Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas 2014

A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree on Lake Jocassee
         

          May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I am looking forward to a wonderful 2015.  I wonder what will be around the next bend in the trail and at the narrow end of the next cove I nudge my canoe into!


          Turtle



         

Saturday, September 20, 2014

A Mountain Top Experience! August 29,2014

Wyatt, not real sure what's going on!

          We arrived at the top of Sassafras Mountain with me just a fussin' and actin' annoyed because I had read in the paper that the trees had been cut off the top of the mountain! You know that a tower is going to be built up there and I and all other types of people will be able to walk the steps and have a 360 degree view from this tower. I had already, a few weeks earlier spit out my window and threw up my hands in disgust when I was driving up a paved road instead of the dirt gravel road which has been there for years. [  make sure window is down before spitting to the left  ] The Foothills Trail pushes over Sassafras and is open to all who care to hike to the top! If you want to see a view, put on a pair of sturdy shoes, throw a water bottle in a daypack and start walking!

          No other cars were parked in the lot, just Wyatt and I checking out the damage. Wyatt is my grandson, he refuses to walk, almost 15 months old at this time and he is almost untoteable. [  spellcheck says that is not a word, but it is now!  ]  I unbuckle him - all child seats are training straps for future astronauts - lift him out of the car and tote him to the Mt. top! Yep, the trees are cut! I stand next to that rock and look around all around and say to myself, but not out loud, "that sure is some view" "never seen it look that way with the trees all growed up" "if they was to build a small tower, I bet a man could really see a long ways away" "sometimes a man has to admit he could be wrong 'bout towers and such" "as a man's hair turns gray, he is smart if he admits he's  been wrong bout lots of things, unless he's a stubborn fool!"  So, OK, build the tower! on the first clear cold full moon night, I,ll drive to the mountain top and walk up the steps with my grandson and we will marvel in God's wonderous creation! Then we will go again when the moon is dark and stand in awe gazing at the millions of stars nodding and winking at us.

       
Just a quick look see !

Whats left of a good tree.

View goes forever!

          For those of you live in the Upstate of SC, when you come to Sassafras the cooler the weather the less haze to block your view. I will try to keep up with the progress of this tower and post my findings.

       
Hatchling
          A baby turtle is called a hatchling. I go by Turtle on my blog and Wyatt is my small outdoorsman in training, so for the time being I hereby tap him on each shoulder with a dead pine branch and call him Hatchling!



          In the woods or on the water,



          Turtle and Hatchling



          May Gracie rest in peace.
       

























       
         

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

GRACIE MAY 27, 2000 --- JULY 09, 2014

Gracie - Friend

          I had an early morning appointment with the local Vet to have Gracie put to sleep. I had to carry her to my small SUV and gently laid her in the back and then arrange her legs so she looked comfortable to me before we made the ten minute trip down the road. We arrived at 7:40 am and I carried Gracie into the waiting room. They were waiting for me and quickly lead us to a room where I carefully laid Gracie on a cloth covered table. The vet and his helper came in and explained what was going to happen. I could not respond so I just put my finger up to my lips and did the hush sound, he understood and they left to get the stuff. They returned and gave the first injection which made her very sleepy and comfortable so the second injection would not be painful. Once again they left the room and I was able to rest my forehead on her forehead while I continued to rub her ears and I could feel her relax as the pain and tension went away. At that point her heart was still beating but she was gone. The vet returned with his helper and told me I was welcome to stay or some people chose to leave, I stayed and petted and loved my girl one last time as she slipped away out of this life. The kind gentle vet said stay as long as you like and he and his helper left us alone. I petted that fur which I had watched turn from the yellow of a young Yellow Lab to the white of an old fourteen year old Yellow Lab and then I kissed the white muzzle and hugged my friend before walking out of the room.

          I'll retrieve her ashes in a few days and I plan to scatter them a few at a time at our familiar camping spots along the Foothills Trail and the shore of Lake Jocassee.




          Goodbye Gracie - You are still loved!



          Turtle