my life my art

The Story Left Behind...

2012-02-13T21:24:00.000-05:00

For Taphophile Tragics

... regular dixxeland readers (all much appreciated) know I am a Photo Volunteer for the Find A Grave website..and anyone can do it...its a wonderful network of people helping people with ancestry, research, and fact finding, and it's a huge vault of information. I have enjoyed all the trips to the various cemteries Ive visited over the past almost a year since I started...One of the local cemeteries that I get lots of requests for photos is Quaker Cemetery c-1759...I also combine birding with the photo shoots, since this old cemetery has Large Live Oak trees throughout. Birds seem to love it here.

So Ive veiwed many cemeteries containing all kinds of stones...I like the old style stones best...although a few are hard to read some are in very good condition considering the age! This stone is over 200 yrs old and is still very legible!!

Ive believe in family plots it's a good idea for the Living, and after all that is what cemeteries are for, a place for the living to remember the ones who paved the way for us, they have left their legacy for us to carry on...I consider a walk around a cemetery to be a walk through the pages of family history and Community, State, and Country history....one can find great grand father, grand father, and father resting alongside or nearby and a spot for son awaits...time keeps moving forward one falls by the way so another may pick up the torch and carry it into the future.

Every stone tells a story, its up to us to find out what that story is...I enjoy doing more research to uncover the story, get the facts, and this little grave has me intrigued so I want to try and find out what is the story here? Since Maxcy Gregg was a great Civil War Brigadier General and was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg, VA Dec 15, 1862, that makes me wonder who this tiny grave belongs to and why the name Little Maxcy Gregg?

Unsolved mysteries abound!!

This post is linked to Taphophile Tragics Meme

thank you for visiting!

PEACE

KindOf a Blustery Day ~~~~

2012-02-11T20:10:00.000-05:00

...a friend and I were to go birding today in a neighboring county, then on Friday the weather man said Cold and 20 mph winds for Saturday and being ~~old birds~~ sun loving chickadees ourselves we figured sitting on a cold bench trying to scarf down picnic food in the wind and attempting to focus binos on a bird hanging onto a swaying branch is NOT exactly fun---SO we postponed to next weekend...and HOPE for the better clymes then.

...so I went about my day...DANG that weather man I ought to string him up ....it got cold and windy but not till late in the afternoon...Im pretty sure we would have gotten in a good day before the front hit....anyways I did a litte birding around the house before errands. The Junco's are still hanging around here..

dark-eyed junco

I love the matching pink beak and legs of these guys this is a male..the females are a lighter color not such a dark grey...and waiting his turn at the feeder is the White Throated Sparrow...

white throated sparrow

One of my favorite singers...he has about every shade of brown in his feathers and the yellow lores are a nice complement to his coloration. They usually scratch around on the ground, but I notice more and more they are taking a turn up on the feeders. They normally leave us when its time to breed.

The ever watchful and defending Northern Mockingbird was close by, he seemed to be saying "These berries are MINE"...

A northern cardinal really stood out amongst all this bleak grey n white February woods....we have had a good bunch of Cardinals this winter..males and females, they will breed here.

Then had to ~~spend money~~ run errands so on the way back stopped at my local lake there was NOT ONE water bird around...maybe some canada geese way back in the reeds I didnt hike over to the far side...but the clouds were pretty, with the Cyprus all lined up in the background...

Goodale State Park

Then the weather changed up-- you can see the ripples in the water and it did get quite unpleasant with that cold wind so I didnt hang around..

I found a few items to add to the Dixxeland Express today....a wrap around screen for the 10x10 canopy, a folding "tailgate party" table, and some solar party ligths---one more thing I need now is some "grass Carpet" a 10 x 10 foot piece I am looking for a really cheap one that I can fold up IM getting so excited---i did find a multi colored cheap rug and I'm pondering that one...
ITS almost time for a road trip. I am noticing gas prices are on the rise again. ;0/
OH and a red shouldered hawk is attempting to build a nest in a tall pine near my yard...IF she continues I hope to be able to record some of her comings n goings...she may be faking it tho so we'll see...last weekend she was sqwaking and making a ruckus and found a good spot in a tree...

PEACE

a Spring Day!

2012-02-06T20:41:00.000-05:00

ITs so warm this past weekend... I ate pancakes on my front porch the doors and widows thrown open and a warm breeze had the American Flag on the house flappin to and fro! Yeah I KNOW pancakes at 3 pm, how can I be so reckless? LOL I dont think its one of the deadly sins...but its possibly a cardinal sin. NO low cal syrup either!! JUST slurped it up and the girls licked the plate when I was done..trust me they didnt get much.

So its Spring here--

More Evidence...

...ran into a large flock of Grackles....

One of them had to steal the show...

This Loggerhead Shrike was watching them and I believe he said the grackles reminded him of a honey badger...er something like that.

A Man Named Pearl...

2012-01-27T21:50:00.004-05:00

FRIDAY,,,yahoo. Hope this is a better weekend than last cause it rained catz n dogs...Anyways between showers....my friend and I took a drive in search of... amazing stuff and found it!!
I said to my companion, what street is Pearl's Topiaries on? Before she could even say "I don't know," bang there was the sign!! Second Right!!
So we took the second right... the story goes like this...Mr Pearl Fryar moved into what was mainly a white neighborhood and the fear was that he wouldn't keep his home up to the standards of his neighbors... he was determined to win the Yard of the month award from the local Garden Club!! SO he began to spruce things up just a bit....

And his neighbors liked it so much they wanted him to spruce up their yards too...

Pearl says don't let obstacles control you...I think he has some very good advise

Now the entire block is legendary!!

The yards are more attractive than the homes!

WISH I lived on his block!!

You never know what's out there till you go looking for it!! Just like topiary, its there all along, all you have to do is look for it--check out this YouTube ( Ihope its there, if not go to)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVb4NkKJv1Q

--he is quite a character..and if you're ever in Bishopsville, SC go by and see his street!!

PEACE

History...is alive and well

2012-01-21T10:34:00.002-05:00

SO Im researching this mass drowning that happened in my community... What you didnt hear about it??
Well thats because it happened back in 1860!! HA-

Meanwhile its so cool as you look for one bit of history you find 10 other bits that you had no clue about..(they dont teach this stuff in school)--Here in my area the Revolutionary and the Civil Wars get all the attention, yet real life history fills the cracks of this place...lots of other things happened ...yes the South was a battle ground and there is a-lot of that history here each and every battle has been recorded, studied, restudied, marked, and such..but to me its the human stories that never made the history books that are fascinating...like this one-
...back in early 1829...
Mr Thomas A Hopkin's mother held a grudge against Mr. Henry G. Nixon's father...she accused him of swindling her outta some land, and I reckon she passed her angry and revengeful story down and onto her son. So Mr Hopkins called Mr. Nixon out to a duel. The date was set and they kept it on the QT, least their families should try to talk them out of the fool hearted idea. Dueling was considered a gentleman's way of restoring Honor to ones name and one's family name....
(this brings to mind Klingon Warriors from StarTrek)...
anyways the duel took place in Augusta a SC/GA border town on the public dueling ground. YEAH...there was such a thing.

Mr Nixon was the pride of Camden having been born here in 1800 a native (the town was founded in 1787) and with his stellar education he was a lawyer, a SC Legislator, & past chairman of the committe to receive General Marquis de LaFayette, (who helped the budding United States to fight the War of Independence,) when he made his second (and last) visit to the USA in 1825. LaFayette came to our fair town and dedicated Mr Baron DeKalb's ( a German Rev War Hero's) memorial we have streets named in both their honors and a very old and rather weird looking Cedar tree in our town called the LaFayette Cedar.

SO back to my story...Mr Nixon's father owned the Jackson Hotel....that stood on the corner of King & Broad streets...not far from the Quaker Meeting house and burial grounds. Mr Hopkins knew his way around a pistol but Henry G Nixon needed a little practice, Im sure he was more adapt at legalese than shooting---so

Mr Nixon went to the Quarker Burial Ground to practice with his pistol, it was written that he fired off the 2 rounds from his dueling pistols aiming at the headstone (placed in 1822) of Scottish merchant Mr Neil Smith...and his wife Isabella....

and then on Jan 15, 1829 exactly 183 yrs and 6 days ago... Mr Nixon was killed in that duel when Mr Hopkins, shot first he fell dead upon the ground...and died with honor intact but his body in ruins...his bereeved father buried him near the Quaker burial ground where he had practiced for this event....in the Old Presbyterian Burial ground and the grief stricken father erected a fence of granite and iron around his sons burial spot. It was only 2 short years later (1831)that Mr. Hopkins himself would die, they say of grief over his deed. His grave has since been completely obliterated as a newly cut road encroached on the Swift Creek Baptist Chruch in Boykin, SC and graves were simply pushed aside to make way for progress...

The Jackson Hotel burned to the ground in November of that same yr and the The Nixon family left their beloved Camden in 1833 and went to Alabama and bought a plantation... I wonder how the Nixon plantation fared during Shermans bloody march through the South?
SO I went to the Old Quaker Burial Ground...and I looked for and found Mr Neil Smith, a merchant and his Wife Isabella's headstone...and wouldnt you know look what I found on the backside of that rock....

PEACE

This post is linked to
Taphophile Tragics.

Last weeks findings...

2012-01-11T22:06:00.000-05:00

Sometimes when you're out doing the usual you spot some unusual stuff..Our town is quite old NOT by European standards but by American standards,....so most of the buildings are old and stately....but like alot of downtown areas Walmart has drawn all the shoppers out into the 'burb areas....and its a struggle to keep the Old Towne Market places going...most of the shoppers downtown are looking for Antiques our town has MANY antique shops....check out the little store in this block bookended by the old bank buildings that have been left behind in favor of Drive thru- banks...
once I had inlaws from the UK visiting.... they just couldnt beleive how we lazy Americans need to have Drive Thru banks and how we dont even have to park or turn off our cars to do our banking..lol iT is totally lazy--

So this enterprising person is really trying to stand out among the old grey with Sweet Cakes!! I'll have to go visit them and see if the cakes are as delicious as the paint job!!

IT sure stands out eh? Then I spotted this really unique Crept Myrtle tree it has really cool "skin" and check out that HOLE ...

I drove to a nearby town to do some cemetery photos and I know some of the history of this town its called Kershaw...they are proud of their ROCKS...check out the town mural..there is the "hanging Rock", the Forty Acre Rock, The Gold Mine, The old Rock Quarry, and JESUS ROCKS...

HEY-- Kershaw Rocks!!

AND a brand new year gets off to a great start with the birth of this little one....is she cute or what????

she is SOOOO little and precious!!

and the Europeans are excited about it too...lol

european starlings

WELL its almost the weekend again..another 7 days crossed off that countdown. Im not sure what Ive got planned....I am researching a bit of history that happened around here in 1860...So some photos of my findings may be a fun thing to do this weekend if the rain stays away...weekends are made for impromptu activities!!!

PEACE

CONFUSED?

2012-01-05T20:54:00.000-05:00

What happened to winter? Do you think its coming later or is it not coming at all? This shrub in my yard is in Full FLOWER and thats last yrs fall leaves still hanging on, it doesnt usually bloom until late Feb, early March...

and more flowers are opening around the yard too...bulbs that shouldnt come up until March are UP.......and yet last night and the night before it was 18 and then 25 degrees EXtreme...and this weekend it will be up around 70 again-

..what was it about how they DIDNT want us to believe that Global Warming is real? Well I for one believe....the birds that normally arrive here in mid fall didnt arrive until a week ago, I think they are confused also...

Another week is almost crossed off my countdown...hahaha...I hate when time flies because each day is PRICELESS..I would enjoy some cold weather, maybe even some snow...I bought this cool canopy thing for my anticipated travels to parts as yet unknown it will help to expand my space when I set up camp its 10 x 10, I can see it with some grass carpet, a nice table and some party lanterns hanging what do you think? I thought if I waited for it to go on sale there would be none left...so I got it now...I want to add screening to it to keep bugs out--so Im on the look out for a screen surround. I did see them last yr so I hope to run up on one this yr.

I also hope its going to be easy to put up..cause I'm all for EASY..
I have a string of pumpkin face halloween lights I could use those as my party lanterns? heck may as well use what I have or a strand of christmas Lights may be fun also...I picked up yet another of those camp chairs that I never quite trust you know the ones you sort of eeeassse yourself slowly into and hope it holds you--lol I have been dumped on my $#@ by one in the past...:=o

I guess if its okay for Mother Nature to have flowers and bees in winter its okay for me to have halloween and christmas lights at my camp spot in Spring and Summer...OH gas jumped up from $2.98 to $3.07, then one day later $3.20, that was this morning, and then on my way home from work it was up to $3.29 jumped almost a dime in 8 hrs...now that IS THE MOST CONFUSING THING SO FAR!!

enjoyed this sundog the other evening, it was quite nice to see!!

PEACE

Happy New Yr--

2011-12-31T07:00:00.001-05:00

--seems everyone agrees 2011 was less than stellar--the economy of the world went down the tubes, we all had to adjust the way we live, well all except that 1%, no problems for them -Geeze-but it wasnt all bad---come to think of it:

here's some of my HighLights:

I got a great (for me) job just when I was about to go belly up...that was a life saver..

there was no wedding, :o( but my first grandchild was born on Sept 4th Tyler-this is the precious bundle:

My mother celebrated her 87th birthday--yea Mom

My sister retired from the postal service and bought a bigger home (now there's plenty of room for moi')

SORRY NO PHOTOS YET

I became a Find A Grave Photo contributor, and have enjoyed all the local trips, history, and searching thats involved in that, its kinda like Geocaching.

I bought the Dixxeland Express in expectation of great spring and summer travel opps-(when the job allows of course)

Had the time to take 8 great waterfall hikes, and saw more than 8 waterfalls in the process...since some have 2, 3, or 4, sections to them....it was a banner yr for that. here's 4 of the really awesome ones..

I saw some really incredible birds this yr...nothing new on my life list but you can beat seeing a gorgeous bird in the wilds...

Everyone in my family is happy and healthy....

AND marked another 365 days off my countdown till retirement---and then there will be no holds barred!! Really looking forward to this yr, lots of great stuff is coming for all of us!!!

PEACE

YIPPIE--a sunny day!

2011-12-26T22:22:00.001-05:00

My son and I had a wonderful Christmas together--IT was simple and lovely from my point of view and I think he felt the same he was all smiles!!

Feels like Sunday to me...but of course its Monday and IM OFF..

WOW feels so good to be off for more than a weekend.

I did some yard work early getting ready to "sweep" the front yard that is buried under about 40 ton of fallen leaves...lol SO I got 5 gallons of gas for the mower and guess how much I paid per gallon? $2.98 I filled up my car too...and tomorrow I'll probably take the D-L Express (my van) down and fill her up too!! JIC it shoots back up --ya know how it is...down by the interstate the gas was $3.06 can we say RIP OFF--

So after the yard prep (pickin up the larger sticks, and raking the leaves that had drifted up against the fence) I had to go to Quaker cemetery to take 2 grave photos to complete the 16 I agreed to take. Somehow I missed 2 of them..DUH--
well I always see other interesting bits of real-life when Im there like this Italian Cypress tree its TALL and arrow straight...

Some of the family plots were decked out for the holiday...

One of the interred received roses for Christmas...sure was pretty garnised with Eastern Red Cedar greenry saturated with beautiful blue berries.

The cemetery has lots of wrought iron, and brickwork too I love this old wall that surrounds some of the older graves..

I like to combine birdwatching with all other activities...its easy to do, not easy to photo the birds you find tho---

I wonder if this northern mockingbird is thinking of eating these fake berries on this fake floral arrangement? Sure hope not..yuk. He was guarding a small family plot in the new area...he was not happy with me being around and made a couple of low fly-bys to get me moving!

HE blends in nicely colorwise dont you think?

after this stop at Quaker I headed out to Lee County to take 3 more photos for another family and stayed the rest of the afternoon, I really liked this tree it was quite lovely as the sun went down...

then I headed home and was greeted by this lovely sight in the darkening sky...

I had a great day....cant wait till tomorrow--but for now I HAVE to get back to eating CHOCOLATE leftovers!!

PEACE

ENJOY!

2011-12-24T19:47:00.000-05:00

HAVE A WILD N WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS

PEACE

Last days....

2011-12-20T20:27:00.000-05:00

of 2011 ha! GOT YA!!! I cant wait for 12, 21, 2012 about one yr from NOW...just to see if those darn Myans had a clue or NOT..

I dont have much exciting to share but wtheck ---I'll share it anyways.
WELL ITS finally done...the painting that is...and the decorations are up too...no tree just a poinsettia...I LOVE LIVING SIMPLE..

AND I found it...
That cemetery I couldnt find a couple weeks ago...Well it was on a small dirt road that looked like an old logging road...I just had a feeling and there is was, sitting back in the woods hidden and very secluded...

Plaque says: Barnes Cemetery established Aug 26, 1868,
Sherman's Army Came Here...They came, they conquered, and they left a LOT Of bodies in their wake! Senseless...

not far from the cemetery I saw this cool old log structure...maybe as old as the cemetery-- who knows!!

These guys were hanging out near our house when I returned...there's 3 more in the edge of the woods...just out of the frame...one little young one too...

I clicked quickly so its a little blurry,...SOMETIMES you get a second chance...I got one more shot at this one she was trying to communicate with me, mental telepathy, she was asking...

'WHY do most rednecks want to kill me'?????? I replied, "Because they have NO heart, brain, or conscious"
Arent they beautiful---i cant believe some ~~people~~ bozo's would end this precious life... for SPORT? To me (and a lot of others) its just WRONG!!!! (good thing this is MY blog...eh?) Awww she has family who depend on her... look at that peaceful face and I Love those fuzzy ears...AND look how fat she is...and that was the last thing she said before she sprang off into the woods....;o/

Here is our little homestead nestled in the pines...I have a whole list of chores to get done around here while IM off and some time for fun things too...
Just have to finish out this week and IM Free till the end the yr..
I really hope all of you have a great winter celebration and get your new yr off to a great start...I think while Im relaxing Ill read back to Dec 20, 2010 and see what I was up to...great to have this blog to keep track of my little piece of the rock and to spread my message of Peace, to each and for all the creatures of this Earth.

PEACE

What I did FIND---

2011-12-05T20:34:00.000-05:00

This was my last weekend to get out and about for a while CAUSE I've committed to painting the living room--ugh. The ceiling too-and its tall...10 ft. SO that means up and down the ladder..oh Ill be sore I bet. Course I have to work till 5 every day too so I wont start until Saturday.

bought paint and gathered everything so there is no reason NOT to get busy..anyways I had to photograph a couple of graves in the neighboring county...one graveyard I never found!! I followed the directions exactly but NADA so Im trying to find out where it is...and having NO Luck. I depend on the Internet to tell me everything that I dont already know **clears throat** and this time dang thing is SPEECHLESS...seems to NOT KNOW the answer to my question...hmmm could it be the Information highway has hit a jam? Possibly.

SO as I ran up and down the county roads looking...saw this rather large flock of wild turkey

They decided to "head for the hills" when I stopped...and a good idea cant trust those humans..grrr

SO I decided to look south...for the graveyard. Didnt see it---and suddenly I thought it has snowed...

but nope... its COTTON and lots of it..can you believe how expensive cotton is these days? The cost has gone up greatly..Did a 360 and zoomed off to the east surely that dang graveyard is close by...
Ran into this guy he found me to be very charming, and I felt the same way about him...

On the search once again I found this really cute Christmas Tree farm...the trees are not grown yet but they sure are well groomed..

BY Now I am getting pretty frustrated I cant find this dang cemetery!! I head into town to see if I can get directions...Bishopsville is the home of Pearl Frayar the sort of famous topairist...and he has the trees in the center of town looking spiffy for sure...BUT NOT One person to ask directions..thats my van on the street.

IT was practically a GHOST town...I guess they are all at WALMART!!!

OH here is something new from my bank which was Wachovia and is now Wells Fargo..they show HOW I spend my money...

I was shocked. and pleased to know what is consuming 21% of my spending will be paid OFF really soon been paying that debt off since 2007 and the end is IN SIGHT. HOPEfully 2012 will be the turning point for me...and I can begin to come out from under debt. As you can see Im pretty frugal.

**Doing the Happy Dance here*** and My boss asked me what days I want off for the holidays and I said Can I have the whole week between Christmas n New Yrs and she said YES..
YIPPIE, YAHOO and GALEEE...
Now all would be wonderful if I could find that dang cemetery...I NEED to get that grave photo!!!A day out sight seeing beats a day working any day!!!!!

PEACE

XYLITOL/TRUVIA DANGER ALERT - | Dogs, dogs, dogs | eons.com

2011-12-01T19:51:00.000-05:00

XYLITOL/TRUVIA DANGER ALERT - Dogs, dogs, dogs eons.com

THIS sweetner can kill a dog within 24 hrs of ingestion...please be aware. This low cal sweetner Truvia is in all kinds of products so DONT share YOUR people food with your pets it could be deadly...this sweetner is in baked goods, sugarless gum, diet soda, and other products BE aware and spread the word.

PEACE

movie blitzn

2011-11-27T17:09:00.000-05:00

That may have been the fastest 4 days in history...I did everything I intended and more...it was amazing that Direct TV chose to give us Starz Movie Channels free preview over the holiday....that was cool so my evenings were spent in Movie Mode....Here is what I saw and my rating outta 5 starz*****:

Apollo 13 ***
Frozen **
True Grit *****
McClintock ****1/2
Stepfather ***
Deep Core ***
Final Destination 2 ***
Apocalypto *

I REALLY hope the Mayans were not that brutal...omg Mel Gibson's depiction of the ancient civilization was so inhumane I really cant believe any society was that brutal..of course I have no way of knowing...but the one star I did give was for the performance of Rudy Youngblood--it was all in subtitles and that was annoying although I did appreciate the authentic dialog...

Another entertainment note....tonight is the end of the Walking Dead series..if you've been following it...I gotta say the stopping at the farm has sort of broken the momentum for me of the "adventure" aspect of the series...so Ive had time to catch up and had a MEDIA blizt..of sorts.
AND in between times I was working on my Family Tree on Ancestry.com boy that takes up a lot of time....and I get cross eyed after a while staring at this screen..

My little Thanksgiving brunch was great I had veggie sandwiches and skin on roasted potatoes, sweet peppers, and BIG button mushrooms. We had a couple varieties of pie to dissect and that was yum...son came over in the evening and watched a movie with me and we had more pie..;o))

...my sister and her husband left for the coast in their new RV its maiden voyage and they were able to find all the issues right away...lol which is usually the only way to go, I was thinking it may have been a good idea for them to rent one for a week before purchasing one..But they decided to jump right into the deep end of the pool...this vehicle will be used in their business as a traveling home away from home. Darn I forgot to photograph it but very similar to this one off Camping World sales page..this is exciting cause my B.I.L. likes to get rid of old stuff quickly and I have many of his hand me downs...lol WELL I can dream right!!

PEACE

Simple Thanks

2011-11-23T21:52:00.000-05:00

Four days off work...Im very thankful for that-at the same time Im very thankful for the job I have!
I hope your time reserved to give thanks is more than just rushing here and there, spending too much money, overeating, and over indulging in this way or that--I hope you have something you really do give thanks for if you have not taken time to think about it...why not do that right now!!!
Ive had this Thanksgiving cactus for a very long time Im thankful its still giving me joy after all these years!! ITs not big or flashy its not even in a pretty pot its in an old black plastic pot but every year I get so much joy from having it in my life.

A very simple vegan meal here tomorrow...we will eat good food, drink good wine, and enjoy good conversation....
ENJOY YOURS------

PEACE

Ten Things...

2011-11-20T20:29:00.000-05:00

10 Things Ive learned so far..

Never allow exposed flesh to come in contact with channel lock pliers.
Do not rake leaves on a windy day.
Dont try to convince meat eaters to become vegetarians on Thanksgiving Day.
Dont look up at a flock of blackbirds.
A potato will roll when you try to chop it.
Turn around before the road gets so narrow you cant go forward.
The check engine light is important.
Horses kick and bite.
Cowboys dont know jack about cows.
The biggest a** pot holes are in Texas.

PEACE

Eleven, Eleven, Eleven

2011-11-11T21:19:00.000-05:00

11-11-11

Well I forgot it was one of those mathematically magik days....for me it was extraordinary.
First off while working and riding in the delivery van with my boss driving we crossed the Wateree River Bridge and I saw a pair of beautiful mature Bald Eagles landing in an ablaze of orange oak tree along the river's edge..that was wonderful. No photo of course..but to see those awesome black birds with white heads n tails against that Orange WOW...

AND later-- on the way home with the dying glow of the Sun in my rear view mirror and the HUGE orange sherbet MOON just barely above the horizon through the windshield in front of me... well I was in awe, what a cosmic end to the day-such a scene...I felt like I could reach out and touch it..no Photo of that either...but didnt matter I filed it away under Perfecto in my memory banks.

and....Yesterday as I drove to work a beautiful fox squirrel ran in front of me,...he has a terrific black mask, like a raccoon....and a long fluffy grey tail...he hopped along with that undulating motion like a Chinese dragon in a parade....I was in awe of his beauty... Special moment replay....I saw him again today....YEAH...no photo...

I dont like bringing my camera to work with me, because there is a chance it will get stolen outta my car....I have my little Konica with me, its useless up against the Moon, a quick fox Squirrel, and a fleeting pair of Bald Eagles, its great for flowers, landscapes and other non moving objects tho.

but when I was not driving and had my camera with me...I did capture these special moments this week, like this sunset...

And this full Moon...

And these oak trees in full color

and a pretty fall reflect at the lake ....

Tomorrow Im headed to yet another cemetery in a small town about half hours ride from me....and there is always an adventure waiting around every corner....can't wait to see what it is...
oh and it was FRIDAY and PayDay...can life get any better than this??

PEACE

2011-10-29T23:18:00.000-04:00

A beautiful weekend here highs in the 60's and lows in the 40's perfect!!
So today the girlz and I went for a drive in search of a grave!...WELL It is Halloween a time when we recognize the dead...

I go to graveyards--- a lot ----as Ive blogged before I am a volunteer photographer for the Find a Grave Website..it helps families find ancestors and ties up loose ends and it really helps with genealogy research..
SO this is the stone I was in search of today..its like geocaching with a twist...

Its pretty hard to read but he was born in 1826 and passed away in 1900...so this grave was hand dug and he was probably brought here by a horse drawn hearse!
Kinda morbid---I don't know-- visiting these cemeteries has helped me to understand life and death better...especially with families laying in rest around each other...and yes they are dead but SOMEONE is alive due to their having lived and they have moved on to make room for those that they have left behind...doesn't that make it feel better when you think of it that way?

SO anyways its HALLOWEEN weekend, I didn't buy any of that delicious p-nut butter candy that I love so much instead I bought yogurt covered raisins--although I did have my eye on a Honey Bun at the 7-11.

The girlz and I saw these rolls and Ive never seen this before...or just never realized...this is not hay....its fodder---or rolled up corn shock.

Used for animal feed...and look at this brand new calf---how cute he is..I watched him stagger to his feet, he was aware of me, but it was too hard for him to turn around and watch me...so he gave me this sweet backwards glance.

Here is more of the family--

There is history everywhere around this area...

No pumpkin on my porch but....

Tomorrow is wide open...

PEACE

Do Possum's Holler?

2011-10-23T10:03:00.001-04:00

Took at ride upstate Friday afternoon and spent the day Saturday hiking and enjoying the beautiful fall weather and the fall colors...the leaf color is great but still off a wee bit--this is a shot of Table Rock..

There is always other things to see in the upstate Appalachia area...like this fellow.

Last time we stopped at a road side vendor for Hot Boiled P Nuts...yum--if you've never had these you are missing out on a tasty southern style snack...

The hike was great Oconee County near Wahalla --not hard about 2 miles round trip, the day was AWESOME, cool tempts blue sky majestic forest...mossy logs

Our Hike was to see Pigpen Falls which is a really pretty falls that has quite a few drops however you cant see all if for the foilage...probably a better time to see most forest enclosed falls is in the dead of winter after all the leaves are shed..

Im so glad I got this shot...because right after this shot my batteries DIED...yes I had back ups they were DEAD TOO...(even tho I did plug the charger in overnight?) So I have a witness since my sister was with me that we also hiked on down the Chattooga River trail to see Lickloc Falls a really nice one that can be seen from the ridge line trail..father down is the Chattooga River the movie Deliverance was filmed..NOT necessairly in this exact spot but in and along the Wild n Scenic Chattooga River between SC n Georgia. (google it)We passed a road sign that said Possum Holler--I know they called the valleys Hollers since you can "holler" and hear your echo so that does sound better than Possum Echo--right? Funny enough this area was originally settled by Irish and Germans! (Lickloc and Walhalla)

Then from there we stopped at the Pumphouse Tunnel...and the Issaqueena Falls ---NOW I gotta go back with batteries because its really something..and there are many more falls in this area

SO I X'd off 4 more waterfalls from my waterfalls of SC Hiking list...the Pigpen Falls, the Upper and Lower Lickloc Falls, and the Issaqueena!!! A fun weekend...and I took the DLEX on her first weekend trip I traveled 264 miles and used 1/2 a tank of fuel...so not too bad! roughly 17.5 MPG for the size of it thats not so bad. There is camping in Oconee St. Park near these falls area so that may be a good place for our Maiden Camp Trip...

Today Im gonna have a go at getting the brakes hooked back up on the Mower!

PEACE

Trick or Treat???

2011-10-17T21:04:00.000-04:00

SO 3 weeks ago I took my riding mower to a guy because it stopped Moving forward...Was mowing great then just stopped moving....SO I pushed it onto my trailer and took it to this guy....
AT first he said it cant be fixed then I begged so he tried...and like I said it was three weeks ago...he works out of his back yard...

SO Finally he said its DONE...hooked up my trailer after work, went to get it...he had me drive it onto the trailer OK, fine...as We raised the tail gate ramp of the trailer up to latch it a largish washer fell to the ground...hmmm

SO I got it home pushed it off the trailer put the gate/ramp up on the trailer started the mower had my foot on the brake, put it in gear and IT TOOK OFF and smashed into the back of the trailer!! NO BRAKES..

SO it wouldnt move now it wont stop..
Sometimes I ask myself "WHY?" SO much of daily life is just things to aggravate, annoy, and just in general piss us off???---
SO Im assuming this GUY didnt put a particular COTTER PIN back in a particular HOLE that HOLDS THE BRAKES ON>>>>and said WASHER was a clue of events to come...

I think I need a nuclear cocktail...a very large cocktail or some kind of alcoholic beverage-

PEACE

A brutal life...

2011-10-15T22:33:00.001-04:00

The lights are bright
The anthem rings
The crowd roars
The loudspeaker blares

My eyes roll

My fear rises up

The gate opens fast

I jump, I stomp, I twirl

The cowboy holds hard

His spurs dig my sides

The blood pours
The crowd roars

I buck I jump

He finally falls

I run for my life

They rope me hard.

The old paint is next

Fourteen years old

He’s been doing this

Since he was three

His old eyes roll

His terror flows

He feels the spurs

Another weekend

Pack up the trailer

Head to tail

Our legs throb

Our sides raw

Our backs sore

We live in terror

We tremble with fear

Its Friday night

All week we dread

Another night of panic

Another rodeo…

PEACE

Family Picnic

2011-10-03T08:48:00.000-04:00

I know after all the complaining Ive done about how hot it is...you're not gonna believe how COLD it is right now...Last evening it was 39 degrees! We had to put the heat on...ONE thing about the weather here if you dont like it, just wait it will change!! AND FAST...but I think this is only a passing front.

Over the weekend we ALL (me, my mom, both my sisters and our 4 dogs) jumped in the DLE (Dixxeland Express) and went on a Birthday Picnic...3 of us had birthdays only days apart so we normally celebrate all together..( I had my 58th last thrusday, my Mom has her 87th on Tuesday, and my "baby" sister had her 55th on Saturday)

That's my visiting sister Em exiting the van...she returns to Colorado this weekend...AND my MOM is planning to go with her...SO a big trip for MOM!! I dont know how long she plans to stay, as long as she wants since my sis retired this year!

so....It was a drive up to my favorite wildlife refuge, Sandhills...

We had a nice picnic although it was cool n windy...this sky was dotted with huge puffy white clouds and it was super for a nice walk to admire the wildflowers, which to me is more beautiful in fall than in spring!

We saw some great ones like the blanket flower up there...
and we saw some critters...it is hunting season but I dont think its turkey hunting YET..

The water was really beautiful...

A great weekend now its back to work!!!

PEACE

2011-09-20T20:06:00.000-04:00

Ive neglected the blog and sorry bout that..I will visit soon as I can...Im so busy these days not much time for internet...But I did want to post this before it got to be old news...

MY sister is here visiting from Colorado and we wanted to MUCH to get in a waterfall hike while she is here and this past weekend we went upstate and stayed with our Other sister!! YES the Sister Act together again...

We had a great Sister visit..and it was SO nice to get to be with 2 of my favorite people and their dogs...
We hiked to Station Cove Falls at Oconee Station and near Oconee State Park...

The falls didnt have much water since we had such a dry summer but the moss and trickle made a really great impression on us!!

Along with us came Jimmy he traveled all the way from Colorado by car to be with us...

AND INDY..who you've seen on my blog before...

ITs that time of year when lots of yellow composites are blooming like this one--

WE had a wonderful day for a hike too....My spirits were soaring!!

PEACE

2011-09-02T20:21:00.002-04:00

FRIDAY--yippie.

A few days off, but not off Monday will be off Thrusday! I am working toward a goal--yes I have plan and a goal!! My goal is to work until I can be financially independent (notice I didnt say well off) Thats at least 4 yrs from now...so WHY not get a head start?

There are LOTS of adventures on my bucket list. For now I have to work...so I recently purchased this which although it will use more gas than my Blazer I can sleep in it so that saves in the long run....and there is room to travel with a friend and both my dogs!! Its a Dodge Ram Van 1500- 8 cylinder 5.2 litre its a 2001 model and its been taken very good care of for the most part--

It needs some TLC as most used vehicles do..like the windshield has a crack and the brakes need to be serviced...and the carpet needs to be cleaned or maybe replaced (I can do that myself) the previous owner was a SMOKER YUK so gotta fumigate it....once its ready its going to be fine for my plans I HOPE--I also plan to add (at some point ) a small (possibly vintage camp trailer) to the "Locomotive" for those trips when I plan to take more time--such as an entire summer.

So a peek in my plan. I call my "dream life" DixxeLand, so this is the
Dixxeland Express and that will be the name of my Camper too when I find it!!
This is the 2 rear passenger seats which can be removed when I want...

and this is the bench seat that folds down into a single bed.

All the windows have some really great blinds that raise and lower for privacy

it has a TV and VCR in the back and rear AC- Of course when I take it camping I would bring along a fan to keep me cool at night.

I want to be very mobile and not have any size restrictions so this should be the ticket...and when I plan a trip of a week or less the van is great for a campground situation like when I get back to my waterfall hikes... or for Boondocking too-When I desire! A campground with a picnic table and some electric hook ups possibly a tent or awning would be nice too!

Ive ordered this really cool personalized plate for the front bumper in SC we dont have to have front Bumper plates so we get to be creative!
ITS been shipped So ill take a photo of it when it arrives--

I have some great ideas for making a portable kitchen -- all one needs is a small fridge or electric cooler, a hot plate, a coffee maker, and MAYBE a small Microwave--A small Ultra Lite utility trailer may also be in my future to carry all my Camp Stuff- until I get the camper.....

When Mom wants to travel with me its roomy enough for her Yugo walker and the dogs and we can do a motel room on those occassions! I think it will fit my needs perfectly. IT may be a while before I get in a trip since my Boss said
"When do you think you're getting time off to travel? ;=0(

... check out my countdown clock at the bottom of my blog page---its been there for a while now and when I first put it up I started it at 1558 days....now look at it--TIME FLIES IM TELLIN' YA! IM SO PSYCHED!!!

PEACE

Simple Sunday?

2011-08-28T18:20:00.000-04:00

Just a simple weekend here in my world...chores etc...
Irene brushed by us and headed northward--glad she didnt hit us..been there done that and dont want to do it again thank you!..
SHE pushed some cool clouds into our area..

That made for a more dramatic sunset

Last night it was so clear the stars were out in force... so I crept out to try and get a long exposure...my Kodak doesnt have anything longer than 20 seconds..so this is what I got--

Last week on a cooler day I took a walk around my area checking for signs of fall--- I FOUND it!

WE NEED SOME RAIN !!

PEACE