tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84876947182704165862024-03-19T05:20:54.101-05:00The Hiking LibrarianLiving life on the rural routeMona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-33700213376087871852018-07-18T10:57:00.000-05:002018-07-20T15:23:21.395-05:00Summer Road Trip 2018: A Long and Winding Road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">"I needed a mountain to rest my eyes against."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> <span style="font-weight: normal;"> -Ernest Smith, father of author Lee Smith</span></span> </h3>
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I am not a good car rider. As in the Harry Potter books, I often wish for a port key, some inanimate object I could grab onto and be transported to where I want to be. Since that is not an option, I am thankful to Google Maps and Subaru for getting us there and back again.<br />
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Since my last post, Steve and I have been over many rivers and through many woods, up and down many mountains by automobile and on foot. The jury is still out about whether I prefer it be my turn to drive or white-knuckling it in the passenger seat when Google Maps sends us straight down a winding mountain gravel road for miles and miles; however, in the end, I'm not convinced that navigating narrow mountain roads was any more treacherous than leaving North Carolina on a bumper to bumper I-40 in blinding rain and fog.<br />
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We are back in the nest, renewed, but road weary. I hope you enjoy a few shots from our stops along the way.<br />
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<h4>
Seven Islands State Birding Park - Kodak, TN</h4>
<a href="https://tnstateparks.com/parks/seven-islands" target="_blank">Seven Islands</a> is a new Tennessee State Park, still under construction. We intend to visit again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVGa4TU9Su6yluJbXgXmzT2uVzy76vKbB1K9yHtnn0YJpkb34TkeeA4NNMU7iZ2mxmXjmNzYhpwEqCE1vIFNIDNGePZo1kUXn3Ef_beRIsRARzJuJihiIkHmC30bnkOz3SEHZnEW8AiE/s1600/Seven+Islands+Barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="1600" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVGa4TU9Su6yluJbXgXmzT2uVzy76vKbB1K9yHtnn0YJpkb34TkeeA4NNMU7iZ2mxmXjmNzYhpwEqCE1vIFNIDNGePZo1kUXn3Ef_beRIsRARzJuJihiIkHmC30bnkOz3SEHZnEW8AiE/s640/Seven+Islands+Barn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visitor Center</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsK_new0f9ZXvrZRKJR6GpvkVd9rWr_1epQHYoVYCq8c_0_VKxIG7e8rFlk-3Kc4wM2WKI5GVQFjdIKloDEFX-dot4DzHm1bWKYU7-BWSLxxBdWCYyzwvDrtokF6i8wokZ8B2L7BDlC3w/s640/IMG_2380.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="425" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking Blackberries</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SVOHh2rjHOJJ4XEecrKDyOJYExba8PSTagOa58GqLsKBrs_Cph0xrnu3efFyHEsAJ6wA6d3sDVPnLvaUSkmb-YyESvd-jwM6SuKYpHW3jiOw1qr2d1FUKX_abxrbU65Wj0VfPUXBkxc/s1600/IMG_0694.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1SVOHh2rjHOJJ4XEecrKDyOJYExba8PSTagOa58GqLsKBrs_Cph0xrnu3efFyHEsAJ6wA6d3sDVPnLvaUSkmb-YyESvd-jwM6SuKYpHW3jiOw1qr2d1FUKX_abxrbU65Wj0VfPUXBkxc/s320/IMG_0694.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always love to find a Kindness Rock to leave on another trail far away.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65rojFh5rX1Xnf9QWNVYq_-o7JjW8_gf3kEGwwJT83d-cHhPH7K5muashIfxml-UNr42mYQNEDfw6JrJjHA6_ZQgSo5vmdwIKC2SdTwpx-RT-Wcx-VMdLAhuRNnLFVX1iQg8NQN_Y3TA/s1600/IMG_0695.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65rojFh5rX1Xnf9QWNVYq_-o7JjW8_gf3kEGwwJT83d-cHhPH7K5muashIfxml-UNr42mYQNEDfw6JrJjHA6_ZQgSo5vmdwIKC2SdTwpx-RT-Wcx-VMdLAhuRNnLFVX1iQg8NQN_Y3TA/s400/IMG_0695.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautifully maintained historic church near the park's entrance.</td></tr>
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<h4>
Abingdon, VA</h4>
We overnighted in Abingdon before heading into the mountains. If ever you get the chance to visit, do so. I've seen lots of towns make an attempt at gentrification, but Abingdon has done it right. There are so many impeccably restored businesses and homes. I only include one shot of the historic<a href="https://www.bartertheatre.com/" target="_blank"> Barter Theatre: the State Theatre of Virginia</a>. A friend interned there one summer and I snapped the picture for her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ph7CyHu6wDSPw4Hs4YQbHSoFpq4tpdYSYVFvE_1PEuoDxP6bbHOos8rHdPU-AsBui1xB2QUGso0waH6L9T_wFCL0AXcDJY7uFQ2LZ2tCMBcDYe73_Cd7rWKLFGdoHTHkP7JpgPcaKyo/s1600/IMG_0696.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1243" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ph7CyHu6wDSPw4Hs4YQbHSoFpq4tpdYSYVFvE_1PEuoDxP6bbHOos8rHdPU-AsBui1xB2QUGso0waH6L9T_wFCL0AXcDJY7uFQ2LZ2tCMBcDYe73_Cd7rWKLFGdoHTHkP7JpgPcaKyo/s640/IMG_0696.jpeg" width="496" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barter Theatre</td></tr>
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<h4>
Grayson Highlands State Park - Mouth of Wilson, VA</h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzZSyZDYRQzQx0FKsuC5HjRi2jjl6qVYQBTj-B_i1FCGZaVcmx_b7nZI9yqE7FcI8oQ51jHD-mAfD_oy2WC2yTplRokxzSbyjNbfCU6s8IGoVcFEsN7wFaujaap3FHDgn8TjP8heGsI4/s1600/GHSPSIGN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzZSyZDYRQzQx0FKsuC5HjRi2jjl6qVYQBTj-B_i1FCGZaVcmx_b7nZI9yqE7FcI8oQ51jHD-mAfD_oy2WC2yTplRokxzSbyjNbfCU6s8IGoVcFEsN7wFaujaap3FHDgn8TjP8heGsI4/s640/GHSPSIGN.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I found out about <a href="https://www.virginia.org/listings/OutdoorsAndSports/GraysonHighlandsStatePark/" target="_blank">Grayson Highlands</a> a year or so ago. I was absolutely intrigued by the fact that they have 100+ wild ponies living in the park. Wild ponies! Instantly, I was transported back to my 10yo self who read Marguerite Henry's 1947 Newbery Honor Book, <i>Misty of Chincoteague</i>. Someday I will go to Chincoteague on the Virginia coast, but for now, the Grayson Highland wild ponies provided quite the thrill.<br />
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Some of the ponies. . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBABBNW4HurRI6W-HRlrCLOhQCQFAdJ04tcVtnuvVcADXo0EJJpk21FcmV8MkZ_O4o6f5HJkCgrWlY1waZumcr7UCsPUFTnrkg4Rub6sndzj6879EclVefl4FUcuzl0AJtp6Xssie1fs/s1600/IMG_2392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBABBNW4HurRI6W-HRlrCLOhQCQFAdJ04tcVtnuvVcADXo0EJJpk21FcmV8MkZ_O4o6f5HJkCgrWlY1waZumcr7UCsPUFTnrkg4Rub6sndzj6879EclVefl4FUcuzl0AJtp6Xssie1fs/s640/IMG_2392.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BDuaf-x5ciD77dNtU7sTK8SOQc-_V0yPycBaVHJJvoOwZhqvG440-wE6A3X76PoCMpEsgfHss4gjsh-3guY9q7gmXgc1m-F4Ing0R_G_hRAcEljFAHfn23XRmW3otS8DzyGpRUsVhn0/s1600/IMG_2427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6BDuaf-x5ciD77dNtU7sTK8SOQc-_V0yPycBaVHJJvoOwZhqvG440-wE6A3X76PoCMpEsgfHss4gjsh-3guY9q7gmXgc1m-F4Ing0R_G_hRAcEljFAHfn23XRmW3otS8DzyGpRUsVhn0/s640/IMG_2427.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRrGN349klo4EFFDHc57zt4q7gKYE3Fw7p_QrRkpi9sIuosUKB1tLNsBLBRgOWVodIUD07paKVenS2ahrREcKvRUIenAmlBVj7ivCyUG5NkVEyaV9PFpukNdzxIPKIewFRVK4cQFHe9s/s1600/IMG_2434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRrGN349klo4EFFDHc57zt4q7gKYE3Fw7p_QrRkpi9sIuosUKB1tLNsBLBRgOWVodIUD07paKVenS2ahrREcKvRUIenAmlBVj7ivCyUG5NkVEyaV9PFpukNdzxIPKIewFRVK4cQFHe9s/s640/IMG_2434.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wildflowers. . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW65GeqFlftyrPDkmHJTxi_mppZ318NyMtrxJwqtw6BozTdWNnbsVm4BDhmOdCqRaOkWPQIImmiwKSOfNg7KugxuhhGWlkBnADut3vV_eBrxLDDbOEOfgy7rio_mcQYn-hy1ljMb46Nk/s1600/IMG_2390.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW65GeqFlftyrPDkmHJTxi_mppZ318NyMtrxJwqtw6BozTdWNnbsVm4BDhmOdCqRaOkWPQIImmiwKSOfNg7KugxuhhGWlkBnADut3vV_eBrxLDDbOEOfgy7rio_mcQYn-hy1ljMb46Nk/s640/IMG_2390.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPyfm32QOQf_Etpax3iS450ZgoJdqaUKZakig4VLQwX90DPkrf6rw6zlM_373gf8m-31-1ypHxLnrnoCZ88ZLuYGSfFfwwm6_lbQdYlvyJs8W_XclzM3hT7AR7oj_MeqViHyCLX5AEhw/s1600/IMG_2421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPyfm32QOQf_Etpax3iS450ZgoJdqaUKZakig4VLQwX90DPkrf6rw6zlM_373gf8m-31-1ypHxLnrnoCZ88ZLuYGSfFfwwm6_lbQdYlvyJs8W_XclzM3hT7AR7oj_MeqViHyCLX5AEhw/s640/IMG_2421.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turk's Cap Lily</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz2Zq0GfQDr3xnsH-VaopnSAiLs1yiF5uqG-otlpEQr5BHK133EYhBsCCG2D1Xk2T2lfolLNmEVziFhMwiAG2wR9Rukn4QV3gE-yzueGPXJaE-ysT-pGNs7V4CrQZykvGra3rBySu3G4/s1600/IMG_2435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz2Zq0GfQDr3xnsH-VaopnSAiLs1yiF5uqG-otlpEQr5BHK133EYhBsCCG2D1Xk2T2lfolLNmEVziFhMwiAG2wR9Rukn4QV3gE-yzueGPXJaE-ysT-pGNs7V4CrQZykvGra3rBySu3G4/s640/IMG_2435.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bee Balm</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Milkweed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queen Anne's Lace</td></tr>
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We also hiked four miles on the Appalachian Trail at GHSP, always a thrill.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcTcAEKmwy-c-N3JT0Odfi52Vse9l6l9LZFIQZ1spLf5erNIWskmyUt4GlCzaTGLlWTW3KLu6txxDZx4-9C8ulEipkbB-rxq7TToS8cCG_8-IAYX5mQvJgmfoRahDNAhIHlTG4FTh0ao/s1600/IMG_0699.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcTcAEKmwy-c-N3JT0Odfi52Vse9l6l9LZFIQZ1spLf5erNIWskmyUt4GlCzaTGLlWTW3KLu6txxDZx4-9C8ulEipkbB-rxq7TToS8cCG_8-IAYX5mQvJgmfoRahDNAhIHlTG4FTh0ao/s320/IMG_0699.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Our lunch spot, plus just one example of the breathtaking view. . .</div>
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<h4>
Carver's Gap TN/NC</h4>
Carver's Gap is up the mountain beyond Roan Mountain State Park. Getting from one mountain in VA to another mountain on the TN/NC border was not an easy drive. It included some bits I like to refer to as goat paths, but we made it by late afternoon––just in time for the rain.<br />
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We hiked about a mile on the AT in the rain. I carried only my phone, but was able to snap a few fungi and rhododendron before we packed it in to head toward the Blue Ridge Parkway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2gJnSXje_ktXBpvnQ0tREjQrP1Coex0FcbklefObXwU4XXThmSFS9yX7shniC_JaGz1vGhCQhOXnVIuleTb3ZCrcTYd7fhymMfrk3dAXkCrbUtsr-0Dyk2aQO8Ozuy391BJhrL7Chnw/s1600/IMG_0706.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2gJnSXje_ktXBpvnQ0tREjQrP1Coex0FcbklefObXwU4XXThmSFS9yX7shniC_JaGz1vGhCQhOXnVIuleTb3ZCrcTYd7fhymMfrk3dAXkCrbUtsr-0Dyk2aQO8Ozuy391BJhrL7Chnw/s400/IMG_0706.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_jvo1cWLerq5vvpCEn3IkJQz24KqZGiaTx5EpYEqWiLEVc8Tq1NbEEzSWoj6omeLJ5R4EU7-bNaoLcnpP8LQGYOx2j4-IITMuLTFuvjoVDx3R6XDJ7gTXHKChRXTHlpSCKzw-TFGeYQ/s1600/IMG_0707.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_jvo1cWLerq5vvpCEn3IkJQz24KqZGiaTx5EpYEqWiLEVc8Tq1NbEEzSWoj6omeLJ5R4EU7-bNaoLcnpP8LQGYOx2j4-IITMuLTFuvjoVDx3R6XDJ7gTXHKChRXTHlpSCKzw-TFGeYQ/s640/IMG_0707.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARzcfcTpjG0gA0zrGDAgQeFmCwrsZFEyWGrF39b_yn3bvmU_CnrFyNAtTxf_TrJAZEPaDgHaiX0EgAU0wkYDNLKVz-hq4MKGNg4zxa9HxtxQ7ri-kCrfpzQZhnZPuQwr9zgyjp6Xtelc/s1600/IMG_0709.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARzcfcTpjG0gA0zrGDAgQeFmCwrsZFEyWGrF39b_yn3bvmU_CnrFyNAtTxf_TrJAZEPaDgHaiX0EgAU0wkYDNLKVz-hq4MKGNg4zxa9HxtxQ7ri-kCrfpzQZhnZPuQwr9zgyjp6Xtelc/s640/IMG_0709.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLN_BUbdhudtdrQRiEIqoQiSxvygHDbKyED0JrDgUUq206NU6ibrCbL9Sfiyo9Yhk2f_IEgSSFXQRBRL2OQdMp8dbZV0FFLOUZUNpF9XNuAnc4nYT8DK3Uu_XopK3Sy4cB_uMsKXY0Xg/s1600/IMG_0710.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLN_BUbdhudtdrQRiEIqoQiSxvygHDbKyED0JrDgUUq206NU6ibrCbL9Sfiyo9Yhk2f_IEgSSFXQRBRL2OQdMp8dbZV0FFLOUZUNpF9XNuAnc4nYT8DK3Uu_XopK3Sy4cB_uMsKXY0Xg/s640/IMG_0710.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<h4>
<br />Little Switzerland, NC</h4>
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With all our trips to Asheville and up the Blue Ridge Parkway, we had never taken in <a href="http://www.visitlittleswitzerland.com/" target="_blank">Little Switzerland</a>. We decided this would be the day; however, by the time we arrived, it was late in the day and pouring rain. </div>
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It did not fit my fairytale vision, but we didn't really give it a fair chance. Our hope is to return less tired and under better weather conditions, and to stay at one of the inns long enough to get a true sense of the area.</div>
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<h4>
Asheville, NC</h4>
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Asheville never disappoints. We love the food, strolling downtown, and no trip to Asheville would be complete without a visit to the<a href="http://www.blueridgeheritage.com/attractions-destinations/blue-ridge-parkway-visitor-center" target="_blank"> Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center</a> and the <a href="https://www.southernhighlandguild.org/folk-art-center/" target="_blank">Folk Art Center</a>.</div>
<h4>
<br />Max Patch Mountain</h4>
<div>
Unfortunately, our favorite stop on this journey had to be ditched due to inclement weather. Of course, half the fun of Max Patch is the view, so it was an easy call to make. Since we couldn't make it up the mountain this trip, I'm sharing a favorite from July 2015.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvP6IdxrJtHgve0Mh6t2SZJeveidLuJ5sblIxcFeX38T-CPB_lNQbAA3ZE0nc39pBY1NMxT8rIhUl9eM-Fpx4AJuKDjq3cT0IHhc9RKn7uKwwCOuEb_ee28diX1cuoVSrVvko_rAkMY0/s1600/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvP6IdxrJtHgve0Mh6t2SZJeveidLuJ5sblIxcFeX38T-CPB_lNQbAA3ZE0nc39pBY1NMxT8rIhUl9eM-Fpx4AJuKDjq3cT0IHhc9RKn7uKwwCOuEb_ee28diX1cuoVSrVvko_rAkMY0/s640/IMG_0718.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the AT at Max Patch Mountain</td></tr>
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<h4>
<br />Cummins Falls State Park </h4>
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Someone posted an image recently that read, "I brake for brown signs." I can relate. We are always looking for somewhere we've never seen before. </div>
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On our return trip, we jumped off the interstate headed for <a href="https://tnstateparks.com/parks/cummins-falls" target="_blank">Cummins Fall</a>s. This park is an extremely popular day-use area established in 2011 by Governor Bill Haslam. It is a work in progress, but the trails are wide and clean. We hiked the downstream trail (which is definitely not an easy one) until the water was deep enough that I became fearful of an unintentional swim with my camera. At that point, we turned back and hiked upstream to the top of the falls for the view. </div>
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It's a beautiful spot, but without even a park office at present. I understand a visitor center is on the drawing board.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc3RlbBRjAgmhUUS_u5VDnGxo6-X1sov4vqokOTce7ECfGFvCIzcQ3tyIoJIxMfXrUyynVUpTWwERcPfkRa39s5GR2Avh2hSdFMMQypY2hwqMRvq_LgRZe-PEGK1Mi8N-Oxcjoo-YYh4/s1600/IMG_0715.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc3RlbBRjAgmhUUS_u5VDnGxo6-X1sov4vqokOTce7ECfGFvCIzcQ3tyIoJIxMfXrUyynVUpTWwERcPfkRa39s5GR2Avh2hSdFMMQypY2hwqMRvq_LgRZe-PEGK1Mi8N-Oxcjoo-YYh4/s320/IMG_0715.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downstream Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-olmWjmUlgTC2omrhuArj5gtNzHQof2xHND5DfK6fPEy-gJ4tVQ6uIg2zXgdc5yhaHoqVqX40T-ydgVSu4-ylM963C7yeoszk0z4Ms_n4_VRvBQ0wFuM3kw1os-_xER0QjV9PZk5779w/s1600/IMG_2460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-olmWjmUlgTC2omrhuArj5gtNzHQof2xHND5DfK6fPEy-gJ4tVQ6uIg2zXgdc5yhaHoqVqX40T-ydgVSu4-ylM963C7yeoszk0z4Ms_n4_VRvBQ0wFuM3kw1os-_xER0QjV9PZk5779w/s640/IMG_2460.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cummins Falls</td></tr>
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<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
Standing Stone State Park</h4>
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Since we were close, according to the brown signs, we decided to head over to <a href="https://tnstateparks.com/parks/standing-stone" target="_blank">Standing Stone</a>. We now know there is no standing stone at the park nor has there ever been. The stone, a prehistoric Native American relic is located in Monterey, Tennessee. We plan to catch it on our next trip through the area.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9VyAUGDf7yVIGeVv6PBG2v7JbCaEJ0VUe65We-waKnWpvwrxDS9vxdU2IxH7lguo397MWx5mrACJuU75YPxrj4qc0gAlrGauH2qNIGlMBg7Y4b_qmU1c9SPK1hkZrLK3VQG1txXU7Qc/s1600/IMG_0719.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="726" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9VyAUGDf7yVIGeVv6PBG2v7JbCaEJ0VUe65We-waKnWpvwrxDS9vxdU2IxH7lguo397MWx5mrACJuU75YPxrj4qc0gAlrGauH2qNIGlMBg7Y4b_qmU1c9SPK1hkZrLK3VQG1txXU7Qc/s400/IMG_0719.jpeg" width="181" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nx74RBWYF4N-c7qEnsB8vcaGQp0vEaZOvuLS-B-7AIocz3vVY2LpQbunup1Q5k6_RXnU2kZdn3cJVwQsiXXZVm4p0mrZcEfDU4kXG35c2YYpzn8qQ_zkgaC1BaXhW8a1E3T_l4FeqGA/s1600/IMG_0720.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="707" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nx74RBWYF4N-c7qEnsB8vcaGQp0vEaZOvuLS-B-7AIocz3vVY2LpQbunup1Q5k6_RXnU2kZdn3cJVwQsiXXZVm4p0mrZcEfDU4kXG35c2YYpzn8qQ_zkgaC1BaXhW8a1E3T_l4FeqGA/s400/IMG_0720.jpeg" width="176" /></a><br />
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However, at this beautiful secluded park with all the usual state park amentities, there <i>is</i> a massive stone drive-across dam that was a really cool thing to see.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvLI5Nm8EqTXBnauxZ4sbw_ZGuhcFhQkK7UZZECYsZvs_8ayiJqq2zQR8n_faVwPuvXvHlSHbHge4DX343B4hyeRXyY9wBW6p7A9hJM8_oQC00IkygMJ3l5ikPFfZAZcZh8TkhWnl6pg/s1600/IMG_2463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvLI5Nm8EqTXBnauxZ4sbw_ZGuhcFhQkK7UZZECYsZvs_8ayiJqq2zQR8n_faVwPuvXvHlSHbHge4DX343B4hyeRXyY9wBW6p7A9hJM8_oQC00IkygMJ3l5ikPFfZAZcZh8TkhWnl6pg/s640/IMG_2463.JPG" width="425" /></a></div>
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Well, that's it, our summer road trip in pictures. It's fun to have adventures, but can anything compare to returning home?</div>
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Until next time––be well, and take good care.</div>
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<div>
Mona B</div>
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Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-47967507634857430942018-07-07T21:40:00.000-05:002018-07-20T14:58:33.041-05:00Back in the high life again!<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">“Enjoy the little things in life because one day you`ll look back and realize they were the big things.”<br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif;"> ― </span><a class="authorOrTitle" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2778055.Kurt_Vonnegut" style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">Kurt Vonnegut</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>fter a three week hiatus, we hit the trail early this morning. Forecasts had promised a beautiful, moderate day and they were correct. The Cub Lake trail at Natchez Trace State Park is one of our personal favorites. Car door to car door it figures at just over six miles of excellent hillwalking, although parts of it get fairly close (hairy, wooly, overgrown) at this time of year.<br />
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Since we had been away from the trail for a bit, I decided to lighten my load by leaving my Canon at home and hiking only with my iPhone camera. Fortunately, I didn't miss any opportunities for long shots, and the woods offered up some beauties for me to snap on the fly.<br />
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As you'll see, it was a great day for fungi. A couple images may seem to be duplicates, but look closely, the second image includes my sunglasses for scale. Those mushrooms were huge!<br />
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We were happy to see some much needed trail improvements. "Scary, slanty bridge" has been replaced by a beauty of a new one. Some tiny reroutes in that area have created a few spots that are now more picturesque.<br />
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Trying something new with the pictures. Let me know if you like the gallery presentation. Click on the first picture to open the slideshow. This is all new to me friends. Thanks for following along.<br />
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Until next time—be well, and take good care,<br />
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Mona B
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3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.0333333351</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 1:23:02 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.008333334</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 1:41:21 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 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3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.06666667</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 2:03:38 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.06666667</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 2:04:04 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.06666667</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 2:05:31 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.0416666679</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 2:25:32 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.025</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 2:51:09 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.025</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 2:51:29 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.06666667</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 2:52:49 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.06666667</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 2:53:09 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.06666667</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 2:55:33 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 4032</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.09090909</span><span>orientation</span><span> 6</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 3:04:58 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 3024</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span><span>focallength</span><span> 3.99</span><span>flash</span><span> 16</span><span>cameramake</span><span> Apple</span><span>height</span><span> 3024</span><span>fnumber</span><span> 1.8</span><span>exposuretime</span><span> 0.06666667</span><span>orientation</span><span> 1</span><span>camerasoftware</span><span> 11.4</span><span>originaldate</span><span> 7/7/2018 3:08:11 PM</span><span>width</span><span> 4032</span><span>cameramodel</span><span> iPhone 8 Plus</span></noscript>Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0Natchez Trace State Park, 24845 Natchez Trace Rd, Wildersville, TN 38388, USA35.7966754 -88.26462019999996810.274640899999998 -129.57321419999997 61.3187099 -46.956026199999968tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-67873766102239523612018-07-06T10:43:00.000-05:002018-07-20T14:58:52.181-05:00Extra, extra! Read all about it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Waiting for the sequel to a beloved book takes patience. Just as any good newshound, you find yourself doing the mental gymnastics of who, what, when, where, and why. Always hoping and expecting the author to hit one out of the park again.<br />
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Well, for those of you who have been eagerly anticipating the sequel to Vince Vawter's 2014 Newbery Honor book, <i>Paperboy</i>, the wait is almost over.</div>
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Without spoiling much, I can say it was definitely worth the wait.<br />
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Recently, I attended the annual conference of the American Library Association held this year in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was a pleasure to see Vince and his lovely, gracious wife, Betty, in the Capstone booth sharing advanced reading copies of the <i>Paperboy</i> sequel, <i>Copyboy</i>, with a few thousand of their librarian friends. <i>Copyboy</i> is to be released officially on August 1. I'm just sorry you can't read it today. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZF_pfkhDh-IIRy3VuNujZx47oCSF1t0cn4_kYoYeqFBRNwcMYaDPq0oPEvwdXXt8q5bfj76FIvFuJDqBedeYY3dTTPSNRAPhbipP48r54qOpCjDJTm_GxwFzMY0ZneNshhifTl9a7-sg/s1600/IMG_2641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZF_pfkhDh-IIRy3VuNujZx47oCSF1t0cn4_kYoYeqFBRNwcMYaDPq0oPEvwdXXt8q5bfj76FIvFuJDqBedeYY3dTTPSNRAPhbipP48r54qOpCjDJTm_GxwFzMY0ZneNshhifTl9a7-sg/s400/IMG_2641.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Vawter picks up six years after the original story. Victor is 17 and a high school graduate working the summer as a copyboy at the Memphis Press-Scimitar newspaper. The story begins as Victor is weeks away from leaving that job and heading to college to continue his studies and to play baseball.</div>
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<i>Copyboy </i>is not so much about the boy we all cared for, but rather a coming of age story about the young man he has become––a young man struggling for his independence from an overbearing mother, a young man continuing to use creative tricks and techniques to disguise and navigate his stuttering, and a young man determined to keep a promise to a friend.</div>
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Vawter takes us along as Vic goes on a search from Memphis down through the Delta to New Orleans and beyond. Is he searching for a spot on a map or is he searching for something deep inside himself? Along the way, Vic's original quest evolves, bifurcates, and morphs into the discovery of a whole new world of people, experiences, and courage.</div>
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The writing is fresh, emotive, and exciting. I laughed and I cried, always a good sign. Many of the characters we already knew are represented here, and some are fleshed out to reflect the growth of the main character both emotionally and intellectually. New characters are well-crafted and interesting and the story is solid. I am already encouraging friends to pre-order C<i>opyboy. </i>I look forward to sharing it with my students when school is back in session. </div>
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If you've not read <i>Paperboy</i>, please do, although it is absolutely not necessary to enjoy <i>Copyboy</i>. Both books are available wherever fine books are sold, the latter for pre-order to be delivered after August 1. If you'd like to learn more about the author, as well as details of his upcoming three-city book launch, visit <a href="http://www.vincevawter.com/">www.vincevawter.com</a></div>
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Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-54531616467830121642018-06-29T13:12:00.000-05:002018-07-20T14:59:11.578-05:00Digging up BonesAs a school librarian, there are often opportunities to get my hands on a book before final publication. These printed books are softcover uncorrected proofs that are not for sale and not to be catalogued into the library collection. They are called advance reading copies or ARCs.<br />
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For years, I have returned from AASL and ALA conferences with ARCs for my students. As a steward of public funds, I find they are a good way to test the waters for student interest in a title before spending precious budget dollars. But recently, with the advent of social media, ARCs are offered up to interested parties via Facebook, Instagram, websites, etc.<br />
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This summer, <a href="http://www.turnerpublishing.com/" target="_blank">Turner Publishing</a> offered ARCs of a November 2018 release of <i>Mammoth</i> by <a href="https://jillbaguchinsky.com/" target="_blank">Jill Baguchinsk</a>y and I jumped at the opportunity to read a YA novel published fairly locally.<br />
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I did a little digging on the author's website and found this quote by Sarah Glenn Marsh, author of the Reign of the Fallen Leaves series:<br />
<em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444340; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></em>
<em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #444340; font-family: "Source Sans Pro", Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Nerds and fashionistas alike can rejoice: Natalie is the unapologetically awesome heroine we’ve all been waiting for! Fresh and fun, this story is a love letter to paleontology, a great example of women in STEM, and a victory for anyone who’s ever wanted to change what they see in the mirror. I can’t say it enough: this book is a must-read!” </em><br />
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Needless to say, I was looking forward to the arrival of my ARC.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AtbtM30gTmLZqMTcaTjUxXZkPeCB0vr6rYGxeCXZlfFSQAMjB5gllhQkKqK8wQM_66TekivFiElHSyQ2UfveuH2sJf6X29YRu03Qxh4_TcdlZSMi9tO_d0Vizcs285s_h9wWJZ6nxUg/s1600/IMG_0589.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1107" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-AtbtM30gTmLZqMTcaTjUxXZkPeCB0vr6rYGxeCXZlfFSQAMjB5gllhQkKqK8wQM_66TekivFiElHSyQ2UfveuH2sJf6X29YRu03Qxh4_TcdlZSMi9tO_d0Vizcs285s_h9wWJZ6nxUg/s400/IMG_0589.jpeg" width="276" /></a></div>
Fittingly, I took it with me last weekend to read on my way to New Orleans for the annual conference of the American Library Association, and I was not disappointed.<br />
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<i>Mammoth</i> hits all the high points for someone such as myself purchasing for a teen audience. It's edgy, but not so edgy that I question its appropriateness for the audience I serve. It has romance, but not so much romance that it's a girl read, exclusively. It has adults who are role models and some who aren't, just like IRL.<br />
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In <i>Mammoth, </i>Baguchinsky has crafted an ensemble cast of young adult characters I recognize. They are not perfect, but they are not yet finished. They have lessons to learn and they learn them.<br />
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Unlike the artifacts of the creatures they are seeking, Baguchinsky's characters are not extinct, but very much alive. They are smart and driven––sometimes to a fault. The plot pitfalls send up some pretty glaring warning flares to the adult reader, but just as in life, the young characters in <i>Mammoth </i>often either don't recognize those warning signs or make the choice to discount them.<br />
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<i>Mammoth</i> has a strong STEM focus and Natalie Page is a strong female main character. I believe the book will resonate with my high school readers. Having once been a teen myself (It's true!) it still resonated with me.<br />
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I'll be pre-ordering the hardcover for my library for the fall. I can't help myself, I am digging <i>Mammoth</i> because it ROCKS!Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-57378891087358978292018-06-18T09:19:00.001-05:002018-07-20T14:59:25.576-05:00And where he goes I'll follow, I'll follow, I'll follow<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>S</b></span>o far, summer vacation has been a steady stream of remodeling supervision and runs, doctor appointments (as a caregiver, I'm fine), and meetings, but with the reno work almost complete and the last big meeting of the summer, ALA Annual in New Orleans, happening this week, the hope is for a calmer July.<br />
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We've been off the trail the past couple weekends primarily because it's just too dangerously hot for old(ish) people walking long distances; however, a few days ago, an Instagram friend posted a picture of the Common Milkweed at Land Between the Lakes and I kicked myself because those pictures were still sitting in my camera. I promised myself a post today.
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Before I show you the pretty stuff—I have to take a break for safety. The ticks, mosquitoes, and fleas are out in droves this summer, and they're packing heat: Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Zika, etc. and, most recently, the <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/allergies/alpha-gal" target="_blank">Alpha-Gal</a> allergy caused by the bite of the Lone Star tick.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1Xg_b3vxWicpHRZzYD9U-TJ-kw2FMqeQD1LtgYjb2ag2vViCfA427vNmhlgaGQe_PlyLSDxAnmqcwP8Od4VL5O-MczvxIlzwxCGKJJgNNGseDWw9ggJdytljUw73LcW33jCJGnCziic/s1600/IMG_0447.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="853" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1Xg_b3vxWicpHRZzYD9U-TJ-kw2FMqeQD1LtgYjb2ag2vViCfA427vNmhlgaGQe_PlyLSDxAnmqcwP8Od4VL5O-MczvxIlzwxCGKJJgNNGseDWw9ggJdytljUw73LcW33jCJGnCziic/s320/IMG_0447.jpeg" width="169" /></a>We experienced two hikes earlier this spring where the ticks were rampant and not deterred by our usual method of DEET spray before and during the hike. After some research, we decided to try pre-treating our gear to ward them off. The night before our hike, we prepared our clothes with a Permethrin spray in anticipation of heavy tick activity. Because, in its liquid state, Permethrin is dangerous to cats, we sprayed our clothes in the garage and left them to hang dry overnight. The <a href="https://sawyer.com/products/permethrin-insect-repellent-treatment/" target="_blank">Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent</a> we used is pictured here. We bought ours from <a href="http://a.co/26qWieE" target="_blank">Amazon</a>.<br />
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PROS: I am happy to report that we didn't find a single tick following our hike in pre-treated clothing. Also, I was not bothered by mosquitoes which usually eat me alive.<br />
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CONS: There aren't any. Well, perhaps, the fact that you are limited to hiking in the same clothing all summer, unless you want to douse everything for variety.<br />
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The spray is reported to last for 6 weeks or 6 washings.
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The Honker Lake Trail is one of the <a href="https://www.landbetweenthelakes.us/seendo/attractions/nature-station/" target="_blank">Nature Station Trails</a> near the KY/TN border at Land Between the Lakes and is one of our favorite haunts. The trail has just enough woods, water, and watchable wildlife to keep the hike fresh pretty much year-round AND the Elk and Bison Range is close by, an added bonus.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVnrwSktWisjUa1sKH2rhOr426f7l61V9v1bvC_4eKDaHmWePkQIjnApYIom2RFbUbZRwyZvx1zzf9vEJaBZwlI2SjQbwOhmtkbO2pFz4xKeiGiuOzNAx2Un4foy9ZH4T2b7VRF3-dEQ/s1600/CanoeSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVnrwSktWisjUa1sKH2rhOr426f7l61V9v1bvC_4eKDaHmWePkQIjnApYIom2RFbUbZRwyZvx1zzf9vEJaBZwlI2SjQbwOhmtkbO2pFz4xKeiGiuOzNAx2Un4foy9ZH4T2b7VRF3-dEQ/s200/CanoeSign.jpg" width="187" /></a>Two Saturdays ago we headed north for the recommended dosage. Before we even made it to the actual trail, we decided to take the short detour down to the canoe shed to check on the progress of the American Lotus or, as I like to refer to them, the Shower Head Lotus. The center of the bloom is an amazing structure that reminds me of a shower head. Well, it is still too early for blooms, but the lily pads are up and looking beautiful.<br />
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There are two spots on this trail where the <a href="https://www.growmilkweedplants.com/syriaca.html" target="_blank">Common Milkweed</a> grows. One is at the very beginning (or end, depending on your choice) of the trail, the other is over near Lake Barkley about midway through the hike. These pictures are from both spots. Although it was not at its peak bloom, they are still among my favorite blooms due to their beautiful structure. They, along with Mountain Laurel and Passion Flower blooms, take my breath away.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQAFw4lt0ote_eHh5S-WYhtYRle2l1bsxpwqgFKnAyDTt3wt4wWzrs7yCIALjUg3bhFit_32Dz9GhKQd5dvPO6Yc4wO2H_Vy40NoEobfnVjS4IsMbfK3fuiiz1KgPvwOtUmQZAIqbnRo/s1600/PrairieMilkweed3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQAFw4lt0ote_eHh5S-WYhtYRle2l1bsxpwqgFKnAyDTt3wt4wWzrs7yCIALjUg3bhFit_32Dz9GhKQd5dvPO6Yc4wO2H_Vy40NoEobfnVjS4IsMbfK3fuiiz1KgPvwOtUmQZAIqbnRo/s640/PrairieMilkweed3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCLxrDkvdFy91DaH9NSfKyn07kg5KIdW_YqL6PTawbQdkUlVY6K-nNZfvXgtzc4TifgkpCtzmxl_z1fg21isK1-xdrlEBAv8HRUhkOY08BF6ccFQoW4ZXSOK0koMQQNvem8Tz_JZnMRY/s1600/Shrooms2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="708" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCLxrDkvdFy91DaH9NSfKyn07kg5KIdW_YqL6PTawbQdkUlVY6K-nNZfvXgtzc4TifgkpCtzmxl_z1fg21isK1-xdrlEBAv8HRUhkOY08BF6ccFQoW4ZXSOK0koMQQNvem8Tz_JZnMRY/s640/Shrooms2.jpg" width="281" /></a>If you follow me, you already know that I am a sucker for all sorts of fungi. I hate that I cannot be in the woods every day because that is what it takes to get the best shots of these little magical bits of nature just as they emerge from the ground and before they are nibbled, gnawed, and kicked. I was lucky enough to spot just a few on this hike.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbxeHfMf62h1ik3SpMa9oYgdBmu2TFTxJpnbweFzPQSwsa5upj-i4-zky-AH3JA8-nM-60HhgE2TZopaEbe12FXjtnqrkA8I23ifTBdqYzdg3zfDz-d7vkYqXL3e0WD3XyaNo_CF6k7s/s1600/Shrooms3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="1600" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsbxeHfMf62h1ik3SpMa9oYgdBmu2TFTxJpnbweFzPQSwsa5upj-i4-zky-AH3JA8-nM-60HhgE2TZopaEbe12FXjtnqrkA8I23ifTBdqYzdg3zfDz-d7vkYqXL3e0WD3XyaNo_CF6k7s/s320/Shrooms3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Butterflies and moths are another favorite, although my luck at getting them to light seems never to be great. I did capture both a Tiger Swallowtail and Spicebush Swallowtail on the milkweed above and was fortunate enough to catch a Luna Moth, a skipper, and a Zebra too stunned (or smitten by blooms) to notice me.<br />
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Also spotted a couple creatures along the way, but missed an extraordinary opportunity at Honker Bay when an Osprey came off a nest I had not noticed just over my head. I waited a long time for it to return, but finally decided it just wasn't my day. Again, I'm not a birder, just a hiker who enjoys birds.<br />
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Maybe we'll head somewhere cooler in a few weeks. For now, we're just trying to stay smart and safe by staying out of the heat–except for yard work.<br />
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We had a great hike on a glorious day. And, yes, after 39 years, I'd still follow him anywhere.<br />
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Until next time, be well and take good care,<br />
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Mona B<br />
<br />Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, 238 Visitor Center Dr, Golden Pond, KY 42211, USA36.7777636 -88.06306710000001236.7650666 -88.0832371 36.7904606 -88.042897100000019tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-7374183459915102942018-05-29T10:44:00.000-05:002018-07-20T14:59:39.264-05:00Finding Fun and Fungi with a Fun Guy<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"For fast-acting relief, try slowing down." -Lily Tomlin</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>he past few weeks have been a whirlwind of closing the school library for the year, planning and diving head first into a small reno project at home, nursing an old soccer injury, and kicking off summer vacation.<br />
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Every year, April sneaks up on May and jump-scares it into a frenzy. The end of the school year is always a combo of testing, awards day, field day, inventory, ordering, and year-end reporting. Preparing a punch list that seems impossible to accomplish––and then it's finished, you're out of school for the summer, and now you're making entirely different plans.<br />
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So, for the old soccer injury. It is old as in a couple weeks. It is a soccer injury as in, while shagging balls for a bunch of students during our annual field day, I decided to kick a ball and felt as if I had thrown out my hip. The pain subsided and I continued my 4.5-5 mile daily walking routine even though my hip complained like a whiny baby.<br />
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School ended two Fridays ago at noon and, by Saturday, my husband and I had started the redo we had been promising our old Master Bedroom since we built the new one. I'll show and tell in an upcoming post.<br />
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"But what about hiking?" you ask.<br />
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That Sunday afternoon, we headed up to Pilot Knob a) because it is a fairly close drive and b) because we were really exhausted. We logged 6.5 hot, muggy miles and came out of the woods covered in ticks, but we did spot some neat fungi.<br />
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Here's the down side. The reno work, e.g. climbing up and down a ladder, scraping overhead, etc., followed by the hike, took a toll on the hip and forced me to slow down and take stock.<br />
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So, last week:<br />
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<ul>
<li>I broke a 9.5 month streak for meeting my walking goal every day,</li>
<li>I promised never to kick a soccer ball again, </li>
<li>My husband and I celebrated 39 years since jumping the broom,</li>
<li>And we shared a great meal with our greatest accomplishment at one of our favorite Nashville spots, <a href="http://www.burger-up.com/" target="_blank">Burger Up</a>.</li>
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This week, I'm back on my walking game and I have a new and very different punch list going. So, watch for a Hearth & Home post here in the next few weeks tentatively entitled, <i>Be Our Guest</i>.<br />
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Until then, be well and take good care.<br />
<br />
Mona B<br />
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<br />Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park, 1825 Pilot Knob Rd, Eva, TN 38333, USA36.0833751 -87.98537469999996610.561340599999998 -129.29396869999997 61.6054096 -46.676780699999966tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-21200980318224871922018-05-09T21:14:00.001-05:002018-07-20T14:59:51.593-05:00Lessons from Thoreau on the Cub Lake Trail<div style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- Henry David Thoreau</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>hen one first begins to hike and <i>all</i> the trails are unfamiliar, there is a sense of adventure, true, but also a tiny fear of the unknown.<br />
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<i>Will the trail be too strenuous or blazed (marked) inadequately? Will we get lost? </i></div>
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The answer to all these questions, if you are hiking on established trails in a state or national park, state natural area, or national recreation area, is no; however, you will––in all likelihood––get frustrated, rerouted, turned around (momentarily), and bewildered. Hiking is not like going to the movies, out to dinner, or to a theme park. All those activities are fairly predictable, plus, you are surrounded by people paid to help if you get lost or overly tired or confused. </div>
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Hiking requires planning and often pre-planning. In the beginning, I pored over Tennessee State Park websites, looking at the trail list, mileages, and levels of difficulty. We wanted some idea of what we were walking into.<br />
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Often there is a visitor center open with knowledgeable staff to assist you pre-hike, but sometimes there is not. Early on, when we were unfamiliar with the trails, I would save the park map on my phone before I left home. Here is what the new Tennessee State Park maps look like:</div>
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One of our favorite trails is the Cub Lake trail at Natchez Trace State Park. It is a beautiful woods with great elevation changes. NTSP has made several trail improvements over the past few years, rerouting some sections around trouble spots, but it's tough, time consuming work and there is much work still to be done. </div>
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Here's our favorite hike isolated from the entire map. It's that little orange dotted line. You will note that trail is listed as 4.0 miles, but that mileage is measured from where you go into the woods (the trailhead) to where you come out. According to every measuring device I've worn over the last several years, this trail is just over 5.5 miles car door back to car door.</div>
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We love to hike year-round, but, honestly, our favorite time is when we don't have to watch our step for snakes or deal with ticks and mosquitos. That said, the trade-off is beauty. From now until October we will gladly deal with those inconveniences because there is most always something lovely to see.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Snowbell</td></tr>
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Last Sunday, the weather was perfect. Lots of folks out taking advantage of a beautiful day, many were practicing their kayaking skills. I think these ladies thought I was paparazzi.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rg2_ZKL3aYS3CnZFUlCN5dLEDE0NEsWOto4xuMY1TYAFOSDaUHhX7fYBUmRaCwQM-2d7aUGtQa7ANOgSfstC0DVwnjFq0SJk2Vo407RZhH8VCjcBd4wwZPqB7eOg3Q1-2ulD3_yWddE/s1600/Kayak2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1600" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rg2_ZKL3aYS3CnZFUlCN5dLEDE0NEsWOto4xuMY1TYAFOSDaUHhX7fYBUmRaCwQM-2d7aUGtQa7ANOgSfstC0DVwnjFq0SJk2Vo407RZhH8VCjcBd4wwZPqB7eOg3Q1-2ulD3_yWddE/s640/Kayak2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCqhGJz6x4dVRQTTgL_VeB3jmtxFKvZnxycSbOqu45rs-nAufBUFSPM2eXC9ArrMBHzQp4SLwvbeRI-zeLKcf8GDaM747oFjz0Ahz7DhOJz51s3ujgD1MHQa8KLy0_JSmST3xvQd02m8/s1600/Kayak1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1600" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidCqhGJz6x4dVRQTTgL_VeB3jmtxFKvZnxycSbOqu45rs-nAufBUFSPM2eXC9ArrMBHzQp4SLwvbeRI-zeLKcf8GDaM747oFjz0Ahz7DhOJz51s3ujgD1MHQa8KLy0_JSmST3xvQd02m8/s640/Kayak1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We met only one other group of hikers, a couple about our age with a 5yo grandson. It was a hot, sticky, buggy, muddy day on the trail, but that little hiker looked as if he was having fun. Maybe there's an age threshold for complaining about those things.<br />
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The spring bloom is slightly behind what I've photographed in previous years, probably due to Tennessee's cold snap in April. Still, I happened to see some interesting fungi. . .<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhR7f3aaQH-ne3SHTbJQue6GTZnEm6Sn4tQsAWbP73kiRJPdljmWv0I4JxamGCFNiqmGPYOpRTUXjprhXurzS_CXcu5hLYW-B6KSDB19JY_gtcLxzRqxf9zwrBZ9YFpD7OGAv57AcYAI/s1600/Fungi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="1600" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhR7f3aaQH-ne3SHTbJQue6GTZnEm6Sn4tQsAWbP73kiRJPdljmWv0I4JxamGCFNiqmGPYOpRTUXjprhXurzS_CXcu5hLYW-B6KSDB19JY_gtcLxzRqxf9zwrBZ9YFpD7OGAv57AcYAI/s640/Fungi1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polypore</td></tr>
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a few wildflowers. . .</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcO1KC-Ta1fb2kPReeJkpD4MOtitoLvDe0aYOEzwpsJTNDR4wQ4dWNUZLd4HlSTcYddI8IRg8hm7oSlS8lPVVTmcqft_40Y6DEutioYc_G9g1tpVC0d09VZ70SpfDgP44Ru_krTd4K0ts/s1600/Hawkweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1600" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcO1KC-Ta1fb2kPReeJkpD4MOtitoLvDe0aYOEzwpsJTNDR4wQ4dWNUZLd4HlSTcYddI8IRg8hm7oSlS8lPVVTmcqft_40Y6DEutioYc_G9g1tpVC0d09VZ70SpfDgP44Ru_krTd4K0ts/s640/Hawkweed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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and a woods absolutely teeming with several varieties of lovely wild azaleas.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAGJkvgH77mHfHzNYPypPKJ1ir4v2LXmWGEJ2_MQQ7N62ru1iTTTB56Yg4uqtJOjYDJSOXhJRmClN8EwvqxrS8zCnlKh5ToVpx9wqTB6oOYOqkH_eSgAoJ-neTmoNP0IdEFJZs6DYPH4/s1600/PinxterFlower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAGJkvgH77mHfHzNYPypPKJ1ir4v2LXmWGEJ2_MQQ7N62ru1iTTTB56Yg4uqtJOjYDJSOXhJRmClN8EwvqxrS8zCnlKh5ToVpx9wqTB6oOYOqkH_eSgAoJ-neTmoNP0IdEFJZs6DYPH4/s640/PinxterFlower.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pinxter Flower</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VkkLjKUEooG9Bj6pgxAuQUGuUjhpvLjrTXYelRgQXnWmLy4Ib02u_KPjkfc0ehNSaT698j87kKnnh-mIbS3oVVbd69oFcM59Zij3gV03XnBiU90PEKCH5ukUYnsH9z3ag6L3ABm6K34/s1600/Wild+Azalea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VkkLjKUEooG9Bj6pgxAuQUGuUjhpvLjrTXYelRgQXnWmLy4Ib02u_KPjkfc0ehNSaT698j87kKnnh-mIbS3oVVbd69oFcM59Zij3gV03XnBiU90PEKCH5ukUYnsH9z3ag6L3ABm6K34/s640/Wild+Azalea.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Azaleas</td></tr>
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So, still listening and learning from the woods, but Thoreau was definitely right.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
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Mona B<br />
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Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0Natchez Trace State Park, 24845 Natchez Trace Rd, Wildersville, TN 38388, USA35.7966754 -88.26462019999996810.274640899999998 -129.57321419999997 61.3187099 -46.956026199999968tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-44962819081813118792018-05-02T19:11:00.003-05:002018-07-20T15:00:05.914-05:00Blue skies smiling at me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5cKjaeHi4mqiRTWSKI_I4ijFzM63jt0jCwIvPU0UNImN3Mlau49qTXa2ZXTK2j4KYK7W5sVnICbFOthgOswksy4jSL1pzTD_TsUUXmfVQMwLwpau4AHKTMgKNiP38oO-daETOBPKoxA/s1600/Great+Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1479" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5cKjaeHi4mqiRTWSKI_I4ijFzM63jt0jCwIvPU0UNImN3Mlau49qTXa2ZXTK2j4KYK7W5sVnICbFOthgOswksy4jSL1pzTD_TsUUXmfVQMwLwpau4AHKTMgKNiP38oO-daETOBPKoxA/s640/Great+Egret.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-egret" target="_blank">Great Egret</a> over Honker Dam </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16;"><span style="color: #bf9000;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></span><span style="color: #783f04;">Last Sunday afternoon was one of several near-perfect hiking days this spring. Not only does it finally feel as if spring has arrived, but also as if summer is breathing down its collar. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The <a href="http://lblguide.com/lbl/honker-trail/" target="_blank">Honker Lake Trail</a>, a part of the Nature Station Trails at Land Between the Lakes, is one of our favorite spots. It is listed as 4.6 miles, but we usually wind up stitching together somewhere between six and seven miles of great day hiking with decent elevation changes and beautiful vistas.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last weekend, the trail was a bit wet in places, but if you haven't picked your way through a soupy spot or trudged on through some mud or pulled off your KEENS and socks and waded in water, is it really an adventure? So, yes, all of the above happened and made for a great day.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For the past several years, until this winter, I had hiked with my iPhone as my only camera. I was lucky enough to capture some images I really enjoy, but after Santa brought me some new gear last Christmas, I vowed to start carrying my DSLR. The shot below is very similar to a shot I took last year, but my phone camera did not offer the reach of my actual camera. A couple of these guys slipped off into the water before I could grab the shot, but I was tickled to snap the remaining crew.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrZCFMSkauMT2vTom_VHLEY9QM9mvf2yErbyFBZSPAryXP9KmsjzecqjJcywujxWoCo9CpO9yG8NeNSJEHk9rWsZkZpgkvV7BKiqjC2ZQZR1quveCeRSv0iah-K5W6c1rv1UYcdLiojc/s1600/Turtles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="1600" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrZCFMSkauMT2vTom_VHLEY9QM9mvf2yErbyFBZSPAryXP9KmsjzecqjJcywujxWoCo9CpO9yG8NeNSJEHk9rWsZkZpgkvV7BKiqjC2ZQZR1quveCeRSv0iah-K5W6c1rv1UYcdLiojc/s640/Turtles.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Turtles - Happy Together</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">On the other side of the bridge, grandma (or grandpa) was enjoying the sunshine with a side order of solitude.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIS1SO80VQuHMM2lhWEjrqiyDPU8a9Hi3QRk8bi6CXSPe3c4kj4IWm0r5zNfbPBy5zyYrBi1mYn0qUTqfVn7uQ1eV9jfx7nosNSDTMTQGYopoHsz0N4l0IILOHh6gm40FwJ0Im5OyDD5g/s1600/Turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1600" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIS1SO80VQuHMM2lhWEjrqiyDPU8a9Hi3QRk8bi6CXSPe3c4kj4IWm0r5zNfbPBy5zyYrBi1mYn0qUTqfVn7uQ1eV9jfx7nosNSDTMTQGYopoHsz0N4l0IILOHh6gm40FwJ0Im5OyDD5g/s640/Turtle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">If you follow me on Instagram, you've already seen the next two images. I must preface them by saying that I am a hiker who loves birds, not a birder. I don't have the right lens, the patience, nor the knowledge base to be a good birder. I follow the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/356185474468991/" target="_blank">Tennessee Birding</a> group on Facebook and I enjoy it immensely. Those people are good and they inspire me to be better. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The two pictures below are of the male <a href="http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/prothonotary-warbler" target="_blank">Prothonotary Warbler</a>, but probably not the same guy, although I guess they could be. One picture was made at the beginning of our hike, the other threeish hours later at the end of our hike. As the crow (or Prothonotary Warbler) flies, though, probably not that far apart. His song and his color make me smile.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrZPZUUpBd5IrrcwhRFdFlHGoLrXftbu3EwndEgjy6Uv_QwzbhAgItSCjULVne1IZE_fE1b-Ef_1LRDMytzBNzUnpkYhTVilMd6dp8GdMx0_hMCbaUW2i6KwrLdibUNEsU-vQayD0DB0/s1600/Prothonotary+Warbler+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="509" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrZPZUUpBd5IrrcwhRFdFlHGoLrXftbu3EwndEgjy6Uv_QwzbhAgItSCjULVne1IZE_fE1b-Ef_1LRDMytzBNzUnpkYhTVilMd6dp8GdMx0_hMCbaUW2i6KwrLdibUNEsU-vQayD0DB0/s640/Prothonotary+Warbler+2.jpg" width="548" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSeYoZFdZZmOs9vssGgxcSUrW8zZWmwCWRcZ55AKnOJXDt1B9dQ5i84cjBS5hf2EZzBTYnSvOlG_OQziJ1ijMntIW2wMKq5VEqu4yY86-RH874EgzQfrl3x42uxqR2j8mRke7bgbLIf4/s1600/Prothonotary+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1453" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSeYoZFdZZmOs9vssGgxcSUrW8zZWmwCWRcZ55AKnOJXDt1B9dQ5i84cjBS5hf2EZzBTYnSvOlG_OQziJ1ijMntIW2wMKq5VEqu4yY86-RH874EgzQfrl3x42uxqR2j8mRke7bgbLIf4/s640/Prothonotary+Warbler.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I always consider it a bit of luck to see a butterfly, serendipitous if it actually lights long enough for me to get a picture. I have ID'ed this one as a male Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus). If you are an expert and disagree, please correct me.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SvYrO1ReF7P9nBDrU-L6H_Rg4PtJgb9FrlzMH6XbIz7bla-OVMr3DyFNDwnkuqpPlW-p4wS3VcB1RqWhQIAWMnketPb02xnHPE-RXoSgPCwsHoXLgnMP7LJy4o3G2gH4JANBSaHoHQY/s1600/Spicebush+Swallowtail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1405" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SvYrO1ReF7P9nBDrU-L6H_Rg4PtJgb9FrlzMH6XbIz7bla-OVMr3DyFNDwnkuqpPlW-p4wS3VcB1RqWhQIAWMnketPb02xnHPE-RXoSgPCwsHoXLgnMP7LJy4o3G2gH4JANBSaHoHQY/s640/Spicebush+Swallowtail.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Spicebush Swallowtail</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">About mid-trail, there is a long narrow concrete walkway that runs between Lake Barkley and Honker Bay. We have hiked this trail many times, but Sunday was the first time we had ever seen the walkway entirely under water. Was probably comical to the younger set watching both us and the couple crossing after us remain upright on that narrow, algae slick path. Hey, we made it without getting us or any of our gear wet. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIDXWOvr5F5GE8O4Xw7NkogZ_D97FuW5es8nzDKLtvLa1-HOuiPv1KCgroKIoybMmvhLvl2t2WTj6XOn9UcsgvKtyP-l-9DH5eLYGgWIQp_mNmKvPxz6hAfLsFHcIOo-xTgoOa-bLOYs/s1600/Water+Crossing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIDXWOvr5F5GE8O4Xw7NkogZ_D97FuW5es8nzDKLtvLa1-HOuiPv1KCgroKIoybMmvhLvl2t2WTj6XOn9UcsgvKtyP-l-9DH5eLYGgWIQp_mNmKvPxz6hAfLsFHcIOo-xTgoOa-bLOYs/s640/Water+Crossing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">As evidenced by the top shot of the Great Egret and this last shot looking out over Honker Bay, there was not a cloud in the sky. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Nothing but blue skies do I see.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE_nVu9ROdBVgOcvrXwL3Mbc29yO6hO2ZnSTkT9MUQSrmi9NM-dK_fWXIGiaOp2sNat8b9JaDpZBjmDcNtXvoYieqvkYI1dtLkPpNlUAvMerJFcgGYMPMqva1Ije_VM0Rq7_Kw-88304/s1600/Honker+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE_nVu9ROdBVgOcvrXwL3Mbc29yO6hO2ZnSTkT9MUQSrmi9NM-dK_fWXIGiaOp2sNat8b9JaDpZBjmDcNtXvoYieqvkYI1dtLkPpNlUAvMerJFcgGYMPMqva1Ije_VM0Rq7_Kw-88304/s640/Honker+Lake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Thanks for stopping by, until next time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Mona B</span></div>
<br />Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, 238 Visitor Center Dr, Golden Pond, KY 42211, USA36.7777636 -88.06306710000001211.2557291 -129.3716611 62.299798100000004 -46.754473100000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-46496004195507632942018-04-28T20:31:00.000-05:002018-07-20T15:00:27.616-05:00You say tomato, I say yum, yum!<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I was growing up, gardening was a prevalent and important part of life. Both my parents had survived The Great Depression on the family farm, although one was in Tennessee and one was in Arkansas and, excluding a few annual bedding plants in a too hot, south-facing flower bed, gardening meant food. Summers were filled with making jelly, silking corn, shelling peas, and canning tomatoes. Lots of work!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Papa's favorite thing to grow (and eat) was the tomato. For months, he planned. Which ones? How many? What method? If he wasn't saving seed, he was planting, bonneting, suckering, staking, tying up––all those things you do to tomatoes to ensure a delicious and bountiful harvest of those glorious red orbs. I was the "fetcher, hander, and holder" the disinterested party, the one who would have much rather been listening to the Beatles, Michael Jackson, or James Taylor on a record player than helping do anything in the tomato patch. If one can grow to resent a tomato, I did. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let me pause here to say that I did and DO love to eat them, too.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By mid-July every year, we had enough tomatoes for Cox's Army. My mother blanched and juiced and canned, if it could be done to a tomato, she did it. Still, we had enough to share "a sack of tomatoes" with anyone who might need or want them. Family would come from out of state and leave with tomatoes.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I grew up, married, and started housekeeping, I wanted to garden––in flowers! I had no interest in vegetable gardening. Give me hydrangeas and daffodils and lilies! I forsook the prized tomatoes of my youth and chose to turn the dirt for blooms.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fast forward 30+ years to last spring. I began to toy with the idea of a small vegetable garden. Our Amish neighbors create the most beautiful garden every year. Perhaps we should try it. But days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and, alas, that window closed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ah, but spring rolled around again this year and, once again, I got the fever to dig in the dirt. Earlier than usual I got some flowers in the ground, felt accomplished. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then, just last week a video popped up in my Facebook feed. The patriarch of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/YumYumGardens/" target="_blank">Yum Yum Gardens</a>, a family farm not too far from me, had created a <a href="https://tinyurl.com/y9498w3z" target="_blank">video</a> of the ABCs for growing tomatoes organically. I was hooked. I showed it to my husband and he was hooked. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We made our plan and couldn't wait for the weekend. </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /><br />Friday evening, after dinner, we began to gather supplies. According to "the man", we would need:</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.espoma.com/product/tomato-tone/" target="_blank">Tomato Tone</a></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Earthworm Castings</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fish Emulsion</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Powdered Milk</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Epsom Salts </span></li>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and, of course, tomato plants. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">First stop was our local <a href="https://www.tractorsupply.com/" target="_blank">Tractor Supply</a> where we found the first three ingredients on the list, but no tomato plants. As we were checking out, the man running the cash register told us his long tale of woe regarding his many unsuccessful attempts at tomato gardening and the fact that he had finally given up. As we were walking out the door, I turned and said, "You didn't touch any of this stuff we just bought, did you?" I smiled and, after a beat, he said, "I don't think so. I sure hope I didn't jinx it for you." </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After Tractor Supply, we hit the local WalMart with fingers crossed they'd have the plants. Surprisingly, we had choices. </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">All were <a href="https://bonnieplants.com/tomatoes/choose-your-tomato/" target="_blank">Bonnie Plants</a> and I even recognized <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2hf67TboI_wM243GAEyO6bhQjI7MtnR3XApYF1TrZRbee6iDIX6yPDE1pHojMRUmRrKFcU-MYhu1tFHdQXZWLoVi_z4ul-DnPmtDOL2Rpu5mREAC9JCtFUwJO3qq4xPR49WY-fiEs9I/s1600/FullSizeRender-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2hf67TboI_wM243GAEyO6bhQjI7MtnR3XApYF1TrZRbee6iDIX6yPDE1pHojMRUmRrKFcU-MYhu1tFHdQXZWLoVi_z4ul-DnPmtDOL2Rpu5mREAC9JCtFUwJO3qq4xPR49WY-fiEs9I/s320/FullSizeRender-1.jpeg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04;">Let's do this.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">some names from my childhood. We are </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">starting small, friends. We chose three </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">varieties and two plants each. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">This morning we prepared the ground </span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">and followed the Garnett protocol</span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">for planting </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">Early Girl, Bonnie </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">Original, and Better </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">Boy. I was a little concerned </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">that we </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"> might be starting too small, </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">but the reported </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">yield on these plants is very high.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Wish us luck. If only to honor Papa's memory, </span><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope we wind up with enough tomatoes for Cox's Army.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88Pzxzu3_nTe-owMa39BEoir4kEL_bLdpYT3aVutMMl1ZLi0Ngh8BA53UQn6-ENwqwPFw9Qc5UkL-YA80y3AUbtMbwH4TiY3v0FH0n7SZGs16g9cmhOJFEQ-qyuCSxAZsjjjePr7dg3o/s1600/IMG_0282.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88Pzxzu3_nTe-owMa39BEoir4kEL_bLdpYT3aVutMMl1ZLi0Ngh8BA53UQn6-ENwqwPFw9Qc5UkL-YA80y3AUbtMbwH4TiY3v0FH0n7SZGs16g9cmhOJFEQ-qyuCSxAZsjjjePr7dg3o/s640/IMG_0282.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Crop is in.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-42079691197726111282018-04-21T18:56:00.000-05:002018-07-20T15:00:45.761-05:00For Earth Day<div class="vk_ans" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large !important; font-weight: lighter !important; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px;">
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<span data-dobid="hdw">in the pink*</span></div>
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<span style="color: #878787;">phrase of </span><span class="SDZsVb" data-term-for-update="pink" data-ved="2ahUKEwjyz8S0sczaAhWCuVMKHZVkAiIQgSt6BAgAEAQ" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="cursor: pointer;" tabindex="0">pink</span></div>
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<span class="lr_dct_lbl_blk vk_gy" style="color: rgb(135 , 135 , 135); font-style: italic; margin-right: 6px;">informal</span></div>
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in very good health and spirits.</div>
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<tr><td class="lr_dct_nyms_ttl" style="font-style: italic; padding: 0px 3px 0px 0px; vertical-align: top; white-space: nowrap;">synonyms:</td><td style="padding: 0px;">in good health, very healthy, very well, hale and hearty;</td></tr>
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*from Google</div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today began in the pink.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlol3A0y5pHtSFaHAEVB8Hv_qv5fNsB_cyOAzKRun2sAQeS8R6PxlQtfT5zu7uMaAYn6EJDqxTzuAJb0yBNxVmriXjv-iir5gjt2n9x7J19Xp8byvF6elrywx7v-rG7os0QkELzXTGkw/s1600/AprilSunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlol3A0y5pHtSFaHAEVB8Hv_qv5fNsB_cyOAzKRun2sAQeS8R6PxlQtfT5zu7uMaAYn6EJDqxTzuAJb0yBNxVmriXjv-iir5gjt2n9x7J19Xp8byvF6elrywx7v-rG7os0QkELzXTGkw/s320/AprilSunrise.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rarely do I see a pink sunrise without hearing my mother say, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Red sky at morning, sailor's warning,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> red sky at night, sailor's delight.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sure enough, the forecast calls for rain starting tonight, so we decided to load up and head to one of our favorite hiking spots in search of yet more pink.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://tnstateparks.com/parks/cabins/nathan-bedford-forrest" target="_blank">Pilot Knob</a>, is situated on one of the highest points in West Tennessee on the Kentucky Lake area of the Tennessee River. When I was a child, my family would picnic in the <a href="https://goo.gl/images/AjhzEV" target="_blank">stone pavilion</a> at the pinnacle. The structure built by the WPA in the 1930s no longer remains. Today it is the site of the cultural and folklore center. The area became NBF State Park, a part of the Tennessee State Park system, in 1963.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Enough history, today I went in search of Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) blooms. I had consulted my photographs from last year and discovered that on our April 23 hike they were in full bloom, some past prime. Perhaps this would be good timing. We had climbed the hill to the cultural center and were barely on the trail when I knew my quest was a bust. The Mountain Laurel were still in bud, and, although they are lovely, would not be at their prime for a week or two. No matter, we love the Orange trail and were still glad to be there.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkHQH8lQA-2X1a6uyUg6Re6fxnMPDxg-FzP15Q0sWNCckObBW8V5vMpEHMzjS1VTV33-g-iCW1asywkwNUTugUSJnhu5OwB9JY0YndyfjVBIGS2ZeLKGN3XBnBCZvxs_4Ox90ccAGxHo/s1600/Mountain+Laurel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1069" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkHQH8lQA-2X1a6uyUg6Re6fxnMPDxg-FzP15Q0sWNCckObBW8V5vMpEHMzjS1VTV33-g-iCW1asywkwNUTugUSJnhu5OwB9JY0YndyfjVBIGS2ZeLKGN3XBnBCZvxs_4Ox90ccAGxHo/s640/Mountain+Laurel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mountain Laurel (in bud)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkHQH8lQA-2X1a6uyUg6Re6fxnMPDxg-FzP15Q0sWNCckObBW8V5vMpEHMzjS1VTV33-g-iCW1asywkwNUTugUSJnhu5OwB9JY0YndyfjVBIGS2ZeLKGN3XBnBCZvxs_4Ox90ccAGxHo/s1600/Mountain+Laurel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #222222; float: left; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I soon discovered that all was not lost in my quest for pink flora. Just a few steps down the trail my eye was drawn to an explosion of "prom dress" pink off to the left. Pay dirt!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Several years ago, when we first began to hike, I saw a flower/shrub/tree at Natchez Trace State Park that I had never seen before nor since, although I learned the name through my research––and there it was, the southern Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron canescens), a wild azalea.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fingers crossed that I have identified it correctly. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_eJYR5o1ntAXmwXDujHdIGecfeUVXpY4RVlF2JF8HfSLnS5tcUI7LS0SDEYtZXXh_EyXlUDuVjMDAQg02wf5n-FJrAgfEwLQbm2mvyo6JUaGrjxqEuZJ9yydBG4Y5CTm2lNdPSN1F8s/s1600/Pinkster+Wild+Azalea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1600" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_eJYR5o1ntAXmwXDujHdIGecfeUVXpY4RVlF2JF8HfSLnS5tcUI7LS0SDEYtZXXh_EyXlUDuVjMDAQg02wf5n-FJrAgfEwLQbm2mvyo6JUaGrjxqEuZJ9yydBG4Y5CTm2lNdPSN1F8s/s640/Pinkster+Wild+Azalea.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Southern Pinxter Flower</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fSq1BKryT59S0SvRwz_BSG92ZB-LQUorWzybI-7saxdFs_AiIX5DpLZARypDjQBLxiciN0InrbLFSRCqfP6MCNG0C1uEOT0mSmgimpg3Puwxnhc6RNl1cucJf-8pmACsL8uCCWdjBUo/s1600/IMG_1899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fSq1BKryT59S0SvRwz_BSG92ZB-LQUorWzybI-7saxdFs_AiIX5DpLZARypDjQBLxiciN0InrbLFSRCqfP6MCNG0C1uEOT0mSmgimpg3Puwxnhc6RNl1cucJf-8pmACsL8uCCWdjBUo/s640/IMG_1899.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZgI11SLHkPDXP64fTCFgj1zOXjOgxSl_v2BFJktGUhtGZMCpnIA5x-hNI7Z5pmQU9P1S7TLFsAenmb__FUgzzb0kku0YWkjGwB5GtIMTm6joxyjNd3EDSCTynNmVvsr1nJFQ8MU73lc/s1600/IMG_1894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ZgI11SLHkPDXP64fTCFgj1zOXjOgxSl_v2BFJktGUhtGZMCpnIA5x-hNI7Z5pmQU9P1S7TLFsAenmb__FUgzzb0kku0YWkjGwB5GtIMTm6joxyjNd3EDSCTynNmVvsr1nJFQ8MU73lc/s640/IMG_1894.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The day was saved by this discovery, but the woods were filled with Spring Beauty, Phlox, Oxalis, and Saxifrage, all of which I've been seeing on the trail for the past few weeks. What I had not seen was the Dwarf Crested Iris. I began to notice blades all along the central section of the trail and finally found one single bloom waiting for me.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6AWT6xcSvzvqN024De1nJxBNI7mX9I0o4yhUnIuwjm7Cut9g1J9-Cq7LQCzhrTs9FKZJ6qzt5wywMIFR2cX3lPI5X1bEKLpWh7epbRboxy2-ayEaECAzEFgbbY9eNCdwy_Yiw0UjiPQ/s1600/Dwarf+Crested+Iris+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1329" data-original-width="1600" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6AWT6xcSvzvqN024De1nJxBNI7mX9I0o4yhUnIuwjm7Cut9g1J9-Cq7LQCzhrTs9FKZJ6qzt5wywMIFR2cX3lPI5X1bEKLpWh7epbRboxy2-ayEaECAzEFgbbY9eNCdwy_Yiw0UjiPQ/s640/Dwarf+Crested+Iris+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dwarf Crested Iris</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although we've hiked this trail all winter, it is always fun to see the woods awaken, finally. Winter gives us the beauty of an occasional snowfall and the luxury of no bug spray, as well as not having to monitor our footfalls for snakes; however, it can get a bit boring when the scenery is so static. Thankful to live in an area with seasons. Oh, and speaking of snakes, today we saw the first of those, too. Fortunately, it was a friendly.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here's to hoping you are "in the pink". Happy hiking and Happy Earth Day!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Southern Black Racer</span></td></tr>
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Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park, 1825 Pilot Knob Rd, Eva, TN 38333, USA36.0833751 -87.98537469999996610.4283036 -129.46974969999997 61.738446599999996 -46.500999699999966tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-5251933287821491202018-04-17T20:22:00.001-05:002018-07-20T15:01:04.829-05:00Oh, Virginia. I love your Bluebells.<span style="font-family: inherit;">In March of 2017, we took a little Spring Break hiking trip that included South Cumberland State Park, Fall Creek Falls State Park, the natural bridge at Monteagle, and Old Stone Fort State Park. It was a fun turn around the southeastern area of Tennessee. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we returned home, I was scrolling through the feed of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/941376545896813/" target="_blank">What's Blooming in Tennessee</a> Facebook page and discovered someone had posted a shot of an intriguing flower I had never seen, the Virginia Bluebell</span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">(<span style="background-color: white;">Mertensia virginica). I have to say that it ranks right up there with the Passion Flower and Mountain Laurel when it comes to blooms that take my breath away––but I digress. The shot was taken at Old Stone Fort State Park the day before. Needless to say, I was crestfallen. I vowed that if I ever made it back to OSFSP in March, I would find those bluebells and I WOULD take their picture. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Fast </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">forward to Spring Break 2018. The grand plan was a loop that included Max Patch Mountain, Asheville, Little Switzerland, Roan Mountain SP, and Grayson Highlands SP (VA), but as we drew closer to departure, the forecasts for inclement weather in that entire area grew worse. We called it. Those beautiful mountains (and the wild ponies at Grayson Highlands) would just have to wait. We decided to head south, again.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">What was our first stop? Old Stone Fort State Park, of course. What was my question for the ranger?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">"Where are the Virginia Bluebells?"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">We discovered lovely drifts of these amazing blooms in an area of the park we had simply missed in 2017. Were they ever worth the trip.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9gpGESRFIzMF3DLE58pI2v9I4KcLg2x_4feEFj7cKg0yjcUbaC6u5XzxTMvhXub_thRQ96fpCMa2_Nti0TGVi1SQCTY6vFj82NbMUTxgaKJh2STYIkcf-ehkDm7bX8T00jcQ4KeHHZI/s1600/VABluebell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1422" data-original-width="1600" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9gpGESRFIzMF3DLE58pI2v9I4KcLg2x_4feEFj7cKg0yjcUbaC6u5XzxTMvhXub_thRQ96fpCMa2_Nti0TGVi1SQCTY6vFj82NbMUTxgaKJh2STYIkcf-ehkDm7bX8T00jcQ4KeHHZI/s200/VABluebell.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9gpGESRFIzMF3DLE58pI2v9I4KcLg2x_4feEFj7cKg0yjcUbaC6u5XzxTMvhXub_thRQ96fpCMa2_Nti0TGVi1SQCTY6vFj82NbMUTxgaKJh2STYIkcf-ehkDm7bX8T00jcQ4KeHHZI/s1600/VABluebell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOY_k2Sj04vAcREZe3Pl7-H3MWi-y5shsZL3-rOiJhlvxVlL2-1e7p3jdP6X57DCuSdULTz2kn7d133QHIxeoBGwmHe4mutzFHje983Jjw1w_xZ5WYHpYIGWFcc_JZ3fxuLNONKw68h0/s1600/VABluebells2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNOY_k2Sj04vAcREZe3Pl7-H3MWi-y5shsZL3-rOiJhlvxVlL2-1e7p3jdP6X57DCuSdULTz2kn7d133QHIxeoBGwmHe4mutzFHje983Jjw1w_xZ5WYHpYIGWFcc_JZ3fxuLNONKw68h0/s400/VABluebells2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, this year I returned home from Old Stone Fort State Park and I ordered my own Virginia Bluebells from <a href="https://www.tnnursery.net/virginia-bluebell-for-sale/" target="_blank">Tennessee Nursery</a> in McMinnville, TN. Tonight, I put them in the ground.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If all goes according to plan, next March, I should have some lovely shots of them blooming alongside my grandmother's daffodils.</span></div>
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Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-57222267244198054112018-04-15T21:09:00.000-05:002018-07-20T15:01:17.281-05:00Land Between the Lakes: Pickett LoopWe chose to forego our two favorite trails at LBL, Honker Dam and Hematite Lake, to hike a trail that had been recommended by several. We are definitely creatures of habit. Although this trail is fine, and there ARE a few spots that are really lovely, we continue to prefer our regular LBL hikes.<br />
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I was able to capture a couple birds and some interesting fungi. Just over five miles on a cold, blustery day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Phb8y-fusEizfybCO0dj0MnFW3BNTm0fhYiiqoT3wIL7leu0eZsUQEKrG4be-GHpJ7dgHDALMFMh4vc4bAlk8ZNUPT6D-SJio3HruHzH24R_qaGwH8SWqgNeoDNSqPtFA4CUWHOUcfc/s1600/Bird1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1600" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Phb8y-fusEizfybCO0dj0MnFW3BNTm0fhYiiqoT3wIL7leu0eZsUQEKrG4be-GHpJ7dgHDALMFMh4vc4bAlk8ZNUPT6D-SJio3HruHzH24R_qaGwH8SWqgNeoDNSqPtFA4CUWHOUcfc/s400/Bird1.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-gray gnat-catcher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcO72XJNu0dPEi-0F3lQR7DKjKfRR_DxT-rQXEpJlhi7SBp_aM74dCIT9mEcxQBKctSo2sECSAENBB7mdywYmpUfAH-zVfBn4Oqj6ufhyUjdasBBpAbGH6_swsPavj96jeiwoTq7wCVU/s1600/Bird2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1522" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikcO72XJNu0dPEi-0F3lQR7DKjKfRR_DxT-rQXEpJlhi7SBp_aM74dCIT9mEcxQBKctSo2sECSAENBB7mdywYmpUfAH-zVfBn4Oqj6ufhyUjdasBBpAbGH6_swsPavj96jeiwoTq7wCVU/s320/Bird2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-eyed Vireo</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_vh2ywBj7GpGudu0MIREPn7IxKfXHKwqxZEnSeshA3v33ig9n7LVslQZoeFbcPlINMTCcg1Y0wHhYB65yJqwmlf8w50mK98zPmWfA81vBZsBWHT2cApjx34MdPmNrsHYgkGhs7aXW2E/s1600/Bird3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="795" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_vh2ywBj7GpGudu0MIREPn7IxKfXHKwqxZEnSeshA3v33ig9n7LVslQZoeFbcPlINMTCcg1Y0wHhYB65yJqwmlf8w50mK98zPmWfA81vBZsBWHT2cApjx34MdPmNrsHYgkGhs7aXW2E/s400/Bird3.jpg" title="Red-bellied Woodpecker" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-bellied Woodpecker</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o3rfu64TJp53kQyTQkcxDTKWgoz3h7RBmusMsOyZQCueFID-hRx_aeVEVK0kDRD-_G78lzWAM2uBT9CtUSs7HlxOdsXXWnrytTaCzlbPWNJIkMuUrAxXB_poz5FyVZQzkWHXRFg5jZY/s1600/Bud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o3rfu64TJp53kQyTQkcxDTKWgoz3h7RBmusMsOyZQCueFID-hRx_aeVEVK0kDRD-_G78lzWAM2uBT9CtUSs7HlxOdsXXWnrytTaCzlbPWNJIkMuUrAxXB_poz5FyVZQzkWHXRFg5jZY/s320/Bud.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree Bud</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ajbKvwzglCIgUQhwMRd17KfiFw4ptouZAvs5NJjFINcnSgrU3UC5BhzD-lVYI-gx49pXLZ748PAoxkQfOIRTSPxBNPcVhfsBuArFiFPdoUHK9AkLuPYREhMpxXVFA1suNdC2WErMNBs/s1600/Dogwood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ajbKvwzglCIgUQhwMRd17KfiFw4ptouZAvs5NJjFINcnSgrU3UC5BhzD-lVYI-gx49pXLZ748PAoxkQfOIRTSPxBNPcVhfsBuArFiFPdoUHK9AkLuPYREhMpxXVFA1suNdC2WErMNBs/s400/Dogwood.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">Dogwood</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ6MKe2G_RCBZmzcj5NdPwfQY0QCNNMQ3Kf67vuxW_r-PGo6aRAaTqqyKepBfhq3XjT6QS4jjJ7nDi63Ir5I762KhCNx21r6H2Mjb6QO07Jm49jAT7xOEXw8sPJ5y4f0aEDWfvv-U5RA/s1600/Fungi1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQ6MKe2G_RCBZmzcj5NdPwfQY0QCNNMQ3Kf67vuxW_r-PGo6aRAaTqqyKepBfhq3XjT6QS4jjJ7nDi63Ir5I762KhCNx21r6H2Mjb6QO07Jm49jAT7xOEXw8sPJ5y4f0aEDWfvv-U5RA/s320/Fungi1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devil's Urn</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxLWS4OYEpaSD1syW1W0kftFNCzzLobKD_avu6yeT8bpH1tOQuO576agBMptraOv7_Bfwc2bV6QFFkdBuz1DJFSAVD9ihDvXhh9J2LG8-eDEAJEf88cGYWJiJE4CsgjBuI_9ifEnSofM/s1600/Fungi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1058" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxLWS4OYEpaSD1syW1W0kftFNCzzLobKD_avu6yeT8bpH1tOQuO576agBMptraOv7_Bfwc2bV6QFFkdBuz1DJFSAVD9ihDvXhh9J2LG8-eDEAJEf88cGYWJiJE4CsgjBuI_9ifEnSofM/s320/Fungi2.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Ear</td></tr>
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Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, 238 Visitor Center Dr, Golden Pond, KY 42211, USA36.7777636 -88.06306710000001211.2557291 -129.3716611 62.299798100000004 -46.754473100000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8487694718270416586.post-10854391447942249692018-04-15T20:45:00.000-05:002018-07-20T15:01:48.871-05:00Building a New TrailI have always wanted to create a space to share words, images, and thoughts with friends and family. For the last several years, Facebook has filled that void, affording me a space to create near weekly albums of photographs from our hiking adventures, as well as observations about life, family, and home.<br />
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Because of recent events with Facebook, I have decided to begin a blog. I make no promises regarding regularity as life often intervenes when I get too ambitious. I'll simply promise to continue to share our adventures, and I hope you will continue to follow along as you have on Facebook and Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/hikinglibrarian/" target="_blank">@hikinglibrarian</a>). Here goes!Mona Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146563600735040624noreply@blogger.com0