural program is stretched very thin. I found that out when my MIL was supposed to get assistance to stay in her apartment. There simply are not enough people to go around to help those in need.

Let's not forget the fact that a veteran who doesn't trust people, would hardly let a stranger in the house or be comfortable with someone he/she doesn't know. 
Let's add Covid-19 to the mix and really...

do you want someone from the outside of your 'bubble' coming into your house?

So I am in the last week of this class and am filing out the paperwork for a newly Expanded Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers.
There is a long form to fill out. A VA exam, a home exam, and the extensive scrutiny of records by the VA. 

However the VA feels it is far better to offer a stipend to a Caregiver to stay home and care for their ill husband/wife rather than paying for nursing home care. True right? 

I've been doing it for years already. My husband does say thanks for all I do. 

I didn't sign up for this. But I am not angry about it. I do care for Rich.
Without sounding like a total shit, I would like to say that I feel his family could really step up a bit and offer to give me a break for a day or two.

But experience over the last 5 or so years has told me a different story. 

Things that matter:

 
We are healthy right now.
We are together right now.

We have a roof over our heads and food for ourselves and our critters.

That matters.

The rest is just noise.

Proper Preparation

It dawned on me this week while I was checking the weather and looking for that special one day hike I normally do at KVR or one of our County Parks, that there would be a full moon setting during the sun rise on Friday.

With that, we were supposed to get our first frost advisory and temperatures in the low 30's.

It dawned on me. 
What an excellent opportunity to get back up to Black Hawk Rock and see the valley below with more fog in it and of course the moon setting over the hills to the west and the sun rising in the east!

The cold temperatures would guarantee valley fog and since the forecast said there would be no wind, it would be tolerable on top of the bluff. A full moon would brighten the forest trails so the hike wouldn't be in total darkness.

So what I planned on was taking the regular camera and the infrared camera with the IRChrome lens. With the morning light and fog, the light spectrum could be really interesting.

I'm such a dork. I sometimes do plan ahead. I woke up in the middle of the night and debated with myself over which camera bag to take. The sling one? The backpack one? Did I need warmer gloves? Would I need gloves?
How about a stocking cap?
Or my fuzzy winter cap?
Long johns or tights?
Coveralls? No, too heavy.
Did I have Bill's phone number in case I needed help? [Yes, my friend Bill knew I was going and offered help in case of something like a flat tire.] 
I'd let my neighbors know the plan also.
All bases covered.

Plan plan plan. Our boss used to tell us Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.

I walked out the door with a cup of coffee in a thermal cup and my gear. The drive was awful. I hit dense fog. I figured I would as the way to Black Hawk Rock was along the Kickapoo River. Any drastic change in the air temperature above the river produced valley fog.

And the fog was thick.

I climbed the trail and walked out on to the bluff. I'd never seen such dense valley fog from that height before.

The clouds and fog were dense to the east, and to the west the moon shone brightly.

The shot below is looking over the edge of the rock. I climbed out of that fog from the valley below.

There is a significant drop here and I rarely go stand at the very edge. I stay well back.

This photo below was the only glance of the sunrise that I got before the clouds and fog covered it.

One of the things I really like about the newer Olympus camera I got last year is the ability to take shots in low light without a tripod. I can do nearly a full second exposure hand held. And this was not the 'best' or pro camera. It is an extremely simple camera to use.

And then in moments, the bluff across the valley disappeared. The fog crept up over the rock at my feet.

I gathered my things and headed down the trail.

The fog was rather neat and lent a mystical look to the forest. 

It was so hard to capture in a proper photo, but I gave it a good try with my fast lens, the 1.8 Oly version of the nifty 50mm.

This is where the prep came in. I know that the IRChrome filter picks up the color variation in the leaves and generally picks up fog exceptionally well.

This first IR shot is in approximately the same spot I used the regular camera for.

Note the pine tree, it is the same one in the photo above and below.

And as I got down to the valley floor, there were places where the fog had lifted up.

My parking spot.

I felt good on the drive home.

Everything went well and I felt like I'd planned well.

I still have a lot to learn in how to deal with the light bouncing off from the fog, the moon, and the sunlight coming from another direction.

But it felt good.

Next full moon?

October 31st.

Hmmm.

Until then I'm going back to looking at cool things on the forest floor and the fall colors while they last.

I have a new trail to explore this week at Duck Egg. I'm hoping Charlie and I can do it Monday.

Right now my hikes will be solo.

As you may or may not have read, our state is now an Epicenter for Covid. This is my way of dealing with it and it's Isolation.

The World Stops when Charlie gets sick

 

Oh Charlie .... Charlie!

I knew something was 'off' with him when I put out his food and he looked at it ... then at me ... and walked away. That IS not Charlie. He is a food driven dog. So much so that if he hears a plastic bag rattle or the lid to his dog food can, he comes on the swift trot to observe and to hopefully eat.

He loves dog treats and gets mini ones on the trail when he comes to my call. So I knew this was not normal. He sat on the porch when I did chores and didn't follow me. He was begging to get back inside the house.

Later, I took him for a long walk and he did his regular business, then ate grass and tossed up. He seemed better after that yet still ignored his food. He took a drink and moments later that came up too. 

Oh Charlie.

As I was talking to Rich about it, he kept putting a paw on my leg. He wanted only to lay in my lap. I will admit. I am a softy when it comes to my pets. Even Rich leaned over and asked Charlie, "Hey buddy, what's wrong?" For Rich to show concern is a big deal as he likes to claim that he doesn't care about house dogs and that he is a tough old guy.

Huh. Not so. 
More barf of clear foamy stuff and I could hear his stomach gurgling. Rich blamed it on the treat he'd gotten. Actually I think while I had him in the woods with me yesterday, he had busied himself with digging hard under rotten logs. He kept grabbing things with his mouth and shaking them. Something in the woods more than likely didn't agree with him.

I took a syringe without a needle and gave him some water. He took that then got up and took another drink.

I had plans for the day. Run to the butcher/meat place and get a month's supply of meat, get some more dog food and gasoline for the mower and later diesel for the skid steer. 

I'd taken inventory of our household items and planned on making October a NO stores/ no outside contact month. I had a local supplier for eggs and a plan for milk. My stock was just about complete.

But the World Stops Turning When a Pet Gets Ill. 

Yes. I spent the whole day holding Charlie in my lap and listening to his stomach gurgle, checking his gums, and watching over him. 

About 4pm a light switched on in his eyes and he bounded off the couch and ate his breakfast. He then went on to annoy Rich with his tennis ball.

I swear

You could hear us both sigh with relief.

Whoever said a Dog is Just a Dog? Or a pet is just a pet?

Not in my house.

All is well again.