appalachian trail

Four days into my vacation and I'm finally feeling like myself again.

Today I took two different walks along the Appalachian Trail.

Yes, as indicated by the white blaze to the left, the trail 

continues through a boulder field.

The view from Bake Oven Knob.

I haven't been here since I was a teenager, it's always so busy.

Too many people for me to stick around so I headed a bit South.

On my way down a head to head encounter with a very large black snake.

We paused to consider each other then I tapped my walking stick on a rock

and he slowly left the trail, soon to be hibernating I'm sure.

The State Game Lands below Hawk Mountain.

An hour's walk up and forty-five minutes down.

Late lunch creekside.

A thousand gnat veil kept me from lingering.

Yes, I'm feeling much like myself again.

xo, j

reset

henslowe shawl

eastern american toad

I took a walk on a favorite trail to settle my nerves

and reset my peace of mind.

Encountered one man with the face of a buddha.

Nod and a hushed hello.

xo, j

jacobsburg state park - high meadow trail

the march wind has returned

to wake the slumbering trees

this week...

tuesday morning snow

washing sweaters

starting over

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

There is so much to be grateful for…

xo, j

blustery weekend

Cold, cold cold…the wind pushed at my back as I walked a new trail.

Berries shivered and milkweed flew from my hand, the tip of my nose cold

as I braced myself for the walk back to the trail head.

Saturday night the first snow squall swirled off the rooftops,

melting on my up turned face…and then it was gone.

I knit another glove, painted, blocked a sweater, did my yoga, read the paper,

painted some more then spent the evening watching documentaries and drinking tea.

All that was missing, a campfire and a dog.

Hope your weekend was full of adventures.

xo, j

hardenburgh trail

"At some point in life, the world's beauty becomes enough."

-Toni Morrison

On Saturday I took a hike up the Hardenburgh Trail

into the Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest.

The rocky trail was sometimes steep and always uphill.

At times it was a challenge to find the next blue trail marker.

By the end of the hike my knees were burning!

Uphill and downhill both took their toll.

mushrooms, lichens, moss and ferns 

an afternoon spent in the company of trees

it was oh so quiet 

I wonder what it's like up there tonight,

what creatures are shuffling about the forest floor...

Happy New Year

raccoon

I slept through the New Year and woke up late.

Had a cup of coffee and then pulled on my hiking boots 

and over to Pool Wildlife Sanctuary for a walk.

The park was empty.

My foot steps crunched and squeaked through the snow,

accompanied by the songs of Juncos, Cardinals and Nuthatches.

I left small piles of sunflowers and chestnuts as I went along.

Welcoming in the New Year with gifts to those who may be hungry.

May 2013 bring health and happiness to all.

xo, j

Eagles, Acorns and Apple Cider

  

Osprey

Bald Eagle

An acorn left behind until I can return...

The last of my vacation photos, I promise!

The birds of prey will be migrating through November.

Because of the excellent trout river, those who fish are readily found.

(Sorry about the blurry eagle photo, it was quite far away and

my little camera made a valiant effort to zoom in.)

Hot Apple Cider helped warm me after a rainy hike,

but it seems I've caught a bit of a cold from the adventure. 

So it's a cup of tea and off to bed early for me.

Sunday Wandering

Yesterday I took a long walk around a dormant cornfield.  

When I first moved the Pennsylvania I lived in a farmhouse surrounded by fields.

I miss being able to just wander through them.

Fortunately, there are still many agricultural areas only a short drive away.

The sun was bright and warm and the field so isolated I was able to relax

and indulge in the slow process of ground exploration.  

Sifting through corn cobs and rose quartz in search of arrowheads.

The tortoise shell was so bleached at first I thought it was a deer skull.

The moon rose as the sun was beginning to set.

I made a campfire and had dinner before returning home.

Perfect.

Monday

                               On my way into work this morning I stopped by my local trail head
                               and snapped some photos of the snow.  It's raining today and the snow
                               is turning to slush.
                                           
                              The cross country skis were left at the beginning of the trail, not sure why.

                              Deer prints were everywhere and I love the dots made by the rain.