Funny sentences I have read lately

"Note that exploding head syndrome is not an example of spontaneous human combustion, nor does it involve the head actually exploding."
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I've been busy getting ready for the first spring craft show (Cottontails), so haven't been out and about much. But I can't believe I forgot to post these pictures from a couple of weeks ago:

You may have to enlarge the picture to see it, but this is actual snow.

It only stuck this much, though.

People in the north probably have no conception of this, but around here, whenever snow is mentioned, you have to also discuss whether or not it will stick. (It usually doesn't.)
In other terribly exciting weather news, it has been raining.

Recent view...

which is better than this...

but still not back to this... which is what we used to call "normal".
We didn't have nearly the number of winter Hooded Merganser visitors that we are used to. But lately there have been quite a few Wood Ducks hanging around. (They're extremely camera-shy though.)

I'm A Violet

THIS IS WHAT KIND OF FLOWER YOU ARE

You Are a Violet

"You have a shy personality. You tend to hesitate before trying new things or meeting new people. But once people get to know you, you open up and show the world what you are really all about." Look in the side bar to take the quiz and find out what kind of flower you are. I know you've always wondered!

The Toad, the Damselfly and the Owl

We were out walking with Harry when he gave a yell and crouched down, telling me excitedly about a baby toad he had spotted.. I could see nothing, but took his word (and better eyesight) for it. I pointed the camera and took half a dozen photos of what looked like grass and ivy...but he was right, there was a beautiful little toad hidden deep in the grass.

A Tiny Toad

Well done Harry!

Damselfly

I spotted the blue flash of a damselfly and ...

was delighted to find I had captured this photograph of a little beauty.

We were just turning for home when we spotted a large bird flying around the meadow...I couldn't make out what it was, but I could guess... point, click, hope for the best...

Barn Owl

Apologies for the poor quality, but there it is, a barn owl. Daylight hunting to feed her young. She was a very long way off, so I was thrilled to get this photo of her.
Now that is what I call a wonderful country walk.

Cabin Creek ..

Jennifer woke up with a sore throat so we cancelled our plan to ski at Lake Wenatchee and camp in Leavenworth. She was still interested in doing something so we went to Cabin Creek once again. We have found it smart that if you are not going to get there first thing in the morning that it is a good idea to wait until Noon to get there. That way the morning people are leaving and there are less people out on the trails. We also managed to get the best weather (no rain) that we have had at Cabin Creek all year. We did one loop and called it a day so Jennifer wouldn't get too run down. The groom was a bit tracked out but the snow was soft and forgiving. I fell once going uphill when I didn't spread my skis enough. Other than that it was a good time.
Not quite blue skies, but no precip

Little Wild Horse Canyon

For the majority of our honeymoon Jessica and I explored the canyonlands of southern Utah for a couple of weeks. We had beautiful weather for the majority of the trip and did 16 hikes that added up to a total distance of 64 miles. We wanted to stay away from the large crowds that often plague national parks of the southwest, so we focused primarily on exploring and hiking within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. This monument is administerednot by the NPS (National Park Service)but by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management). The monument consists mostly of dirt backroads leading to trailheads with trails that have little to no maintenance but lead to some incredible canyons. Most, but not all, of our hikes were within this monument.

Our first canyon hike was in Little Wild Horse Canyon, not far from Goblin Valley State Park. We left our motel in Green River early in the morning hoping to be the first ones at the trailhead. Our plan worked as we were the only vehicle in sight when we arrived at the start of the trail. The trail was beautiful right from the beginning as it headed up the wash. Before long we were in the canyon, but it was quite wide at that point. Not long after hiking up and around a dry fall, we were in the canyon narrows. This is where it got really interesting. The canyon had several nice sections of narrows and in the narrowest section we had to turn sideways in order to make it through. Eventually we came to a few boulders wedged in the canyon that put a stop to our forward progress. At this point we turned around and returned to the trailhead via the same route we came in on. It was a wonderful start to our canyon adventure!

St Andrews jewels

It's raining stair rods again today (after 2 dry days!) but I thought we'd all had enough of rainy photos. So from a recent dry day my daughter and I spent in St Andrews - although such are the micro climates of Scotland that it was raining in Edinburgh - here's some colour and summer fun.

St Andrews is like a jewel box: there are small delights to be uncovered at every turn. They don't hit you in the face as Edinburgh's do. This is rather restful when you're used to things like a whopping big castle on a rock. Above, a display of traditional seaside accoutrements outside an ironmongers shop. There must be slim profits this summer for makers and sellers of shrimp nets and whirly windmills to stick onto sandcastle turrets.

Below, a little gem of a window.





Of course I had to get closer to see what the little models were. Perhaps a leftover from the Jubilee celebrations?





And even closer, to see Mrs Queen. By this time the sound of daughterly eye-rolling behind me was deafening...

Logs to Burn!

Logs to BurnLogs to burn. Logs to burnLogs to save the coal a turnHere's a word to make you wiseWhen you hear the woodman's cries.
Never heed his usual taleThat he has splendid logs for saleBut read these lines and surely learnThe proper kind of logs to burn.
Oak Logs will warm you wellif they are old and dryLarch logs of pinewood smellBut the sparks will fly.
Beech logs for Christmas timeYew logs will heat you well'Scotch' logs it is a crimefor anyone to sell.
Birch logs will burn too fastChestnut scarce at allHawthorn logs are good to lastif you cut them in the fall.
Holly logs will burn like waxYou should burn them greeElm logs like smouldering flaxWith no flame to be seen.
Pear logs and apple logsThey will scent your roomCherry logs across the dogssmell like flowers in bloom.
But ash logs all smooth and greyburn them green or oldBuy all that come your wayThey're worth their weight in gold.
Another one:
Oak logs will warm you well

That are old and dry

Logs of pine will sweetly smell

But the sparks will fly.Birch logs will burn too fast

Chestnut scarce at all;

Hawthorn logs are good to last

Cut them in the fall.Holly logs will burn like wax,

You may burn them green;

Elm logs like smoldering flax

No flame to be seen.

Beech logs for winter time

Yew logs as well

Green Elder logs it is a crime

For any man to sell.Pear logs and apple logs

They will scent your room,

Cherry logs across the dogs

Smells like flower of broom.Ash logs smooth and grey,

Burn them green or old,

Buy up all that come your way –

Worth their weight in gold.
There are lots of these poems - interestingly, they seem to have blended, with whole verses transposed from one version to another.
Logs to burn, logs to burn,
Logs to save the coal a turn,
Here's a word to make you wise,
When you hear the woodsman cry.

Beechwood fires burn bright and clear,Hornbeam blazes too,If the logs are kept a year,to season through and through.
Oaken logs will warm you well,if they're old and dry,Larch logs of pinewood smell but the sparks will fly.

Pine is good and so is Yew for warmth through wintry days,
The Poplar and the Willow too, they take too long to blaze.

Birch logs will burn too fast, Alder scarce at all,
Chestnut logs are good to last, cut them in the fall.

Holly logs will burn like wax, you should burn them green,
Elm logs like smouldering flax, no flames with them are seen.

Pear logs and Apple logs, they will scent your room,
Cherry logs, across the dogs, they smell like flowers in bloom.

Ash logs, so smooth and gray, burn them green or old,
Buy up all that come your way they're worth their weight in gold.
This is a version which I posted in January last year...
Beechwood flames are bright and clear

if the logs be kept a year

Oaken logs burn steadily

If the wood be old and dry

Chestnut's only good they say

If long dry years it's laid away

But Ash when new or Ash when old

Is fit for a queen with a crown of gold.

by Dorothy Tilson

Birch and Fir they burn too fast

Blaze too bright and will not last

Build a fire of elder tree

Death within your house you'll see.

If you would bake the sweetest bread

Use Hawthorn, or so 'tis said

But Ash when green or Ash when brown

Will please a queen with a golden crown



Elm will burn like churchyard mould

Even the very flames are cold

Poplar gives a bitter smoke

Burns your eyes and makes you choke

Apple wood will scent your room

Pear wood smells of flowers in bloom.

But Ash when wet or Ash when dry

A queen may warm her slippers by.
Each version has something to offer. I must conduct an experiment next autumn...cut some Hawthorn (second poem) then, when it has seasoned, use it to fire-up the Rayburn when I am baking bread (final poem) ... It is cold and snowy outside - another day for sitting next to the fire and dipping into old books - life is tough!

Relaxing singletrack ride

Wind was starting to kick up this morning. Decided to take a relaxing dirt ride at Manawa. Met Ryon and his sons, asked me about the Manawa trail. Gave them a tour of some of the trails - Both Sidewinders and Wood Chopper. After that, I headed out for my normal route. Construction equipment were removed what I was riding there.
Talked with one of the workers. One area of the trail is soft/muddy from the construction. They will be back in 2 weeks for more work. In the mean time, ride around the taped off area.
After my ride, I headed to the UP Museum to check out the Photo Contest. I don't know how to figure out what they want. True, art is subjective. but I don't know why some of the winners even placed! Some sure don't seen to depict their subject matter. Others look like they were categorized wrong. There were several much better photos ( in my opinion) than the "Best in Show".
I will have to take a hard look whether I want to enter next year.

My House

Yeah!  I uploaded photos from my digital camera onto my computer and posted one of them here to my blog.  Who knew it would be so easy?  Not me! Now I'll be able to take photos of my house, gardens, and lands and show ya'll where I live.
These walls are on the landing going up the stairs.  The wall with the window is my landscape wall.  The other one has our family portraits and some miscellaneous personal things such as handprints cast in plaster and my Daddy's reading certificate from grammar school.  
The window is a old leaded glass antique one I found in Savannah.  I don't know where it came from originally.  I really wanted a gothic window there, but my contractor said there wasn't room.  I still think there was enough height for a small one.  I love gothic architecture.  
My style of  house is a Carpenter Gothic from the 1830's.  I want to add more 'gingerbread' to the outside soon.  I was afraid to add too much lest it be too decorative, but I've decided that there's not enough.  I'll take a picture outside tomorrow and show you what I mean.  Until then....
 

Our Best Day in Pensacola

Tuesday, September 11
High Temp: 84F (29C); low humidity

Without a doubt this was our best day in Pensacola. Not just because the weather was simply gorgeous, but also because of the treats we had in store for us. In yesterday’s post, I mentioned that we had two special events that we were looking forward to. Well, it turns out that our afternoon outing made for a perfect trifecta.

An afternoon outing to Fort Pickens (Tent/camera markers) makes for a perfect trifecta.
The fork & knife marker shows the location of McGuire’s Irish Pub, where we had lunch.

We woke up to another beautiful, low-humidity day. I don’t know how we got so lucky with the weather, but we’re not questioning it … just enjoying it while it lasts. The early morning temp was warmer than yesterday; no need for sweaters for our on-the-balcony breakfast. An added advantage to the cooler temps has been that the A/C that was working constantly below us has stopped droning on and we can actually hear the birds chirping in the treeline.

Around 7:30a, we headed off for a walk on the beach. Again, the biting black flies were non-existent. Perhaps the sudden cooling of the temps has something to do with their disappearance. As long as they’re not pestering us, that’s what matters :-)

Another gorgeous day on the beach!

After Mui took a quick dip in the ocean, we didn’t return to the room as usual. Instead, we headed to the deck of the Chiefs’ Club a little further down the beach for our first treat of the day — the weekly practice session of the Navy’s elite flight demonstration squadron — the Blue Angels. The schedule said the show would start at 8:30a, but it was shortly after 9:00a that we heard the unmistakable rumble of the jets taking off from the runway. No problem, we managed to entertain ourselves while we waited.

The Chiefs sure know how to treat themselves right!

Mui’s got his camera set up; let’s get the show rolling.

We’d been told we could watch the show from the beach, but that the best views would be from the lighthouse or the bleachers at the museum. Since I didn’t have proper footwear to climb the lighthouse, that was out. We didn’t want to give up our beach time on this short trip, so we nixed going to the bleachers. Besides, we didn’t have the proper camera equipment with us anyway. We got an eyeful during the flyovers, but missed out on the low-flying aerobatics this time. Next time, it will be a different story.

(In addition to the photos I took — which aren’t half bad considering they were taken with a P&S that has a shutter lag and I had to crop them a bit — I’m posting a short video that Mui took with his P&S camera.)

Formed in 1946, today’s Blue Angels fly the F/A-18 Hornets.

The planes started out with four of them flying the diamond formation and two of them flying solo. At one point, one of the solos came out of nowhere, flying upside down and buzzing us so close I felt like I could reach out and touch the plane. I swear the pilot was laughing at how he managed to startle us :-) Eventually all six of the aircraft joined up for the finale, which was quite a sight to see as they flew by the lighthouse.

This is the Blue Angel that scared the you-know-what out of us when it flew
low over our position on the beach.

Folks, don’t try the diamond formation maneuver at home!
It sure looks like they’re flying within inches of each other.

The people watching from the lighthouse get a thrill.

The Solos join the Diamond Formation to perform maneuvers in the Delta Formation.

A 1½-minute video of the Blue Angels’ 45-minute practice session.

It was especially moving to watch the Blue Angels on this date — September 11; a day that we shall not forget. If there were other remembrance ceremonies elsewhere on base, we did not hear about them, but someone did say there was a moment of silence before the F/A 18s took off from the runway this morning.

We returned to our room around 10:30a and relaxed on the balcony until it was time to drive downtown to meet up at noon with Chuck and Anneke (Goldenshoe RV Trip) at McGuire’s Irish Pub on Gregory Street.

No imbibery or debauchery, but we feasted well today.

We arrived a few minutes early and were seated in a booth not far from the on-premise brewery. Although we left our name with the hostess, Chuck and Anneke were seated elsewhere when they arrived. We had Chuck’s cell phone, though, and after a quick call, they were led back to our booth. As other bloggers and RVers will all attest, there was no awkward getting to know you time. The conversation and camaraderie was instantaneous, and the laughter was spontaneous — the food was really good, too.

And yes, Paul and Marti; if your ears were ringing … your names did come up once or twice :-)

Collage from the McGuire’s menu explains the genesis of the 18¢ Senate Bean Soup and
the story of the dollar bills that cover the ceilings of the various rooms at McGuire’s.

We ordered a round of McGuire’s exceptionally good Senate Bean Soup — at 18¢ a cup, a bargain that can’t be had anywhere else, including in the US Senate dining room. The “naked” fish and chips that Mui and I opted for as our entrées was not only very tasty, but since the fish was chargrilled instead of battered and deep-fried, it was also better for us … just overlook the fact that the “chips” were fried and simply too good to be left on the plate; as was the homemade slaw :-)

Nothing like being seated under a million dollars in $1 bills!

If the smiles are anything to go by, we all enjoyed this get together.

Thanks to Chuck and Anneke’s recommendation, we now have another favorite restaurant in Pensacola. We will return — if for no other reason than to have some of McGuire’s “lucky chocolate brownie a la mode.” The story goes that it is baked daily based on the recipe of their former kitchen manager, who won $3.5 million in the Florida lottery in 1991. Perhaps a little bit of her luck will rub off on us :-)

When we drove out to Pensacola Beach on Saturday, the road to Fort Pickens was closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac. After Gail (of Gypsy Turtles fame) left a comment about how much they enjoyed their stay there, I checked the National Park Service website for more info. Lo and behold, the road was due to open today! Well, that clinched it for our afternoon plans. Crossing first the Pensacola Bay Bridge to Gulf Breeze, and then paying the $1 toll on the Bob Sikes Bridge (aka Pensacola Beach Bridge), we crossed over to Santa Rosa and headed to the western tip of the island.

Fort Pickens is not only the largest of the four forts built to defend Pensacola Bay in the 1830s, but it has a great campground that can accommodate big rigs. Since the ranger-led tour of the fort was already well underway when we arrived at the gate, we opted to check out the campground first.

Map of the Fort Pickens area shows the layout of the batteries and the campground.
[courtesy of the NPS website]

Picking up a map — and more importantly, a listing showing the length of each site — we headed off to the campground to figure out which of the sites would work best for us. We found plenty. We hope to return to the area early next year, either before or after our appointment at the Tiffin factory in Red Bay, Alabama.

From the campground, we drove over to the fort. The extensive grounds begged for a ranger-led tour to really understand what we were seeing. We will need things to do when we return anyway, so we didn’t dally long this time — at least not around the fortifications; the beach is a different story.

Batteries Cullum and Sevier date back to the late 1890s.

Glimpse of the ramparts of Fort Pickens.

Battery Langdon was Fort Pickett’s most powerful gun emplacement; it dates back to 1923.

Parking the car at Battery Langdon, we could not resist walking across the street to the beach. Oh wow! Simply spectacular. Now there’s no doubt we’ll be coming back. It might be a little too chilly to swim in January or February, but I can see long, long beach walks in our future.

How can Two to Travel resist a photo op on this gorgeous beach? They can’t!

Reminded of the beaches of Cancun, Mexico, Mui simply could not resist a dip in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. That he didn’t have swimwear with him was not a deterrent; his quick-dry trekking shorts served nicely as swim trunks. As for me; well I just played in the shallows. You don't believe me ... just check out the video that follows the still shots.

Those trekking shorts sure make nice swim trunks.

Yes, that’s Mui out there on the sandbar.
Having swum out there, he’s decided to go for a walk in the waves …

… while I make do with a walk in the waves coming ashore.
yes, I got a bit wet; but it was so much fun.

A 59-second video shows I have a playful side to my nature!

Regretfully, our play-time on the beach had to come to an end. On the return drive, spying a Hershey shop at the fishing pier on Pensacola Beach, we stopped for a sweet treat before finally heading back to the lodge. We would have walked out to the end of the pier, but there was a $1.25/person fee to just walk on. These fees have never made sense to me, so I refuse to pay up.

We enjoy our ice cream in view of Pensacola Beach.

Back in our room, we had dinner on the balcony again. On the menu was another frozen entrée — golden crusted whitefish with steamed green beans and brown rice in a cheesy Chardonnay sauce. I wouldn’t buy these frozen dinners to eat at home, but they served nicely for our self-catered meals here at the lodge.

All set to have another al fresco dinner on our balcony.

What we’re eating isn’t nearly as important as where we’re eating it :-)

This time Mother Nature cooperated with my plans for taking sunset photos. While Mui did the dishes (thank you, Mui), I ran down to the beach to catch the glorious colors that filled the sky and painted the sand along the shoreline.

At 7:04p ...

... At 7:07p ...

… and the grand finale at 7:09p.

On my way back to the room, I finally got my chance to photograph a ghost crab. It was well camouflaged until I almost stepped on it and sent it scurrying across the access path. The poor thing wasn’t near a burrow, so it went dead-still … probably thinking I wouldn’t see it if it wasn’t moving. Well, I probably would have missed it entirely except for the little flashlight I had with me; it provided just enough light for me to capture a photo.

The name "ghost crab" derives from the Crab’s nocturnality and its pale coloration.

What a great last day of fun in the sun this was. We’ll have some free time tomorrow, but our priority will be getting our driver’s licenses and officially becoming Florida residents.