Sky Watch: My # 14

"The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. " ~Author Unknown ~

Yesterday I ventured out into the PRC for a long overdue cruise by myself to celebrate the end of my English class. In my adventure, two key details were in play...I didn't want to drive far from home, and I only had an hour. I found myself at the "Witness Tree"! This is one of the most peaceful-remote-drive to area's in the forest. As I sat there peering at the blue sky through the trees, I felt at peace. There is a saying or quote..."know you are exactly where you are supposed to be in life in this very moment". I adore this quote! While I was sitting on the lush pine needle forest floor, I thought that; I am exactly were I supposed to be...I this makes me fill with Joy.
Later last night I drove down to the elk viewing area to see I could get a glimpse at these beautiful animals....And I did! If you look really close to the edge of the forest you can see them. Not the best shot I know, but I wanted to incorporate the sky in the photo. Also, I think it is time for a new camera with different lens options. Then I bet I could have taken a better close up shot of these guys. Either way, I still had the chance to see them, and the evening could not have been better. The radiating sun was setting behind the ridge of the valley, only to lighten the viewing area enough. As the sun disappeared behind the trees and night set in, it was time to head home and finish my very last assignment for class. (By the way, I got an A- in the class! Wahoo!)
Don't forget to check out the other great Sky Watch posts from around the world! Click the link! Hope everyone has a Happy Friday and a great weekend.

The Overdue Update-A peak into the craziness

"As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler."
Henry David Thoreau

Latly I have been simplifying my life. Mt. Man and I are trying to live a more Susutainable Lifestyle. Not only that, we are becoming more aware of our surroundings. I we could be labeled as Natualists. Call us what you will, my father calls us his crazy hippy kids; and smiles, but we are happy and content. :D With all the adventures we have been embarking on with peanut, we fell we know the forest again. (I have waited many moons for this....to see life and peace again). Now that peanut is old enough, we can go on PRC adventures everyday. Lately we have taken to rock hunting and elk tracking. Peanut is able to point out Elk tracks and elk poo now. She may hate me when she grows up for making her live a simple lifestyl, but I hope the positive lessons over power the negative.

My Lil Nature Lovin' Adventurer!

This lil tyke has been sicky all week! I stayed home with her for most of it. These are the times I wish I was home everyday with her...Sometimes I even look up ways for me to do this. But with me going to school this is just not possible. At least when I finish I will be able to stay home in the summers with her.

This week I also had the chance to do a lil elk sighting and finally getting my new blog about the Pigeon River Country going....This makes me happy more than anything...I get to post all about the PRC.

With all the Elk Scouting I was doing you would think I might have seen one by now...no such luck...but there is always later this evening, and early tomorrow before work.

Mt.Man, Peanut, and I did adventure into an area of the PRC that we have never seen before. It took us to the back side of the main Elk Viewing area. The Sky in the horizon is a small thunderstorm we managed to stay west of. And over us, the sky was bright blue with puffy clouds! I love this picture.....So much transition in it!

This is an Elk Print from the other day! It was as big as Peanuts foot!

And lastly we have been making our yard pretty! There isn't much now, but next year the whole front of the house will have a variey of flowers blooming all summer long! This is my heaven!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Sunday!

Sky Watch Friday: My # 13

Last Sunday was my Family Adventure Sunday! Mt.Man, Peanut, and I headed to Inspiration Point in the Pigeon River Country! (Hemingway used to come to the area to fish the Black and Sturgeon Rivers).

The Skies were beautiful, filled with big puffy clouds against the radiant blue. I have been waiting all week to post these!

Inspiration Point overlooks Cornwall Flooding, and old lumbering community. And the bright green grass below that looks like a putting green , is actually a DNR planted clove patch for the Elk. The Pigeon River Country has the only free roaming Elk herd East of the Mississippi River. Our Claim to fame here. They are beautiful animals to gaze at when you actually see one. On this day we were not so lucky!

I was fortunate enough to spot this lil fellow. Not sure what kind of bird he is, but I love the colors. He even has a yellow markings on him.

Happy Sky Watch Friday Everyone! :) And don't forget to check out the other great sky posts from around the world.

Simple Living Thoughts

"Every day we do things, we are things that have to do with peace. If we are aware of our life..., our way of looking at things, we will know how to make peace right in the moment, we are alive." ~Thich Nhat Hanh~

I could lecture all day we are what we sow, but there is no use in that. Just like I could scold Peanut her whole life, but if I don't follow my own opinions, Peanut will only know how not to be. I find this leads to more confusion for the child.

I find it more worth wild to make our own mistakes and grow through gentle guidance. If I wish my child achieve greatness I shouldn't push her, I should just be that example.

Unknowingly to me, I have passed on a few good treats. Not only are we without many luxuries, we still live happily. It is not in mt.man or my nature to complain about what we don't have theses days. We live simply, and enjoy every moment.

Our garden is not just for enjoyment, it is a lively hood when it is time to purchase wood. Our composting was a way to not have the cost of garbage pick up. We compost all that we can, separate the recyclables, and only have one bag of trash a week. (Not bad for two city kids.) Our compost matures beautifully, and helps with garden growth. It is getting harder for me to kill my perennials. ( Love it, it wasn't entirely all my fault, lol). And when I venture over to the main campus for school, I make a day out of it. I drop off my recyclables at the easily accessible recycle center. I run my errands for school, and then enjoy the beauty Petoskey has to offer.

We are starting to make many of our cleaning products b/c frankly have you seen the price of them lately? And my products do just as good a job! For 2 bucks you can get a box of borax. The box will last all year. Plus, just google borax uses...it is a natural aunt killer, room deodorizer, and the list goes on.

We are also in need of getting new clothes. Peanut is the only one recently who gets brand new clothes, mt. man and I had so many they just started to wear. Now we are shopping for products that are earth friendly and are durable! The prices are similar to those of our favorite name brand products, but they last longer and help the earth.

Now my whole opinion is changing. No longer do I want to live the so desired lifestyle of most, I want to run in elk fields with peanut with our scavenger hunt list. I want to wake up to the sun shinning in my room, and knowing that when sh*t hits the fan I am OK. I no longer wish to have more than I know what to do with, and waste my money frivolously. I want to save for great vacations to see all of earth's beauty. I want to stay mostly sustainable in my lifestyle to protect what we do have for peanut and her kids. I no longer am consumed in myself so much that I forget what the real meaning to life is....Joy. The kind you can't buy...and I hope I can pass that on to peanut....then I will believe she has achieved greatness. And I share this for no real reason, except to show how easy life can be and peace will only begin to be a reality when someone cares enough to share their silly thoughts.

Family Adventure Sunday

Today was my 2nd "Family Adventure Sunday"! You see, Mt.Man and I were tired of sitting around (well-doing much need house stuff) and decided that every Sunday we were going on an Adventure out to the PRC. I think it is starting to catch on, a tradition if you will! Today we explored what I will call the "Cornwall Circle"....a 20mile trek from and to our house. There are a lot of great pull overs, elk viewing area's, a few lakes, Cornwall flooding, two Pigeon river crossings, and Inspiration Point. It is known Hemingway enjoyed much of his leisure time here in the PRC. I certainly wouldn't doubt he knew about Inspiration Point. It is a lil 1/2 mile hike off Osmun Rd. and is very scenic.

A little canvas to provide a moments worth of shade.

(this is about half way to the look out!)

Once you reach Inspiration Point, a breath taking view awaits you. Over 100 years ago this overlook was a logging community, now it is just known as Cornwall Flooding.

When you gaze to the left, a blurry glimpse of the Pigeon River can be seen.
We may not have mt.'s here in the Tipp O' the Mitt,
But we have peaceful valleys.
This area is also part of the Tipp's Huge Watershed. I think to count
there are 6 rivers or sheds that start in Otsego County.
Pretty amazing.

Peanut both climbed up and walked down this steep incline.
Pretty impressive for a 2 1/2 year old.

To and from the point we noticed a small patch of Poison Ivy.

So peanut was carried through here.

After our lil hike we headed to Stone Bridge for our picnic...fresh snap pea's, watermelon, peaches, chips and salsa, and of course hot dogs over a campfire. These picnics are becoming addicting, and I only have so many more planned! :D

Hope everyone had a great Sunday as well! Peace :)

Openning Up the Door to some Thought!

Footprints in the Sand

Like many other folks, I have been wondering what the heck is going on! I may not be old enough to remember the "good ol'" days, but I am old enough to remember getting cable T.V. and how exciting it was. { When I was little my folks lived pay check to pay check like most young families do. But when I was 8 they splurged for Cable T.V. so my brother and I could have the disney channel (b/c frankly, they had given up hope on being able to take us there, and thought this was a good substitute). When I was 12 we moved into our home (it took my parents three years to build), and b/c money was tight again, we were without cable. So my brother and I saved as much money as we could with our allowances' and odd jobs like mowing lawns, babysitting, ect… and handed my father a jar with enough cash for a years worth of cable. He caved, and got it for us. But he did not use what we saved, he put it away for us.}
My point? I think our world just needs to get "Real" again. Living in peace is not about controlling the world, it is about living with each others proclivities'. When we finally respect others beliefs and cares; we will know when to leave well enough alone, things might actually get better. I received this email forward the other day, and thought "WOW, Ben you totally hit it on the nail"….take a few minutes to read his Commentary…...

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning


Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it..... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.


My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,


Ben Stein



Well, I didn't forward it…I obviously pasted it here! Why? I think it makes a good point! Another wonderful example about hiding from your true self, why do we still do this? Foolishness I guess! Well not for me, In my quest to lead by example, I am choosing to put behind the evil thoughts of others b/c it really is a waste of my time to worry about. I would rather be surrounded by positive well thought out criticism then that of someone who can not back their own belief without hatred towards another!
O' And I really don't expect anyone to pass this on…just wanted to open up the doors to a good view on the all the craziness in life!
And for the record I was brought up in a polish catholic home, and never go to church now, but I do believe in a higher power. (think John Muir-My peace is in nature and what "god" has created all while we respect it)!

Stone Bridge-The PRC

When I was a nine, my daycare provider took us kiddo's on adventures to the Stone Bridge that summer. We would float the chilly 47 degree water on black tire tubes. The main reason we children tolerated the water was because of the tunnels we got to venture through. The river is moderatly fast here, and after the tunnels there was the break in the rocks we had to navigate. Eventually bring us to a very shallow spot in the river to break free from the river and warm up; just to do it all over again.

As the years passed the stone bridge became a figment of my imagination. A whole decade past before I ventured out there again. This time with friends. We never did coast the tunnels, but many memories were made swimming in the hole on hot summer days.
When I was 24, mt.man and I area, we ventured with a few friends the first weekend of april down the Pigeon in canoes. The snow was still melting, the water was only 37 degrees, but it was the warmest 70 degree spring day in my life I remember. Being the young adventurous soul that I was/am, I decided to finally achieve my dream of jumping off the bridge. ( With the river level higher in the spring from snow melt, you have less of a chance of hitting the rocks on the bottom. Stupid I know!) Well needless to say I took the plunge, along with our friend P.C.! (another adveturous soul) Long story short, I lost my favorite pair of flip flops, was near hypothermia all the way home, and that is when we lived in town! P.C. on the other hand just did his laundry at his folks, and had a change of clothes. All in all it was the best dream fulfilled in a long time, and I can not wait until I can show peanut the same joy. (although I think I will wait for warmer water, and bring extra clothes.)

When I was younger, and afraid of nature, I would walk the rocks. As I grew to be one, I walk the water! Peanut thinks it is great I can walk to the other side of the river. There is a lil creek across the river that is a blast to explore. We have already spotted a water snake, frogs, crawfish, and baby trout. I am going to claim this me and peanuts spot. When she is older I plan to bring her here to swim-luck for me it is only 6 miles away!

And no day at the stone bridge is complete until you see the dragonflies dancing. We spotted this lil guy on our expenadition down the creek. He was the only one content not flying around. Eatting I presume.

Stone Bridge was built during the logging era of the PRC, then modified in the 1940's by conservation groups. It stands soundly today as one of the main crossings, attarctions, and camping areas in the PRC! And there is no wonder as to why!

Sky Watch Friday: I almost forgot....

I think this is my skywatch #12! :) I have been so busy latly with my school work that it has been really hard to blog lately. But I promised myself I would never miss a skywatch this summer! So today after I dropped peanut off with grandma/pa, I decided to take the scenic drive home. It starts out the same was as the "back way", but then turns off onto a "natural beauty road"! Check out what I saw.....

I love this view, and as you can see they have been busy at work haying. This is the first hay of the season. And the way the weather has been, I bet they get at least two more cuts this summer. It haying terms-that is great! Normally a farm only gets two cuts a year, and sometimes are blessed with a third!

I just love the way the hay barrels seem to float in the fields....and the view of a random tree in it's natural realm is always a site. As you can see, there is a thick forest behind the field, that is what most of the Tipp O' the Mitt looks like, filled with trees!

I was determined to drive the "natural beauty road". So as I headed down the path, I couldn't resist taking a photo of all the beauty that surrounded me. :)

As I drove down another back twisty turny road, I came to one of the bridges that crosses the Sturgeon River. If this bridge could talk I am sure it would have a lot of great stories to tell. I also love the rushing river underneth. I wish I could have recorded the serene music the water played, it was so calming and peaceful.

With Mt.Man at a bachlor party all weekend, Peanut and I have a whole day of adventures planned for tomorrow. Our version of the perfect girls day is completly opposite of most I am sure, but I bet we have a blast. First we are off to the lake for some swimming, fishing, and a picnic. Then I think after nape time we will go for a hike by the Pigeon River, I haven't been to the trail in forever. And Peanut is happy doing anything, as long as there is fun to be had! (how did I get so lucky?) :) Finally, we have a hole campout planned in our front yard. Last weekend her cousins chickened out, and wanted to sleep in the house, so this weekend her and I are hitting the tent. Air mattress and all! Not to mention strawberry smores are always a favorite around the campfire.

Don't forget to click the link at the top of the post or on the side bar to check out more great skywatch photo's!

Happy Friday all! :) Hope everyone has many memoriable adventures this weekend!

Coincedence or Fate

When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.
John Muir

A number of years ago, while at the library, I decided to check out a book on palm readings. ( I had a thing for the supernatural, and was in the middle of trying to find myself; lol do we ever REALLY find ourselves...that is for later...) It said many things I didn't want to except then, and as I thought would only vaguely describe what lied ahead. I took it with a grain assault, and forgot about it until recently. See the reading had separated a life into four parts; my first 25 years were supposed to be filled with confusion, pain, lack of mind stimuli and greed. The second part of my life (or stages filled with lessons as I like to call them now) was to be short, 7 yrs for that matter. This was where I am supposed to discover "me", and my faith or religion, or belief in what ever. This is what is supposed to define my core existence in this crazy world.(I'll get to this in a minute) The third stage was to be another short period of 15 or so years. I am supposed to take everything I learned up until that point, and make a change. The fourth stage is all about realization. That no matter what I did in life, if I didn't do it with dignity and grace it wouldn't matter.

So my Point? Well recently Peanut and I have been spending every waking minute outside. With no T.V. thanks to the gov for incorporating the dtv act, and forgetting that 70 million people would be without, I have had to look for other means of entertainment and news sources. (thank you dial-up)!Anyway, I have learned to appreciate the "finer" things in life, the most simplest of pleasures, it is called Nature! And while I am no stranger to this atmosphere, I have been using my brain more...lol scary I know! And in the midst of all this thinking, I am writing my next paper for class on sustainable living (only living off the bare necessities, and preserving our earth for our children). I have been thinking how can I help preserve this, why do I care so much, and why does my heart ache when I think of all the horrible things that are happening around me/us? Well welcome to the realization I am in my second stage of life. Finding my "beliefs", and quiet frankly giving a damn about those around me. (even if I have never met them) Can things really change? are people capable of doing good, and stopping all the evil in this world. Or do we as a species need evil to help define us as an individual, to keep us grounded, and not take life for granted. What I don't understand is why children have to get hurt, I read about this and robbery way to often in the news paper, and there just seems to be no justice in it.

Call me young and naive, but I think we as a world can change things. I think if we live by example, and start finding what is important to us, life wouldn't suck. We wouldn't be in the worst recession ever, and hate crimes would not exist. If we all just tried to preserve what was around us, instead of having to have the latest gizmo's and gadgets, we wouldn't be so unhappy if we couldn't buy it. If we all just turned off out tv's and blocked the violence from our kids, maybe crime would go down in a few decades. Maybe?

Is it fate I am thinking off all this craziness, just like the reading said....or is it a coincidence b/c of the predicament our country is in, and we all know what lies ahead?

I do know one thing, I am not cool with some punks breaking into my neighbors the other day, b/c of boredom. I live in the middle of no where, it is supposed to be safe out here, but then again nothing is safe anymore.

The funny thing is, you would think we would learn after 2000+ yrs of existence. The world keeps turning, but things only change for awhile, and then the cycle of destruction continues....

As I seek to discover my beliefs, and move into a new realm of life, I wonder if I can really start to make things better. If maybe I start living more simply, and one with nature like John Muir or Rachel Carson, I can maybe make a difference in a big way as they did. I wonder?

Sky Watch Friday-My #11

It has been a pretty drab week up here in the North...Last week you couldn't get rid of enough clothes, and this week you can't seem to find where you put them. It has been rainy and 50 all week. In retro spec, the last 7 summers have been so hot and dry, that we were due for this weather sooner or later. The sun did manage to clear for a few hours Wednesday afternoon. So, while I waited for ~E~ at home, (of course we were going fishing) I took a few shots from the driveway! The skies finally had a break from the gray and shined bright the moment it could! (Can you see the Turkey Vulture in the horizon?)

Once ~E~ arrived we headed to Pickerel Lake! (Just a hope, skip, jump away from mi casa). After we unloaded the canoe and van full of fishing supplies, a few teenagers showed up! To our surprise they actually saved this lil dude! :) He was on the road, and they stopped to bring him home to the lake.

We saw this lil guy swimming and enjoying life before and after fishing! :) We also had the chance to see a few other turtles, some minks, and a few fish. I even caught a nice sized blue gill!

Most of the evening on the lake had been cloudy....
....But every so often the sun peaked out from behind the clouds. I love when the rays of the sun kiss the water! :)

We really didn't have a "great" catch but three fishies are in the fridge, and tomorrow morning ~E~ and I are going out again. It is actually supposed to be sunny tomorrow AND warm! :) Yea!

Happy Friday, and don't forget to check out more Skies from around the world!