Ice Age

It has been a warmer than average winter so far - lots of days in the 50's interspersed with relatively few bitter cold days. Today has been one of the latter. I could see the pink blotches over our area on weather radar. And there was mention of a "wintry mix" in the forecast. When we went outside this morning, everything was coated in ice. It was treacherous walking on any pavement - a complete glaze. Our physics teacher would describe the situation as a VERY low coefficient of friction. 



The woods were a filigree of shiny ice coatings. A few branches were down, but fortunately this was not a severe ice storm that leaves a grotesque aftermath of downed trees and broken limbs.



Some trees were drooping; evergreens had a downcast appearance, as though hibernating. By noon, much of the pavements were clear. A slight mist and subfreezing temps kept the ice from melting from branches and the ground. Gabbie and Tess quickly learned to avoid any pavement or boardwalks. Otherwise it was business usual except they had to wait on me as I tiptoed and quick-stepped through the slick zones.



This Ice Age will last only 24 hours or so. Soon the spectacle will disappear. Another beautiful scene in Bittersweet Woods will be sealed in our memories - or at least in our digital memories, as long as our backups are done properly.

Water Wonderland

It's been a rainy April - about 9 inches of rain so far, more than double the average. The Ohio River and local streams have flooded regularly. Mowing is a challenge. The grass is growing like crazy with the rain and warm temperatures. But it is often too wet to mow.

It has made the trail pretty muddy at times. Our water bill is above normal because the dogs' feet need to be washed each time they go out when it is wet.

The creek is running full but is beautiful: Lots of riffles, rivulets, and fast flowing stretches that sparkle in the sun. The sounds are a pleasant distraction, creating a world apart from the usual noises of civilization: gurgles, babbling, rushing, roaring - you get the idea. Then there is the waterfall. You can hear the roar of waterfall throughout the hollow in Bittersweet Woods. As the former mayor of our town was fond of saying: its "beauty-ful."

The rainy weather limits outdoor activity that we are addicted to. But we've learned to be flexible. Yesterday was a good example. Rainly, dark, and foggy in the morning. By noon, rains stops, sky clears, there is a pleasant breeze. Dave hustles out for a few holes of golf. Suz grabs garden tools, and gets to work edging some of the planting areas and cutting off last year's lariope grass ground cover.

Tomorrow it's back to work. Life goes on, rain or shine, in Bittersweet Woods.

Red River Gorge

Grandson Connor wanted to do a backpack trip. His Dad, Gregg, agreed reluctantly - not being a camper person at heart, So, we planned our trip to scenic Red River Gorge area in Kentucky. I spent hours poring over maps trying to find the best combination of scenery, manageable hiking distances, and decent back country camp sites. But weather and a forest fire in the area disrupted my planned itinerary. That's one thing I have learned in 30+ years of backpacking trips - be flexible.

The long range weather began to look ominous the week before our trip. Forecast weather was for rain on Friday, then lows were in the 20s, highs in low 40s for the weekend. That's pretty cold for neophyte campers without certifiably warm sleeping bags and clothing. So we decided to stay in the Koomer Ridge campground rather than backpack. We could have campfires there; no fires were permitted in any other areas.

Car camping, as I call it, is a little easier. With a vehicle, we could cover more area than with a backpack trip. And hiking without a backpack is easier. The campfire is a plus in cold weather. The backpack experience would wait for another trip. I brought some extra firewood from home.

Friday dawned bleak and cold, but dry. I left at mid-morning, so I could scout the area, find a campsite, and set up the tents. The boys would arrive in the late afternoon. I arrived at the nearby hamlet of Slade, KY, for a few supplies and extra firewood. The rain had passed through, thankfully.

Slade was memorable from our family camping trip there in the mid-1950's. On that trip, we had become lost - there were only winding 2 lane roads then - no interstates. A kid gave us directions in the finest Appalachian drawl. My mother had misplaced a spatula needed for the camp kitchen and went into a general store (no convenience stores or WalMarts then) in search of one. "A what?", the girl behind the counter asked. "A spatula," Mom replied with a reassuring smile. The girl consulted someone else who asked what we used it for. The other lady finally said to Mom, "Are yew'all lookin' fer a pancake tarner?" Yes, that was it! We still talk about that and many other camping adventures from our youth. I digress....

Koomer Ridge campground was surprisingly busy considering the weather. It's a nice campground with wooded and generally roomy sites. I found a double site with a lot of privacy and set up camp. The guys pulled in about 5 pm.

Connor immediately started setting up the campfire. The rain had stopped, but it was cold - upper 30's by then. We cooked then visited around the fire until we used up our first day ration of wood, then went to bed.




Saturday dawned cold but with a few breaks in the clouds. Connor again built a great fire. We breakfasted, then set out to hike to nearby Silvermine Arch. We hiked through pretty mundane forest, wondering when the scenic stuff would happen. Soon we came to the edge of a cliff, hiked down some long steps, and around a series of narrow, blind turns - until....suddenly a massive cliff loomed before us. We hiked into an opening and saw the arch. Connor's reaction was one of amazement. He started climbing all over and through it. A picture is below. He was hooked on Red River Gorge scenery.




We drove and hiked through several more scenic areas, mostly in the Skybridge area. Skybridge itself is spectacular - a stone arch surrounded by stunning drop-offs with a nearly 360 degree vistas of the surrounding gorge. Later, it was back to camp to recount the days adventures - and restart the campfire, of course. We took a late afternoon hike to Hidden Arch, with several more cliffs for Connor to scramble around.

Sunday, we packed up and headed to Natural Bridge for a final hike before leaving for home. It was cold but sunny. We hiked up a trail built in the 1920's by a railroad company which promoted this amazing natural wonder as a tourist stop. Natural Bridge is a large stone arch. It and surrounding cliff line trail offer incredible vistas in every direction.



We took off for home and the favorable prospect of a warm bed and hot shower. I will always recall Connor's excitement at seeing the arches, cliffs, and vistas. It is one more adventure in the Bittersweet Woods life experience bank.

Chicory

July in the midwest brings welcome friends along country roadsides - chicory, Queen Anne's Lace, and a little later, Joe Pye Weed and Ironweed. Chicory has a captivating indigo blue tone and seems to thrive in apparently scrub soil. It's in full bloom now, along with Queen Anne's Lace, by the road that abuts Bittersweet Woods.


Along Glendale road next to Bittersweet Woods.

For many years, I did not realize that the beautiful flower was called chicory. I remember chicory as something added to Luzianne coffee to give it a less bitter taste. I figured it came from some lush rain forest. Wrong. It grows in otherwise ugly waste areas in the U.S. and Europe. The root has been used for centuries as an herb and as flavoring of coffees or a coffee/tea substitute. Civil war soldiers made a type of tea from it when they ran out of tea or coffee.

Tess and Gabbie - babes in the woods

Our two old english sheepdogs, Tessie, and Gabbie, are right at home in Bittersweet Woods. They are officially indoor dogs - at night and during the day while we are work. But otherwise, they love the outdoors. And they do almost everything together. Tessie is the youthful one, just approaching 3 years old. She is smaller at about 65 pounds and slimmer than your average old english sheepdog. When running she reminds me of a cheetah running full bore on the Serengeti. The puppy energy and playfullness is still there but starting to fade a bit. She has a gentle spirit but is a little less affectionate around other people.



Gabbie is the big sister at 5 years old still very active but a little more calm, protective when needed, and a disciplinarian. She scolds Tess when youthful one returns after bounding off to chase a deer or visit an unsuspecting neighbor. She is also larger in stature and weight. Her coloration includes black fur around her eyes, resembling a raccoon mask. Gabbie loves everyone and can quickly become a pest by demanding too much attention from visitors. She also has developed an odd vocalization, resembling what I call a loud purr, when she greets us in the morning or when we return home. Grandson Connor is her favorite person of all time. She is relentless in her attention, purring,licking, nuzzling, and herding him in true sheepdog fashion. He is barely tolerant of the hubbub.

Every day we walk Tessie and Gabbie on the trail in Bittersweet Woods. Mention the word trail and they are alert, lunging toward the door and skidding on the tile. Or they look at us expectantly if we're outside. Yesterday on the trail was a typical day for them. They each grab a tennis ball without fail on the way out, having failed again to realize there is no ball throwing on the trail. We start down the trail. Tess scouted the lower perimeter along the creek looking for deer and squirrels. Gabbie nosed around a known chipmunk hideout, then strolled nonchalantly into the brush to uh,well,leave a solid waste deposit.

Waiting for Mom


Near the waterfall, Tess abruptly zoomed up the hill and disappeared. She probably saw a deer. She acts predatory in the chase, but if a deer ever turned around on her, she would run away just as fast. Five minutes later Tess returns. Gabbie scolds her for leaving the pack - barking and chasing after her. Tess pretends to ignore the provocation but quietly enjoys the attention. Together they run breakneck down the trail to the house.

So ends a loop on the trail - one of several each day. They are a joy to watch. There are complications once in a while. Their feet often have to be cleaned when there is mud around. There are unauthorized visits to adjacent neighbors yards. The worst is when they roll in some noxious fecal matter and return stinking to high heaven.

Busted by the hazmat team


But we love them. They bring us more enjoyment and love than aggravation. HEY! TESS AND GABBIE, GET OVER HERE. NOW! Yeah, right.

What's that on the tree?

Last Sunday was unusually perfect weather for July in the midwest: 70's, low, humidity, clear air rather than the summer haze. The sun shone laser-like through the tree leaves. We took Gabbie and Tess for their daily walk down the trail. There were the usual wildlife sightings: spider webs in our faces, chipmunks, and a white tail deer that led the dogs on a spirited diversion. A towhee and wood thrush sang tentatively, as though mindful that birds stop singing in July. A mosquito buzzed around my left ear.

The waterfall toward the southern end of the trail was merely a trickle. We often stop to do trail maintenance along the way. Yesterday we rearranged some rocks in the stream below the waterfall to restore the main channel after a flooding rain in June. The roaring flood dislodged huge rip rap logs that we had carefully placed to protect an eroding stream bank. They were whisked away like paper cups and piled up in a literal log jam about 200 yards downstream, just above the falls. Mother Nature does have the final say despite our imaginings to the contrary.

We puffed up the steep trail from the stream and headed back to the house. The view of the creek and opposite hillsides are always beautiful, always different depending on time of day, season, weather - and my attitude at the time. We approached the end of the trail, walking along stepping stones, passing near some large trees. My thoughts drifted to remaining chores to be done.

And then...I saw it. It's on the tree. I called out to Suz, a few steps in front of me and an arm's length from the tree in question. "Stop!" I motioned furiously and barked "Step back this way," so she wouldn't be frightened. She looked curiously at me, and I pointed. A four foot long black rat snake was draped vertically on a maple tree trunk. The head was down toward the ground, staring expressionless at us. The body was clinging somehow (with the scales as grippers, presumably) to the tree. We gawked. The snake froze. The dogs looked at us quizzically, expecting us to continue on; they did not notice the snake. Suz ran to get the camera.
(click to enlarge)

When she returned the snake was still in the same place, posing as it were for a picture. I snapped several pictures, still in disbelief because we'd never seen a snake climbing up or down a tree! We left and came back a few minutes later with the dogs, who were once again oblivious. The snake was slithering down the tree and into the brush. Once glance later it was on its way. We went our way, grateful and amazed at another close encounter with mother nature - in Bittersweet Woods.


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Gary the Garter - our critter of the week

It's already July - warm, mostly sunny, long days, and prime time for critters in Bittersweet Woods. Gary the garter snake has moved into the local habitat, residing under the concrete steps at our entryway. You will excuse me if I assign this dude a male identity. I came up with the name mostly because of a fixation on alliterative sounds - Gary, Garter - you get the idea. Here he is just outside his den near our front porch.

We have seen snakes off and on over the years, but mostly off. This year, there have been several - mostly the benign garter snake and the wily black rat snake. Suz has been the snake observer; most of the sightings have been hers. She is pretty casual about seeing them compared to most other humanoids - she even brushed her hand against one while weeding.

Gary the Garter has been a very laid back resident. He suns outside his den. And usually just sits there when we pass by to observe. Even Gabbie and Tess, the curious old english sheepdogs, don't seem to phase him. Our grandchildren are here for the week - Connor is 11, Emily 7, and Catrina 3. They check up on Gary often. On the second day of their visit, Gary molted (shed his skin) and left his former skin near the den. He seemed proud of his deeper, brighter color of the "new" skin and ventured farther from his den.

We enjoy the critters that inhabit Bittersweet Woods, except for the occasional troublemakers - or the ones that want to come inside the house. More about one of those "insiders" in a future message. Come back to Bittersweet Woods - enjoy the serenity and marvel at the obscure goings on - often hiding in plain sight.