New Reading Challenge

I'm always hesitant about signing on for a challenge, but this one was so different that I've decided to do it. I have several books about Ireland I've been wanting to read, so this will give me the impetus to get on it.
Here's the list from my own books that I plan on reading in this challenge:1. How the Irish Saved Civilization-Thomas Cahill2-6-The Irish Country Series by Patrick Taylor-There are five of them7.The Luck of the Irish, Our Life in County Clare-Niall Williams and Christine Breen8.The Pipes Are Calling, Our Jaunts through Ireland-" "9.Anything by Oscar Wilde10.???
Anyone want to make a recommendation for an Irish book? I think I'm going to like this challenge. I've been wanting to go to Ireland for years. Maybe after reading these books, we'll take a trip to the Emerald Isle.

Merry Christmas from Mala Compra

Overcast morning, threatening a shower, but I had planned to ride some dirt today. Headed to the Hammocks for a ride on the Mala Compra Greenway Trails.
I parked across Rt A1A from the trailhead at Mala Compra Rd. checked the trail map at the kiosk and ended down the trail. Most of this trail is rated as a "blue" trail. there area also side trails rated as "black diamond" and one that I saw rated "double black diamond".
Most of the trail is a tight, curvy trail though the wood. Solid surface except fpr short sections of palm roots and soft sand. At lease you can recognize the sandy spots because its a white sand.
Obstacles are highlighted as a black diamond trail marked with a blue bypass. (see photo) At the 16th St trailhead is another kiosk. It had some trail brochures with trail map. Just the map I was looking for 9which I could not find anywhere on the internet!.
Was not sure if I would ride singletrack on the trail back, but after a rest and some G2, I was ready to ride on. This end of the trail area had some rougher trails - longer sections of black diamond, some quick climbs and descents, ridge-running. I bypassed those trail section!
On the way back, there were several area where a wide, walking path paralleled the singletrack. At 3.5 miles, I was getting tired, to switched to the walking path. Ended up with 3.8 miles, 1:08 riding time, and 22 photos.

Ben Rinnes (2)

Before the season moves too far on, I should continue with the account of the ascent of Ben Rinnes which my husband and daughter did between Christmas and New Year. It's not a grand mountain, and it doesn't require ropes or anything much other than enough puff and reasonable leg-power (tho like any Scottish hill mist can descend frighteningly quickly out of a blue sky, and there are crags which you could fall off, so it shouldn't be taken lightly). But it's the local big hill of my home village, and a reference point for weather predictions and the progress of the seasons. 'Snow on the Ben' is a sure sign that winter is coming. 'Snow still on the Ben' is just as sure a sign that we're having (another) cold spring.
Here it is then, all brown heather and white hoar frost on the north-facing side, on a gift of a day just before New Year.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy to all

Old soap

Earlier this spring, I attended a gardening convention held at Landmark Park in Dothan, Alabama. The old Martin Drug Store was moved there from Enterprise, and reopened four years ago. An operating pharmacy from 1898 to 1983, it's now part museum and part ice cream parlor.

You might guess which display I gravitated towards: the historical soap! None of it's for sale, alas. More of these than I'd realized are still made today: Cashmere Bouquet, Octagon, Grandpa's Pine Tar Soap, Palmer's Skin Success Soap. I'm not sure what happened to the others... soaps with charming names like Sterne's Carbolic Soap, Drexel's Wonder Soap, Flotilla Floating Bath Soap, and Packer's Charm Soap.

According to the book Boiled Peanuts and Buckeyes, the people at Martin's "were notorious for not throwing anything away and keeping meticulous records. They held onto every receipt, medicine bottle and cosmetic that ever entered the store... They had the most comprehensive collection of pharmaceutical artifacts in the nation."

I can recommend the Peach ice cream!

Seven things

While I was gone, Twinks asked me to do a meme. I'm supposed to list seven random things, but since I'm contrary, I'm going to list seven things that happened during my lost four months. It's longer than my normal posts, but since I'll be out of town for a few days, feel free to read in shifts!
1. I joined The Gym.
Really, that's what the gym in Oneonta is called: The Gym. I joined with a friend, and wheedled my way into a good deal via a long-term, prepaid, early-hours contract. I can't say I've lost any weight, but I feel in better shape. I'm getting to know my friend a lot better too, since we gab for about four hours a week more than we used to.
2. I thought I'd found a diamond.
People with a five-carat diamonds don't shop at Wal-Mart, I suppose, but I was momentarily dazed by the karmic thrill of it all. My mother lost her engagement ring stone over 40 years ago, and I imagined it had returned, with interest! Turned out to be only a cubic zirconia though, drat. Here is how you tell the difference. I couldn't read a newspaper through the CZ, and was already dreamily wondering how long the police would have to hold it before it was deemed unclaimed. The dot test worked like a charm, though. Like a big, balloon-bursting charm.

3. The garden refused to bend to my will. Again.
I had fun with the Zinnia experiment though. I got a late start, and Powdery Mildew crept in when we left town for a week. The grass got way out of control, as usual. Somehow I still managed to grow a few flowers to donate to Hospice. Maybe next year I will finally have my act together enough to get them there throughout the blooming season.
4. I won a major award.
Because I could remember the Alabama state bird, mammal, fossil, etc., when an emergency preparedness expert spoke to our wildflower group. OK, the award wasn't really all that major, but I basked in the egghead trivia glow anyway. Then a guy even more pointy-headed than me whined that my answer of "some kind of whale" to "What is the state dinosaur?" wasn't up to par. "The Basilosaurus cetoides is the state fossil, not dinosaur!" he moaned. I hugged my MRE and ran out of the meeting room.
5. We let Anatoli go. He'd developed a lump that we decided may have been from improper nutrition or insufficient sunlight. Since he was wild-born, we figured he'd fare better on his own. We saw an unusually high number of anoles this fall, but I was never sure if any of them were Anatoli.
6. I had to wait in line to vote!
There were all of four people in front of us when we arrived at our polling place. An elderly couple let us cut in front of them though, since the man was still searching his wallet for ID. There were a few local issues on the ballot so turnout was very high. The tallies from my precinct, not exactly what you'd call a democratic stronghold, included:
Obama 45, McCain 450
Figures 52, Sessions 442 (US Senate race)
Tag fee increase: Yes 59, No 392
Wet/Dry referendum: Yes (Wet): 226, No: 270
The ratios for the whole county were similar. I still haven't figured out how Vivian Figures, a State Senator from Mobile, received more votes than Obama. Most people in north Alabama weren't even familiar with her. I read that her budget was $22,000; the incumbent Sessions spent multi-millions. (I have loved her ever since I read that she was able to get the outdated, misogynistic Alabama State Senate dress code changed... the one that said women couldn't wear pant suits or slacks on the Senate floor!)
We needed the tag fee increase ($15), which would have gone strictly towards road maintenance. I had a feeling it wouldn't pass, but I was surprised at the resounding defeat.
I'm glad we stayed a dry county. I wouldn't mind alcohol sales in stores or restaurants, but didn't want a bar across the street from us. Rural counties don't have a lot of regulations, so it could have been a real possibility.
7. Alabama football, woohoo!
I had to say that before we play Auburn and Georgia Florida, just in case.

The Nantahala River

When I was growing up, our family would raft on this river in North Carolina. It's a Class 3 so is pretty mild. It's slow enough that you can enjoy the surrounding scenery but rough enough not to be boring.
At the end of the ride, there's a six foot drop off that was loads of fun to go over. Now they make you get out earlier. Spoilsports!
Earlier this summer when I was at the John C. Campbell Folk School taking a digital photography class, we took a day trip to Asheville to photograph the city. On the way back we went through the Nantahala Gorge and just had to stop and take pictures of the mist rising off the river.
Since my photo taking skills had risen a lot during the week, I was able to get these photos when the night was almost completely dark. I was in full manual mode so was able to let in a lot more light. I turned my ISO up to 1600 and rested the camera on the handrail to avoid camera shake. I'm pretty pleased with the results.
My photo-savvy friends kept telling me that when I went manual it would open up a whole new world. They were right. Thanks, Jenny and Charlotte.

Yumzers!

Mom took us to Miller Creek a few days ago, thinking that we needed a run (and we did), but... once we discovered the gifts on the forest floor, we stopped our runnin' to investigate...
These are pretty awful pictures of us, but you can see us nosing around the leaves for something...
And here's a short movie of what we are doing...

And below... what. we. are. nomming. on. Yumzers!

Bradgate Park - Beacon Hill - Ulverscroft Priory - Newtown Linford

Walked on Monday 10 September , with Barry, Gordon and Maureen. Mostly fine.







We parked at the Newtown Linford car park, and took the low level path along the main drive by the river Lin, towards the ruins of Bradgate House, childhood home of Jane Grey, the nine-day queen. The park has been a deer park from way back when, and there are still plenty of deer in this area.



There's a lovely stretch of river.





and some impressive trees.

Remains of Bradgate House and a moody sky

Uphill to the obelisk

Just before reaching the ruins of the house, we took the path uphill to the left to reach the War Memorial, where there was a keen cold wind. We didn't hang around, but followed the path through the spinney to Old John.

18th century folly and great viewpoint

Who said down hill was easier?

We headed to the Hunts Hill car park on the north west side of the park. The way ahead was over the crossroads to Benscliffe Road, and after a couple of hundred yards we turned right into Rough Hill Wood - the path went up slightly then downhill to a golf course. Part way through the golf course we crossed Joe Moore's Lane. The golf course was busier on a Monday than it had been on a Sunday, but no problems and the way is easy to follow.

After leaving the golf course the path crosses a couple of fields to emerge on a track, then goes past some stables and a large garage, then swings left and comes out on Maplewell Road. Here we turned right and followed the road towards Woodhouse Eaves. We didn't take the first footpath signed to the left, but turned left at Mill Road. This turns into a track and climbs fairly steeply towards Windmill Hill.

Up towards Windmill Hill

Looking over to Broombriggs

The windmill with viewing platform - the stairs are under repair at present

We chose not to go up to the windmill on this occasion - I'll put it in the good intentions file. When the mill was operational there were no trees surrounding it.



We came out at the car park for Broombriggs Country Park, cheaper but more remote than Bradgate. We crossed Beacon Road, turned left along the cycle track, then right on to a path for walkers. After about 100 yards we turned left again on the main path. Dappled shade makes this a lovely walk, in spite of some traffic noise from the road.

A great opportunity for posers?

We turned off the main path along the grassy track which leads to the summit, via the toposcope, which claims views as far as Boston Stump over 50 miles away. Not today - though there was a group of trees in the way.





Great views all round, even so.

Like the earrings

The obelisk and Old John from Beacon Hill.

From here we followed the route down past the car park, turning right past the toilet block and down the path parallel to the road.



At the charcoal burner we took the small path to the left which came out at the crossroads. We crossed over to the Copt Oak road - there is a verge, but not quite wide enough for comfortable walking. Luckily this is a short section and we turned left along a footpath on the drive to Black Hill Farm. After the trees stop the footpath heads off to the right along a hedge. You're not likely to make a mistake here, as there is a warning notice on the drive.



The path is clearly marked, and takes you along field edges to Ulverscroft Lodge Farm. Here we turned left to go round the house and meet the drive which took us to the ruined 11th century Ulverscroft Priory. The cottage nearby is inhabited, and there has been scaffolding up on some of the ruins for years.

Pond near the priory

Ruins of Ulverscroft Priory

The drive comes out on Priory Lane, and we crossed over to Ulverscroft Lane. I'm hoping the resurfacing they've just done doesn't encourage a lot of traffic - it's pleasant and quiet at the moment.



Just under a mile along the lane we turned right to take a footpath which leads through fields. When the path opens out in a field you fork left after crossing a stile. After this the path is clear and goes through woodland. This was a bit muddy. There is no problem until you pass a ruined building on the left (Ulverscroft Mill). Here you meet another path, and turn left and shortly afterwards right to cross a footbridge. The path leads into Newtown Linford coming out near some thatched cottages.





We turned right along the main street, full of interesting very well-kept houses. It's probably just over half a mile back to Bradgate Park, and nearby there's a selection of tea-shops.

Happy Birthday Sugar with A Ramble 'Round Old Miller Creek

We want to paw a big Happy Birfday to our pal, Sugar, who is celebrating her 9th Barkday today! Cheers to you! We've had another busy week, but got to have some fun in and around Miller Creek last weekend! Come along with us, Sugar, for some cool fun!

I don't know why my assistant can't get my photoshows to line up center, but it's still "viewable" - hope you enjoy! Sugar: we feel you are with us in a furry virtual way!

Later at home, we still had energy to burn and had to have some zoomies and crazy faces in the back yard. Note apples on other side of fence? Avalon and I try to escape our summer confines to get at them... they sure are yumzers! Sugar, I know you'd love these fresh apples!

And we always cool down and make up after our adventures!
( Some of you have asked if I am still doing obedience and the answer is... YES! Mom just hasn't had a helper to take pictures of me and her at work! We're progressing pretty well in "Open!") Hope you are having a good week and Sugar, we know you are having a pawesome barkday!

Stage 03

The garden in August just after the replacement of the plastic tub with a ceramic container.