Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Simple Shared Experience
It was just dad and me on the river. Not many opportunities come up, so we made this one happen. The French Broad River starts in the North Carolina foothills near my parent’s home, snakes through low farmland, and then cuts through the mountains on its long way to the Gulf of Mexico. It is important to know the local waters. Know how you affect them and how they affect you. So, for a few hours, we paddled a gentle 10 miles under a narrow canopy of green shade, to see part of a waterway that is more than just part of the landscape. At times we pushed our way through while other times we sat and let the current carry us along. What we saw was up close and personal. Some of it we knew by names, like the roadways along its course, the big trees over head, and the wildflowers hanging on the banks. Much of it we didn’t know, like why the muskrat waited so long before dipping below the surface as we floated by, and how many gallons were being pumped up to the dry fields via dangling pipes, and who had tried, but failed, to clear a tree fallen across the full width of the river. But we thought about these sights and talked about their reasons…the latter while we carefully, then forcefully, threaded the empty red canoe through the tangle of downed, wet branches.
We shared experience on the French Broad...simple shared experience.
238 Miles One Way
We were in the mountains of North Carolina for 4 days visiting my family. The weather was very nice. Sunny days prevailed with some passing clouds and one good rain shower.
Among other things(following shortly) I walked around Their yard and snapped photos. It was a refreshing trip. Well worth the 238 miles one way.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Garden Update 3
We have been getting regular rains lately! The Garden is getting higher. There seems to be an abundance of Aphids on the peas. I've spotted a few ladybugs and other little ones feasting on the green miniscules (photos a little later). I forgot to take shots of the leeks, broccoli, tomatoes and fig tree...they are doing fine.
Heather and I ate all the mature Path Lettuce. No sign of "Nibbles" in the garden since last update!
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Garden Update 2
A certain rabbit who will go unnamed(lets just call him "nibbles") was seen bedding down casually in a corner of the garden recently. I followed him slowly to see if he would exit the same way he entered, so I could quickly patch things up behind him. Well he didn't make things easy on me (or himself) as he bounced repeatedly against the flexible fencing before finally high jumping for escape. I haven't seen him back since and I didn't see any damage to the young veggies. However, I have invited the neighborhood dog, Buddy, over to keep watch for awhile.
Yard Update 3
I'm spending more time outside lately. More time with spade, rake, and water hose...and less with camera. But yesterday, before watering the seedlings; as the sun was getting low, I snapped these of the yard.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)