Yes, I am 'finally' home from the 3,990 mile road trip ~ if it was up to me, I'd grab my sister and spend as much of the the rest of my life as I could, on the road! Starting with meeting new friends for breakfast, and ending with a trip to the Reynolds Pumpkin Patch with my 5 year old nephew, the trip was chock full of adventures, family, friends, and fun. Don't get me wrong, there was work involved from the moment I arrived at our get-away place near Crystal River, Florida. But it was "different" ... not the same-old-same-old cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, etc.
First off, I arrived only to find I couldn't even get up the driveway for the overgrowth of weeds. With the car fully laden, that was an obstacle requiring immediate resolution. So, off I went to meet some new neighbors and check in with one I'd known for a few years. An hour and a backhoe later, I was unpacking. Four hours later, it started to rain. The Spirits were with me every step of the way!
The "wild life" I get to see down south is quite different. Neighbors on two sides of me have horses, and there are lots more in the neighborhood. My nephew and his family have horses in Christmas, Florida; I also got to see the "Arabian Nights" show while in Orlando.
Then, a gathering of Lily the Black Bear fans and family at Highlands Hammock State Park provided great fun, and opportunities to observe some of Florida's signature wildlife...gators, turtles and tourists!
Heading back home towards Pennsylvania, my last stop was to catch up with my brother and his family, and spend the day with my nephew enjoying wildlife Halloween style, at the Pumpkin Patch.
Back home now, I've downloaded over 1700 photos taken by the trail cam while I was away. Of course, I took more than that myself in the four weeks I spent traveling all over. So I've got a lot of work to do, to review, edit, compile and share memories of the escapades with all of my family and friends. In the meantime, life goes on and I'm thrilled to see critters frequenting the Hard Rock Diner. The trail cam has observed deer including a massive 10 point buck and a few smaller ones, our "usual" does and their babies, the raccoon family, tons of turkey and other birds, but today was the first day since my return, that I actually SAW a bear outside. Our hunting season doesn't start until November, so I'm hopeful I will have some more sightings before they all go to den for the winter. Of course, it snowed here today, so winter isn't far away regardless of what the calendar may indicate!
Since I will be doing my own "drive-about", I may not be doing much blogging for a while. I would typically tell you a story of my life and surroundings, followed by a quote from my Native American roots. But having read something very recently which brought some clarity to my own beliefs, I thought I would take leave, with this excerpt from "The Wisdom of Native Americans". It deals with religion, something which I rarely speak of, although I do embrace the concepts of prayer and have been known to give a hearty "Amen" from time to time! So long, friends..."til we meet again"♥
"Solitary Worship"
THE original attitude of the American Indian toward the Eternal, the "Great Mystery" that surrounds and embraces us, was as simple as it was exalted. To him it was the supreme conception, bringing with it the fullest measure of joy and satisfaction possible in this life.
The worship of the "Great Mystery" was silent, solitary, free from all self-seeking. It was silent, because all speech is of necessity feeble and imperfect; therefore the souls of my ancestors ascended to God in wordless adoration. It was solitary, because they believed that He is nearer to us in solitude, and there were no priests authorized to come between a man and his Maker. None might exhort or confess or in any way meddle with the religious experience of another. Among us all men were created sons of God and stood erect, as conscious of their divinity. Our faith might not be formulated in creeds, nor forced upon any who were unwilling to receive it; hence there was no preaching, proselyting, nor persecution, neither were there any scoffers or atheists.
There were no temples or shrines among us save those of nature. Being a natural man, the Indian was intensely poetical. He would deem it sacrilege to build a house for Him who may be met face to face in the mysterious, shadowy aisles of the primeval forest, or on the sunlit bosom of virgin prairies, upon dizzy spires and pinnacles of naked rock, and yonder in the jeweled vault of the night sky! He who enrobes Himself in filmy veils of cloud, there on the rim of the visible world where our Great-Grandfather Sun kindles his evening camp-fire, He who rides upon the rigorous wind of the north, or breathes forth His spirit upon aromatic southern airs, whose war-canoe is launched upon majestic rivers and inland seas -- He needs no lesser cathedral!
That solitary communion with the Unseen which was the highest expression of our religious life is partly described in the word bambeday , literally "mysterious feeling," which has been variously translated "fasting" and "dreaming." It may better be interpreted as "consciousness of the divine." Dr Charles Alexander Eastman, born Ohiyesa of the Santee Sioux, in 1858
The cool Autumn morning ushered in a damp fog, and a deer and her baby showed up at the rock only moments after the morning ration of corn and sunflower. I say "a deer", because I think it was Puff and a fawn but I can't be certain. A few days ago, I saw her and two fawns. At any rate, I thought it was Annie at first but the deer weren't there long, before they got edgy and ran away, tails waving. And then my morning got even better...
The lone black bear ambled down the tree line parallel to the driveway and sauntered across the grass directly to the septic tank. Then, he proceeded to TRY TO REMOVE THE LID from it!!! From abut 35' away, my waving of hands and yelling did nothing to deter him (you'da thought the mere sight of me out there in my nightgown ...yes, barefoot .... would have been enough to send him running!!). Oh no, what could I do? Looking around (I had cleaned off the back deck because of the recent storms), the only thing I could see to throw was the tail of a tin rooster planter ~ which I quickly tossed in the direction of the bear. It landed some 10' past him in the grass between him and the rock, causing his interest to be diverted towards what had to have been, a better smelling direction!
When the bear settled in at the rock, I headed outside with the camera. Pennsylvania bears enter their hyperphagia period in late summer/early fall and judging from the intensity with which the bear ate the sunflower seed first, it was obvious that food was his primary concern. He never glanced up when I spoke or coughed. I tossed an apple towards the rock, which actually landed behind it. The bear moved around to the grassy area and picked up the apple, balancing it on his paw! I couldn't tell, from this distance, whether it was on the top or the pad of his paw though.
I threw another apple that landed between bear and me and he started to walk towards me (no worries, I was at least 30' away) when we both heard cracking of branches off to the left. He turned and walked back away, down to the garage and off into the woods. I picked up the equipment and moved up onto the deck...heck I didn't know what we'd heard but I knew there was at least one bear which I could no longer see, and in close proximity. I'm taking no chances!!
Only moments later, a bear sauntered in from the left and situated itself at the HRD. It was my beautiful Notch... She was fidgety, and I knew the 'other' bear was not far off. Sure enough, in a matter of seconds, he came walking out from the cover of the thicket.... are they 'friends'? siblings? mates? I don't know, but I am so hopeful that next spring, someone might bring me cubbies♥ Most of the corn and seed had been devoured by the time hubby had to leave for work, and it was the sight and sound of the car coming towards them down the driveway that caused both bears to 'pose' so beautifully! All in all, one of the best hours I've spent in many, many weeks...
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Man's heart away from nature becomes hard.
~ Standing Bear ~
Standing Bear (1829-1908) was a respected leader of the small Ponca Indian tribe that resided for years in northern Nebraska. In the late 1870s, at a crucial point in the tribe's existence, he took heroic action to reverse the wrongs inflicted upon his people at the hands of the U.S. government and its Indian agents. He remains a heroic and symbolic figure in the long struggle for Native American rights.
Today began with some great news! The trail cam captured video of Peg the deer, with her companion Cinco the 5 pt buck! We hadn’t seen Peg in months and were concerned about what may have happened to her. Animals are so resilient, thankfully.
So as I am rejoicing at seeing Peg, I also see Shadow running across the yard, with another baby bunny in his mouth. In my nightgown and bare foot, I went tearing out of the house to intercept Shadow and reclaim baby bunny. Putting it into a cardboard box (still sitting here from last night), I took up a post with a direct line of sight to the thicket … sure enough, here comes Shadow with another bunny, and there I go for another intercept. Unfortunately, this bunny was limp and cold ~ I think it is the one Shadow “found” last night. A half hour of holding it in my hands, and I was certain there was nothing I could do. Sometimes, I am annoyed that the cats are such good hunters, but that is the way of Nature and tears shed for a dead bunny can’t change anything. While hoping against hope that I could revive the critter, I also keep an eye on Shadow and the thicket. Apparently there are no more baby bunnies there, as he comes back home empty-paw’d. Occupied with their Fancy Feast, I slip outside and release the boxed bunny in a different location, stopping to take a quick photo and ask Mother Earth to protect this little one. The day has begun…
Smokey and Shadow are both very soft-mouthed, and before long, I hear another chirp but not a bunny this time. No, a chipmunk! Alive, dropped in the living room, the chippy promptly ran into the slant fin radiator. Three hours later, it is apparently still there, as Shadow has taken up residence in front of it. I can only wait along with him ~ no way to get that guy out unless he wants to come out. Yesterday I had hoped for a bit more excitement today. Man, be careful what you wish for … and the morning wasn’t over yet. Now, there’s a bear at the Hard Rock Diner.
Grabbing cameras and hazelnuts, I head outside to say hello. Could it be Buddy? As I walk down, talking and singing, the bear is un-phased and continues happily eating. Hmmm, about the size of Buddy but no, it’s Notch! I think she’s a female, but not sure.
It’s beginning to get warm and the bugs are as hungry as the bear, so I move back in the air conditioned house to view the photos. And do a bit of cleaning. But wait, what’s that noise outside the front door?? A quick glance out the window, a yell, and an attempt at a quick picture and I am out the door in a flash chasing Notch from the porch and the suet feeder.
I guess she didn't like my singing♥
But she doesn't seem to mind me being in close proximity ... boy she is pretty. And in this weather, probably HOT!
Yep, probably a girl. Spunky and persistent. But as soon as I opened that door, she was off the porch and running across the yard into the woods.
Guess it’s time to put the suet feeders away for the summer☺ And, time to get some work done in this house. Maybe running the vacuum will convince Chippy to re-locate.♥
PS: 5 PM ... finally figured out how to take apart the baseboard slant-fin radiator, and Chippy emerged, chased through the house by two cats followed by one hot and annoyed human...through the office down the hallway into the bedroom then into the bathroom and finally into the shower stall, where I successfully grabbed the critter with one of those "I can't reach that high" grabby thingys ...run outside with it dangling at the end of the 3' pole, and release it only to be pounced upon by the cat that had followed me out, which I smacked with the grabby thingy, who let go of the now wet and tired chipmunk. Of course, I picked it up, held it til it revived sufficiently and put it in the box (by which time the cats had slinked off in search of other toys ..), carried it out into the woods and released it on its merry way. Now I just have to clean behind all the furniture I moved in the chase...
It’s 86 degrees just now, after having been in the low 40’s just two nights ago. The bear haven’t been around since yesterday morning, so I guess they’re off doing their bear things. I did get a cute photo of the raccoon last night, though! Seems it is responsible for the ear-captures on the trail cam that looked so much like bear cub ears!! It's a regular visitor to the Hard Rock Diner these days, well, evenings♥
Before it got too hot, I decided to take a walk about myself … it’s been over a week since I had a chance to go mushroom hunting so I loaded up the bag, camera, stick, some hazelnuts (just in case) and went off into the woods. There are hundreds of acres ~ actually well over a thousand, on this hill that is owned by hunting clubs. I have permission to walk some of that land, although I never go far from the house alone. Today, I went back into the damp area where I’d seen elm trees, hoping against hope that a morel might be lurking.
The damp areas no longer had a lot of standing water although the mud did try to suck my boots off a couple times. The mosquitoes knew where those puddles were though … I have bites to prove it despite long sleeves, long pants, a hat and shades. Trekking to the area to which Buddy led me a few weeks back, I decided to go up the incline … maybe something was up there!
I was amazed to find some huge rock outcrops and possible den sites, not 100 yards from the road! I had never been up that little slope, but I suppose I know why Buddy went there. There were may apples, ferns, and thousands of tons of rock shrouded in mature oaks, pine and hemlock trees. It’s a great place, with a ridge that would be wonderful for a picnic.
I walked for over two hours. I saw a deer, and a toad. I found two crow feathers. And not one lousy morel. I suppose I’ve actually missed the ‘season’, if there was one this year. I have a lot to learn about edible mushrooms, so I’ll keep looking. Maybe by next year, I’ll know what to look FOR!!
After the walk, there's not much happening except heat, humidity and pollen. Maybe tomorrow will be more exciting! I think I’ll take the Sierra pick up and get more garden soil ~ still have two beds to plant.
Seems like everything is taking longer to come together in the garden this year because the weather was cold so deep into May; here it is already June and I haven’t even stopped into my favorite local Pennsylvania nursery, Jamison’s. Wonder if she has any vegetables left. I see some young fruit on the tomato plants, and we'll eat the last of the asparagus tonight. The milkweed is growing and I did see a butterfly.
Spring is turning into summer which is all too fleeting in this area of the country.
Yep, tomorrow may be more exciting. But I’m grateful for the day, and the sunshine, and the walk in the woods I took today. Even if there is no MOREL to the story ♥
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"Our land is everything to us... I will tell you one of the things we remember on our land. We remember that our grandfathers paid for it - with their lives." John Wooden Legs, 1858 - 1940, was a Northern Cheyenne warrior who fought against Custer at the Battle of Little Big Horn.
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Please visit my Etsy shop for medicine bags and more
6:30AM on a beautiful Sunday morning, and as much as I’d like to stay in bed for a while, I have a feeling I should get up and see what’s happening at the Hard Rock Diner. The raccoon which, by the way, has the most adorable face, was eating there last night but I suspected there would be some left for overnight or early morning guests. Hubby is already up, getting ready for his tee time … “You just missed Mama and the cub”, he says. Thank goodness for the trail cam! After 33 years, he finally figured out what gift makes me a happy camper. And all it took was a brick upside his head wrapped with the Cabela’s page (just kidding, I only had to e-mail him the page link and put the torn out page from the catalog in his golf magazine by the ‘throne’). But I digress….
My first knowledge of Buddy’s presence last year was mid-June; my first photo was taken June 20th. By comparison, I think Spooky’s cub is a bit larger although I do believe Buddy had spent a few days hungry and afraid before he found me and the Hard Rock Diner.
I don’t know what the remainder of the day may bring ~ there may be surprises in store that make me want to write more later on, but I thought it would be nice to start your day as I did mine … looking at these beautiful, inquisitive bears.
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“What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone,
man would die from a great loneliness of the spirit.
For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man.
All things are connected“.
Chief Seattle, chief of the Suquamis 1780 - June 7, 1866
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More medicine bags will be added to my shop today!!
Last night’s trail cam images showed that not much was happening … I do think it’s a good thing that the bears are roaming and foraging. Maybe this is time to concentrate on Flopsy, the tattered-ear doe. She was here late this afternoon, still looking fat with child. I wonder if the cold snap the past couple nights has to do with the timing of delivery?
Meanwhile, back at the rock … the birds, squirrels & chipmunks are happy campers. Hubby weed-whacked around the Hard Rock Diner, exposing all of the shelves. At one point, I saw four squirrels, a chipmunk and 2 mourning doves, all peacefully co-existing♥ It’s amazing, how huge that rock is. Doesn’t look like much with a bear laying on it (well, that looks WONDERFUL ~ oops mind wandering now... ;-) but a D-8 dozer put it into place. It's well over a ton and has layers like shelves where different critters can have their own little space. There’s always something happening at the HRD!
Hubby also opened up the trail cam trail a bit, since tall weeds and grass had begun to trigger the camera for no good reason. When I changed out the SD card today, I switched the cam to ‘video’. Hope we get some good viewing soon, other than Shadow strolling into the woods. He has been known to herd turkey and flush out quail … goodness knows the adventures he has! Hmmm, note to self: check into critter cam… ♥
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“The American Indian is of the soil, whether it be the region of forests, plains, pueblos, or mesas. He fits into the landscape, for the hand that fashioned the continent also fashioned the man for his surroundings. He once grew as naturally as the wild sunflowers, he belongs just as the buffalo belonged.…”
Luther Standing Bear Oglala Sioux 1868-1937
Please drop by my Etsy shop for medicine bags and more
The "wild life" I get to see down south is quite different. Neighbors on two sides of me have horses, and there are lots more in the neighborhood. My nephew and his family have horses in Christmas, Florida; I also got to see the "Arabian Nights" show while in Orlando. 
Then, a gathering of Lily the Black Bear fans and family at Highlands Hammock State Park provided great fun, and opportunities to observe some of Florida's signature wildlife...gators, turtles and tourists!
Heading back home towards Pennsylvania, my last stop was to catch up with my brother and his family, and spend the day with my nephew enjoying wildlife Halloween style, at the Pumpkin Patch.
