Hikes, bikes, and flower gardens

Camille on the Hideout Hollow Trail near the Buffalo River

Jack and I are planning an early spring hike to McFerrin Point near Compton, on Saturday. It is our favorite, and one we always do in the spring when the turkeys are gobbling. We have hiked this trail in snow too. The view is always breath taking! If the weather is clear, you can see down into the fields along the river. If there is fog hanging in the valley, the scene with the sun coming up is spectacular.

Since Hideout Hollow is near by, we usually do that one too. The falls there should be flowing. These are two hikes we recommend to our guests. They are not too extreme for inexperienced hikers, but full of photo opportunities. Check in next week for a report on our excursions.

A bike trip is also in the plans. My friend, Darlene, convinced me to get a bike last year so we could ride the valleys (not the mountains!). I lucked out when I found a good bike--one with all the gears-- at a sidewalk sale at Walmart with a price tag of $11. I have certainly gotten my money's worth from that bike, even though I really can't get the hang of all those gears!

On our trip to Little Rock last week, I purchased an old, fat-tire bike--the kind I remember riding as a child--at a pawn shop in Perryville. I had planned to use it as "yard art" (something my city-dwelling son can't understand! ) It has a large basket for pots of flowers, and other neat features. However, the more I look at it, the more I am thinking I might ride it. The man who sold it to me said, "all it needs is new tires" (paint job not withstanding!) If you are driving through Boxley Valley, or along Highway 103 and see a vintage bike (I won't admit to 'vintage" rider). Just give a "HONK" and I will wave and move over!

More outdoor activities are coming up. The days of watching a dormant flower bed from the window and feeling smug that I don't have any yardwork to do is over. Little green shoots are making their way up through that new layer of mulch. Many are weeds, or "extras" and must be dealt with. Every year I am amazed at the number of plants that propogate by seed or roots and come back to the point of making themselves a nusiance. But, I still say "there is no such thing as too many flowers".

Jack helped me clean out the water garden near the steps. I am always a little leary of that job, since I never know for sure what may be lurking under those water soaked leaves and rocks. This year it was only an unlucky frog who probably thought he had found a great new place to spend the winter. Soon I will have the fountain bubbling and little fish swimming happily in their new home.

Wow! Thinking about all these activities makes me tired! But, ready to get out of doors and do something!

This is the day that the Lord has made,

we will rejoice and be glad.

Psalm 118:24

A Day In the Mountains Is Like...

Curious Bluebird

The outdoors was calling---wind, the dogs, the birds, the warm temperatures all seemed to beckon me. There were patches of blue sky showing between puffy, billowing clouds--a sign rain may be moving in tonight. I was reading through a mind-boggling book on how to increase web traffic in one weekend. I am now into my second week and reading! I think I will pull Maags into this. HTML is to much for my mind to sort out!! Besides, my little bluebird friend is waiting at the window.

The curious little female bluebird has been a constant visitor at our windows for at least 3 weeks. We have given up trying to reason with her. No, little bird, you cannot make your nest in our house this year! Last year she took up housekeeping in a box beside the door. It was a birdhouse meant to be just a part of my outdoor decorations. She had other ideas and persuaded her beloved to join her in making her home as close to humans as possible. We startled her quite a few times when we opened the door just a few feet away from the nest. Nevertheless, despite dogs, humans, slamming doors, and other bothersome things that would have run most birds away, the bluebird couple managed to raise a couple of fine little ones.

We never knew exactly when the babies left the nest. We heard little chirps coming from the box when we walked by for a week or two. Then, one day while we weren't at home, our bluebird guests moved out. We think we saw the babies several times in nearby trees, flitting and fluttering, trying out their new wings. It is always interesting to see mom and dad devotedly bringing the independent little things their bug-meals just as they did when they were babes in the nest. We never stop being parents!

Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone.

The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come,

And the singing of doves fills the air.

Song of Solomon

A Time for Everything

We are so ready for Spring!! The picture above was taken by Ed last weekend when we had one of our biggest snows of the winter--7 inches! The snow soon melted, and patches of green are showing up everywhere. That is good for our wildlife, who have had a hard time this winter. The deer herd, which was numbering 20 or so last week, has dwindled to a few stragglers who are probably waiting around to see what we plant in the garden. We are discussing what we will have to do to save the garden (and flowers) this year. It is one thing to throw out a little corn for desperate wildlife in the winter, but quite another to offer them an "all you can eat" buffet all summer!

Bluebirds!! Everywhere I look, as walk around our 65 acres, I see bluebirds flitting around our bluebird boxes. We cleaned them out a week ago, and bluebird couples are already moving in. We have one bluebird female who flies up to the window on the porch, attaches herself to the screen, and looks in as if to say she really would like to make her nest in the living room. Maybe she sees the many bird figures and nests I have on display, and thinks she would like to join them!

Jack spotted the first martin scout on a unexpectedly warm day just before the snow hit last week. We quickly got the martin box up. Minutes later the sparrows were checking it out! We have discovered martins will usually run them away when the time comes to move in.

We are planning a wonderful week with cabin guests coming for Spring Break. Besides minding the cabins, we are planning a few hikes to see waterfalls and early spring flora-- maybe even look for morels; do a little garden prep, including planting potatoes--old timers up here say plant potatoes on St. Patrick's Day. And, of course, we will slip in a visit with the grandson and family on Easter.

Remember--There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecles. 3:1

Happy Spring!!