Hocking Hills Anniversary!

This November, Huz and I set aside time to go to Poland, where he had been asked to do some teaching. Optimism led me to be excited about the trip, and start some research, but as I continued to plan it became clear that the Continuing Ed seminar was not going to happen and Poland was off. Unless we just went to Poland. In November? Hmmm. The distance of Poland from the Equator is roughly the same distance as Miami to Greenland. Not. Warm.
But, I did want to go away together. So, I decided to go for something closer, and plan it around our 19th Anniversary.
Just when I thought I'd have to recruit Eldest to fly back to the Cowfeathers nest to be the AOR and referee, my parents graciously accepted the invitation to be the AORs. (Adults of Record).
So, off we went to a two night stay in our sweet little camper in the Hocking Hills. Now, when I thought of staying in the camper for a little mini-vaca, I didn't think it would be difficult to find a place to park the camper. Who vacations in Ohio in October? Apparently, lots of people. So, a few weeks before the trip I was scrambling to find a camper spot. I found one in a private campground in Vinton Co. about 15 miles from the Hocking Hills State Park. I also didn't think a dinner reservation would be tough, but two weeks before the trip got the last reservation at the Inn at Cedar Falls. Lesson learned- plan ahead!
I realized after arrival why everyone vacations there in October. It was Gorgeous. The leaves were all turning, and it was cool. Great hiking weather, and amazingly beautiful sights around every corner. I don't know why I was surprised. We have hauled the horses down to ride in the HH for years, and I am always enveloped by the beauty of the area. I must've given too much credit to the horses for my enjoyment. It was amazing on foot as well. Although, my parents were right to wonder why a woman still limping from an injury last spring would choose a hiking vacation. I've got no answer, except maybe climbing a few miles everyday might help?

 This is the sunrise view from the bed in our camper. Unfortunately, it was too cold and damp to leave the sides down and enjoy the view most of the time. But when it was nice, it was very, very nice.

 This was a church near Hue, Ohio. We were sent past this church in our pursuit of a letterbox. It was such a sensational morning, and the church reminded me of the Congregational Church in Redding Ct. The folks that settled the now dwindled town of Hue are buried here. Mostly the Steele family. We have friends here in our own little now-dwindled town that are also Steeles. Probably all tied together somehow!

 The sun makes it over the hills in Cedar Falls.

 And down in front of Cedar Falls itself.

 I took a lot of pictures (nothing new there) but I decided since it was an Anniversary trip, I should work on being in some of them with Huz. So, I took the time to find spots to set the camera and get the self- timer working.

Still, Huz is the featured human in most shots. This is us on our way in to Ash Cave early on Saturday morning. We hit the trails early in order to try to avoid as much of the expected rain as possible. Upon arriving in the cave, we found a large group of folks already there. It turned out to be a wedding (which explained the "Julie and Adam" signs in the parking area). Ash cave is enormous, but the acoustics are dandy. So, I was able to eavesdrop on much of their vows and ceremony.

 Julie and Adam and wedding party with guests marry in Ash Cave. You can see the small trickle of water coming over the edge.

When you get up above the cave, this is the little creek that drains over the edge. Doesn't look very far, does it?




And, I couldn't resist the nature photos. I am always fascinated by what is just right there, in color and texture, and life.

 

 

 

 At Cantwell Cliffs. It was raining lightly for our whole hike here, and the moss covered rocks were a tad slippery. So, we stayed away from cliff edges. Not everyone does. in 2013, four people have fallen off cliffs in the park. One of them did not die in the fall, I'm not sure if she's still alive. But there are no protective barriers or anything. If you want to wander off the edge, you can. I like that. And, have no desire to get close enough to fall.

 Our last hike of the afternoon was out to Rockbridge. It was pouring rain when we arrived, so we sat in the truck and ate lunch, watching drenched hikers return to their cars. We eventually pulled on plastic ponchos and set out in the rain. It was a beautiful and solitary hike. When you get there, it is a surprise. And you can walk out across the bridge- I stayed well away from the edges!

 Such vibrant, true colors. Deep greens and intense reds, and the beautiful shades of brown and gray.

 This is called "Fat Woman's Squeeze". For real. It is a stair between enormous boulders at Cantwell Cliffs. FYI, you'd still have to be pretty fat to not squeeze through. But, unlike the Circleville Pumpkin show, very few folks hiking around the hills were obese.

I grew up in the woods. But, I live in the open farmlands. I miss the smells of the woods, and the leaves, and the pines.  I feel soothed by the sounds of the creeks, the coolness in the summer of the deep woods and the deep quiet in the snowy winter. It was in a way, like visiting my childhood.

 

It was a lovely trip, and certainly we celebrate our 19 years of marriage!

 

Media Man.

For a few years I have had periodic problems with inexplicable exhaustion. This, when I'm awake, is frustrating for me, as my personality is not one that has a tendency towards sitting, let alone napping. So, last week, when Youngest hesitantly asked if I would sign his permission form to try out for the "Media Club", I wisely asked why he needed permission. The permission is required because the parent needs to know the media club meets before the sun has a thought of popping over the horizon, and they meet at school, and someone has to deliver the child at that hour. As I mentally calculated the time I would need to get into bed in order to safely drive at that time of the morning, he kept looking at me, his face screwed up apologetically, skewering me with the guilt of inadequate parenting. I asked to see the application crumpled in his hand. As I read the typed questions and his written answers, my heart kept swelling.  The question: "What position do you wish to hold in the Media Club?" he had answered "Nwsr eProters" Which I translated to News Reporter. The next question asked him to give his strengths and weaknesses as it relates to the job.
He had written " PubclisPkaK ing is a strentghs." Very clearly under that was neatly written;
                         "Spelling is a weakness."
How could I say "No" because of my own weakness? My sweet, smart, engaging boy knows himself, and he wants to do this. He doesn't ask to play baseball, or football. He gets REALLY excited about working at the concession stand serving 1350 people hotdogs and Mountain Dew. And, all he's asking is for me to get him to school a few hours earlier than my "functional" period so he can write news reports and tape them for the lunchtime newscast.
I tell him "Of course I'll sign the permission. And, I'm proud of you for going for this! Would you like some help with the spelling?" He tells me he can ask his English teacher for help, he has already asked for references from three adults, and the club meetings start next week.
I then try to figure out if I can actually get to bed that early.

Youngest giving a talk about "The History of Letterboxing" at the County Public Speaking Contest last spring. He's a firecracker at this, funny, comfortable, and easy in front of the crowd.



This morning I saw the sunrise. After delivering the kids to school. After making tea and ordering a few necessities from Amazon. I got to do my yoga sun salutes to the actual rising sun, as it sent prisms of light through the chandelier and over the walls and ceiling. I got to take the horses out to the front pasture with the mist of the morning still on the ground. And fix the middle pasture fence, and fill the front water trough. Clean a bathroom, wash some windows, launder the dog beds and eat eggs with red peppers from the garden (accompanied by some mashed purple taters dug up and roasted by Huz for dinner last night). Four cups of tea later, I'm ready to start my day. Thank You, Youngest- it has already been productive. My doctor thinks my exhaustion is explicable because I live on "Go". I remain unconvinced that my battery has just run down. In any case, I've created a life that doesn't allow for much in the way of "chilling". I will continue to try to figure out the solution to my "Stop". For today,  I may be snoring and drooling on the floor by noon, but I got to see the sunrise, the morning mist and prisms of light. Fair trade.

Sending out "The Cowfeathers Signal".

My version of "The Bat Signal".

Calling my family back to Cowfeathers.

Sunrise and the Joy of Friendship.

 

We here at Cowfeathers have not been idle since my last blog entry. No, rarely idle. We have seen the sun rise...

 

 

 

 Collected the "I Scream You Scream We ALL Scream for Ebstein's" team for the Congenital Heart Disease Walk, raised money, walked (me-limped) 5K....

Eldest's Team: Dad, Youngest, Duty, Eldest, Cassady, Middlest, Nisha and the photog....

 all on Eldest's TEAM. (She has Ebstein's Anomaly, a congenital heart disease) I did spot a small child on the walk, with blue tinged lips, smaller than she should be, drawn in the face, and asked her mom if she had Ebstein's. She does, more severe than my own eldest baby, but I was able to point out my tall, healthy, beautiful 18 year old daughter and give that mother hope.

 A tad wet, but a beautiful fall day with my family. The red leis are because we are walking in honor of someone still alive. The groups with the white leis walked in memory of a child, and I cried a lot.
One mother was there, walking with her friends, in honor of the daughter she lost at 6 weeks to a hypoplastic right ventricle. But for the grace of God there go I.

 We weren't a speedy team, but we kept each other company!

 

And, I gotta say, Eldest has friends that are good sports, know how to have fun, and will line dance. Even if they are the only ones out of the thousand present.

 

 

 

 

 We watched the sun rise on the way to Middlest's Pony Club D3 rating,

 

 That's her and Nelle in the center of the photo, having had formal inspection and answering questions for the Examiner.

 Then watched the sky turn gray, and the rain come and go, and come and go.....

 But Nelle and Middlest didn't melt, and did perform...

 On the flat and over fences at beautiful Redtail Ridge Farm.

Where I spotted this chipper Amanita 'shroom in the grass,

 
 
 
 
 
realized how very much I want to dig a pond,

 and got to congratulate Middlest on being awarded her D3 Rating and Certificate for the United States Pony Club! Along with Ry and Val, the trio worked hard all day showing off their riding skills and horse knowledge. Quick- name 6 horse breeds, 5 draft breeds and 4 pony breeds. Got it? Okay, well, how about 6 rules of feeding, or the most efficient way to cool out a horse? Can you apply a polo wrap- to USPC standard? Identify conformation faults of the head, neck, back and rump? I tell ya, poor Middlest had conducted the band at the high school football game the night before, managed about 5 hours of sleep and then worked her tail off to earn her D3. She is starting to understand the old analogy "burning your candle at both ends"!


And, even with all this wonder and amazing achievement in our little family and our little farm, perhaps the special moment for me came earlier in the week, with a visit from an oldest and dearest.

This photo was taken, circa 1986. Home for Christmas from college, my besties from high school would get together each year for our own family celebration. This one was at Ames' house, and I shot the photo. ( Had Wenders taken it, it would be a better photo. She was yearbook photog, and went on to become a professional behind the camera. Still, there is a photo.) These girls are the best thing that came out of the 47 days I attended high school. (Okay, that is exaggeration. I'm sure I went to more than 100 days. At least part of them. I was the original "burning my candle at both ends" girl.)
My friends and I are spread apart these days. Well, since high school. Pennsylvania, California, Kansas, Ohio  and Tanzania are now our homes. We are a mix of professionals, mothers, wives, changers of life. But rarely do we see one another.
Back in the mid 90's, feeling too far apart and disconnected from these girls, I started what became known as "The Fat Letter". No, not a comment on the expansion of body size, but a description of what the letter became. Too fat for most envelopes! What we did was; I wrote a letter, to them, about my life, loves, aches, what we would share were we in a room together, and sent it to Ames. Then she read mine, added hers and sent it to Cath, who added hers and sent it to Wenders, who added hers... on to T. ....get the idea? Well, when it came back to me, I would take out my old letter, write a new one and send it on to Ames again. In this way we counseled each other through pregnancies, job changes, marriage issues, saw pictures of our children and families and homes. I looked forward to The Fat Letter in the mail every few months. When the Internet became the go-to for communication, The Fat Letter faded out.  Unfortunately, so did our communication!
We did make an effort to come together in the "aughts". And in 2008 those who could manage met in Pittsburgh for a weekend together. It was wonderful.

We swore we would do it every year. But that stretched as time does not, and we have not managed to be together since. We have seen one another periodically as we pass through each other's states. Wenders and I are only 3 hours apart, and she is whom I've seen the most, getting to enjoy her amazing children.

But, I was blessed by that kind of effort early last week when Ames, on her way back from a retreat in Michigan came here for the night- "on the way" back to Philly. YAY! YAY! YAY!!!

Like it is with all dear friends, within 30 seconds, we were right back on the same page, and didn't shut up until she left the next morning. So very good for my soul. I love this strong, smart, funny woman.

Once again, when with these girls, I'm so "in" that I nearly forgot to get a photo.

Lucky I remembered. Lucky I know the joy of friendship.