Dickfos Falls owns you

TALLEBUDGERA VALLEY: Sunday June 8. Well clearly it's been a while between posts, and I have a few things to write about. For some time I'd been curious about Mt Cougal road in Tallebudgera Valley, and where it could lead. My first search had proven fruitless, but some informal advice I'd received from a friend on a bush walk at Springbrook had suggested there was more.

The ride through the valley was taken at touring pace, as I'd completed a 200km ride with Martin the previous day. That makes little difference on relatively short rides, and it wasn't long before I found the little side road. The first thing of interest was a rather pretty little waterfall on the side of the road.

It's shortly after this that the road stops, and the final stretch to Dickfos falls is on foot through a rough track alonside a rainforested creek. A little further, the track itself disappears, and the walk essentially becomes a rock scramble up a creek bed. This actually wasn't as difficult as it sounded, although the previous evening's rain did cause some problems with slippery rocks along the way.


Further along, the rocks get larger. It takes a little time and care to negotiate the final climb, but it's not overly difficult with a little caution. The reward at the end is nothing short of stunning.

The return was considerably easier to deal with, and it was almost no time at all before I was back into the open area at the start of the track. Here I had a picnic lunch. It was interesting to observe just how much the previous week's rain had cleaned out the streams.

Now all that remains in this valley is the final walk from the very end of the valley, which evidently passes through similar terrain to this walk. Evidently there are some permissions from land owners required to access that one, but I intend to make this happen as soon as the opportunity arises.

Finding Your Sweet Spot

I'm reading Max Lucado's book Cure for the Common Life-Living in your Sweet Spot. In chapter 3 he invites us to READ OUR LIFE BACKWARD. He says to think back and remember what you loved doing as a child; what entranced you.
I made a list of things I could remember. Here they are: 1. Reading 2. Writing 3. Playing the piano 4. Painting 5. Solitude 6. Photography 7. Gardening 8. Being outdoors 9. Decorating 10. Sewing
The thing that amazed me is that these are EXACTLY the same things I love to do today.
He also says, "The oak indwells the acorn. Read your life backward and check your supplies. Rerelish your moments of success and satisfaction. For in the merger of the two, you find your uniqueness."
I've spent too much time trying to be what I'm not. I'll never be a public speaker or know much about how things work, but I could take a photo of both and love it. Not that trying these things hasn't been beneficial for me. I have learned things along the way; mostly I've learned what I never want to try again!
I just don't want to spend any more time trying to do things I hate or things that other people want me to try or to be. I want to focus on culivating what I'm already good at and what makes me happy. That's my sweet spot and where God will use me to His glory and my bliss. The two merge and make me the most effective I can be for His kingdom on this earth.

Tilton-on-the-Hill - Lowesby - South Croxton - Cold Newton - Tilton

With Barry, Eddie, Gordon, Maureen. Sunny and bright. A total of 647 feet of climbing. Not far off 11 miles.





We set off from Digby Close, a small road to the right from the road opposite Tilton garage. Ominously downhill to start with.

Ye'll tak' the low road . . .

. . .an' I'll tak' the high road
The path is easy to follow, keeping along the side of the hill above the stream, past Springfield Hall, and a path which goes off to the right, then losing height towards the old railway line and station buildings.



After we'd crossed the old railway line we went through a field of sheepand climbed gently upwards towards the village of Lowesby.



The path was not hard to find. It leads past Lowesby Hall, magnificently situated, with a ha-ha, and avenue of trees.

This picture was taken in July - and I realise it's skew!





We went to the left of these treesand soon crossed a minor road. The path runs fairly close to the stream then goes slightly to the right, uphill above a spinney. It crosses the Midshires Way, passes Bell Dip Farm, crosses another three fields before meeting another minor road and continuing towards South Croxton, whose church spire can be seen ahead briefly and then to the right.

We walked past a pond, with ducks and water lilies, and a kayak, then through a small wooded area, and into the village. Our way was along King Street, left at the Golden Fleece pub, then downhill to a convenient seat near the bridge.

Our path was just before the bend in the road, off to the left.







We climbed gradually, with a good view of South Croxton on our left,





In a while we turned left towards the enormous Waterloo Lodge Farm buildings. The path goes to the right of the farm and joins the farm road just after the buildings. We followed this to the minor road just above Baggrave Hall and deserted mediaeval village, which we could see below us on the left.







When the road bent to the right, our path continued ahead. Some of this path was enclosed between two hedges. It eventually came out at a private road, and continued on the other side, forming part of the Midshires Way. After a short downhill section we had to turn right and walk up to the deserted mediaeval village of Cold Newton before crossing the corner of the village and walking down through fields to the disused railway line again. After the railway line the path turns diagonally left and akes its way up a final pull towards Tilton . . .

and across this field where the chickens followed us all.

Home, Lost Week, Back on the Bike

Last Thursday evening I got home. Felt pretty good on the long driving day. Made some time to attend my fraternity alumni luncheon and THOR annual meeting over the weekend.
Did lots of nothing most of the week - wasted time playing "Locomotion". Checking at at Xtreme Wheels, visiting with Blaine. Back to normal coffee schedule. Today I was heading for another lost day when Zack (Xtreme Wheels) called me.
He was calling to welcome me back home, wondered when I would be in the shop, and was I riding today. It was a nice day, no (or at light) breeze, and bright sunshine. OK, kitted up for a ride abd grabbed the hybrid.
Rear tire valve was plugged (with dirt & slime?). Stopped at the bike shop to clear the valve and check the tires. While Zack had the bike on the stand, asked him to tighten up the pedal cleats - has been slipping out too easily. Thanks, Zack - I owe you.
Wanted to check the trail on the North end of Council Bluffs. Parked at Big Lake and headed South on the Riverfront Trail. Took it easy, checking out the scenery. Noticed my heart rate was slow (must be all the air from the lower altitude).
As I neared the curve before the Bob Bridge, the trail was blocked (see photo). Looks like they the city/Corp reworking something at a pumping station. There is not any convenient route or bypass. There if a work-road down the street level, but that has a gate and cable across the access. Can't walk the bike over the construction area as it is blocked with chain-link fence.
i had planned to ride down to the Western Historic Trails Center -- but with the closed trail, I just headed back to the car. Stopped at the bike shop again - short visits with Joe and Zack.
Thanks, Zack, for getting me back on the bike!

The Velveteen Rabbit Vs. Cleopatra

This photo is of Salisbury Cathedral in England.
Darcie and I still aren't strong enough to go to church, so I turned on the TV to see if I could find some decent preaching.  What I found was several tele-evangelist types sitting in pseudo living rooms chatting cozily with their wives.  
I'm sure we all remember Tammy Faye Baker, bless her heart, as the poster girl of how not to wear your hair and makeup.  What is it with the wives of TV preachers?  The ones I saw today looked like they were going straight from their tv show to an audition for a Cleopatra movie!  I'm talking dyed jet black hair (one was a honey blonde), bright blue eyeshadow sweeping all the way from lid to brow, and black eyeliner drawn on so thickly that any Egyptian woman would have swooned in admiration.
Their husbands, in comparison, were graying and wrinkling naturally.  They looked their ages, which in my opinion, is a good thing.  The women did too, actually.  They just tried to hide theirs under loads of paint and powder.  
But it never works to their advantage.  Why don't they see that they just look ridiculous? I've seen older women with gray hair and sweet smiles and they're beautiful.  Their beauty comes from within and not from paint cans. 
I want to be the kind of older woman with such a sweet spirit that people are naturally drawn to me.  I want the love of Christ to shine forth from the essence of my being.  I want His beauty to make me beautiful.
My hair is turning gray and has been for about twenty years.  The ONLY time I've been tempted to color it  is when Darcie cried because she thought I was going to die soon since I was getting old and grayheaded.  It must be hard for her to have a Mom that's ten-twenty years older than her friends' Moms.  But I read the Scripture to her that says that a gray head is a crown of glory and left it at that.  I keep up with her just fine, so she's just going to have to be reconciled to it.  I just make sure that Laurel is groomed to take my place when I kick the bucket!
I want to be like the Velveteen Rabbit who didn't become real until it was shabby and well-loved.  I feel like I'm becoming more real the longer I live.  I'm not hiding behind things as much and am content to let people see the "real" me. 
I've just had an "ah ha" moment.  That's why I don't want the summer to end!   I became more real this summer on our first beach trip.  We went to Fripp Island with Laurel and her family and another family from church.  We had a WONDERFUL time together, I think because we didn't have any expectations and were very relaxed all week.  None of us women wore any makeup the whole week.  Believe me when I say this--I am fifty-two years old, and as long as I have been wearing makeup, I have never gone a day without it; not even in the hospital after childbirth. I have a story about that which includes Laurel, but I'll tell it later.  I'll have to get her permission first.  I even used to wear mascara to bed!  Needless to say, vanity has been an idol for me.  I'm only now realizing it though.
So for me to NOT wear makeup for a whole week was very liberating.  I felt like a different person in a great way.  I'm learning that who I am isn't what I wear or the cute little house I live in.  All these things will fall away someday and I'll be left with just ME.  I like the person God is making me into, and just maybe, in small, baby steps, I'm becoming that sweet little old lady I so want to be.  If I live as long as my ancestors, He's got about thirty or forty more years to work on me.  I'm sure it'll take every one of those days to accomplish it!   "For I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day....

Scott Monument entrance

When I posted a photo of the Scott Monument, Tash asked if it was open for climbing to the top. It certainly is, for the sum of £2.45, and here's the sweet little gothic entrance.

Falling

This hickory has always been one of my favorite trees on our place.

I loved the way it (picturesquely, romantically) leaned over the path, and defended it from my husband, who has long wanted to cut it down.

But now there's a problem. How can you defend a tree that insists on behaving in this manner?
Hubby says it must go. We need to be able to drive under there, and neither pickups nor tractors can Limbo. Plus, if this decline continues, a fence will be destroyed.

I'll still be sad to see it go.
(Note the crazy husband in the tree.)

The New Ming Dynasty

It is almost a year since we saw Jonny pack his bag and travel to China to spend a year teaching English at Shanghai University. So much has happened since then. Hatches, matches, dispatches. Life.

This photograph shows Jonny setting off on the first leg of his journey, last August.




He came home for four weeks holiday - and how that time has flown by, in a flurry of getting some of the heavy jobs done around this place.




We have him home for just a few more days, then he will return to Shanghai. Almost immediately upon his return he'll be teaching children at a summer camp, then life will return to normal as he resumes work at a university.
A major difference will be that this beautiful woman will be waiting to meet him! I'd like to introduce you to (I do have Jonny's permission) Mingming.

We have all 'met' her via QQ calls...and yes, she is as lovely as she looks. Mingming is 25 years old, a strong, stubbornly independent woman. Not only is she gorgeous, she's vivacious, intelligent and speaks much better English than she gives herself credit for. I should add that her English is self-taught, mainly from books!
She makes my boy happy. That's all that matters to me.

Welcome Mingming!

Holiday company

We had visitors over the long Thanksgiving weekend.

They weren't very sociable though.

They kept to themselves a lot.

And were a bit stand-offish at times.

They had a little tussle right in front of us.

A handsome family, though.

It was hard to pick a favorite portrait.
-------
River otter, Lontra canadensis or Lutra canadensis.

Meet Rufus

He's the one with light brown hair, a bright red scarf, and a broad grin. I'm not quite sure why Harry named him Rufus - the only Rufus he knows is a very bad tempered and rather aggressive Jack Russell Terrier.

Out of the gate and look right

Then look left

Further along the road leading to the village

We couldn't resist the call of the snow, so before breakfast George and I put our snow boots on and headed off to enjoy the beauty of the landscape. I make the most of the fresh stuff while I can!

A hug and an apple for Arnold, who was busy watching Harry

I'm pretty safe on fresh snow, once it gets compacted, or freezes and thaws, etc, then no matter how hi-tech my footwear I am very liable to fall. The size of my feet you would think I'd be pretty stable.

The Great Eau!

The tiny cottage with the red door

I took dozens of photographs, but I won't bore you with them all. Suffice to say it was a wonderful walk, cold, refreshing and very beautiful.

I never cease to be amazed at how the snow transforms the most ordinary of things into something really beautiful.





Now I just need it to disappear as quickly as it came. Fingers crossed!

Tonight I shall sit by the fire and use some of this delicious-looking wool which someone was kind enough to give me. It is a couple of years since I last tried my hand at knitting, or crochet, come to that! I wonder where these wonderful colours and textures will lead me.

The wedding photographer

A wedding photographer at work last Saturday outside St Andrew's and St George's Church of Scotland, Edinburgh.

Turquoise, Pecos, and Capulin

Long day on the road yesterday. Not many miles - lots of hours. Headed out of Albuquerque west and north on the Turquoise Trail. I was too early to stop in any shops. Did take a couple photos in this eclectic area.

Main stop for the day was Pecos National Historical Park. Stopped in at the Visitor's Center. They had desk copy of trail guide. Took that and drove up to the ruins. Was surprised that I was able to walk the whole top trail - with some rest breaks. The photo with this posting was taken at Pecos.

Back at the Visitor's Center I returned the trail guide and purchased a couple books (evening reading material) about the area and the ruins.

The original plan was to drive to Raton, NM and settle in the Quality Inn. But, it was only 2pm when I got to Raton, so decided to drive over to the Capulin Volcano. I was going to visit Capulin Volcano National Monument today (Tuesday). Anyway, checked in at the Visitor's Center and drove the road up the cone.

I could have hiked the cone trail (there was a couple doing that). But, with the altitude and the 2 hour hike at Pecos, I thought better. Took some photos at the summit. Back down, over to Folsom, NM. Interesting drive on highway 72 from Folsom to Raton.

Checked into my hotel. Started processing photos from the trip. Took a break for dinner at K-Bob's Steakhouse. Productive and exhaustive day.

Prickly pear

I was surprised the first time I saw cactus growing in the wild here in the southeast. Outside of cactus gardens, it's not the kind of plant you tend to find in the suburbs. But it's a native in most eastern states.

This is Opuntia humifusa. The upright tall version is Opuntia stricta. There are three other prickly pears in Alabama: Opuntia austrina, Opuntia pusilla, and Opuntia monacantha. But only humifusa is in Blount county, and it's the only member of the cactus family that's native here.
My book says it grows in sandstone outcrops, limestone glades, and open, thin-soiled woods.