Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Shamsie-fied
I was thinking about random things the other day, you know how you do, when washing the dishes or some other repetitive task where the mind can wander as you function on auto-pilot.
Anyway, I got to thinking how pretty Shamsie is because, well, she's gorgeous.
She is literally the color of my paint bottles!
At some point it occurred to me how weird it would be if other things were the same color scheme as Shamsie.
If they were.........
....Shamsie-fied!
Anyway, I got to thinking how pretty Shamsie is because, well, she's gorgeous.
She is literally the color of my paint bottles!
At some point it occurred to me how weird it would be if other things were the same color scheme as Shamsie.
If they were.........
....Shamsie-fied!
Friday, February 14, 2014
Hearts All Around - Valentine's Day 2014 Edition
It's that time of year again! Love is in the air and "hearts" are all around.
This has been a long, cold winter and snow is on the ground, so of course we have a snow heart.
Brrrrrrrrrrr
I'm kinda not feeling the snow love anymore though, ready for Spring at the moment.
While hiking along Chestnut Top Trail in Great Smoky Mtns Nat'l Park, I noticed this natural heart. It is part of a tree chainsawed off the trail from the "night of the tornadoes" we had a while back that did major damage in this area.
It's quite perfect!
S gave me a beautiful bouquet of mixed roses for our anniversary/Valentine's Day - the green ones are so ruffly and unique.
And I think this delicate pink one has a somewhat heart-shaped petal formation.
Happy Valentine's Day!
This has been a long, cold winter and snow is on the ground, so of course we have a snow heart.
Brrrrrrrrrrr
I'm kinda not feeling the snow love anymore though, ready for Spring at the moment.
While hiking along Chestnut Top Trail in Great Smoky Mtns Nat'l Park, I noticed this natural heart. It is part of a tree chainsawed off the trail from the "night of the tornadoes" we had a while back that did major damage in this area.
It's quite perfect!
S gave me a beautiful bouquet of mixed roses for our anniversary/Valentine's Day - the green ones are so ruffly and unique.
And I think this delicate pink one has a somewhat heart-shaped petal formation.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
This is what the Government Shutdown looks like in the Great Smoky Mtns NP
Today was Day 9 of the government shutdown which has (among various other things) officially closed all 401 units of the National Park System. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is just one of many. However, it is also the most visited national park in the system, attracting over 9 million visitors a year.
So, what does the shutdown look like in the Smokies? Fair question.
This is the sign that faces you at the closed gate of Clingmans Dome Road. There were several cars parked on the roadside and families were walking off down the road beyond the gate. Reflected in the laminated sign are the taillights of visitors who had to turn around.
Newfound Gap Road remains open from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC, which means visitors can drive up and over the mountains. Scenic overlooks, pull-offs and quiet walkway trailhead parking lots remain open. (This was not the case at the very start of the shutdown; I've read that ALL parking areas had been blocked with traffic cones/barricades.)
In Newfound Gap parking lot, a portable electronic road sign warns "No Overnight Camping". The lot was almost completely full. The leaves are starting to turn, a few patches of bright yellow and some emerging red here and there.
This is the barrier that greets you at the junction of Appalachian Trail and Newfound Gap parking area.
Sign Reads:
"Warning: This Park Area is CLOSED. Emergency Response will be significantly DELAYED beyond this point."
A good many people were checking out the Rockefeller memorial and heading toward the restrooms (which I think were open but I'm not sure). I could see people walking on the AT. A guy with day pack and trekking poles was just exiting the trail as we approached; he took a selfie with the warning sign. He probably went to The Jumpoff. That's where I'd go. seethes with jealousy
Chimneys Picnic Area - closed. Heavily barricaded.
Chimney Tops Trailhead parking area - closed. Heavily barricaded.
As well as heavily coned all along the roadsides and any potential pull off as you approach and pass the parking lot to prevent people from stopping. We did however see one car parked up above the loop that I'm sure belonged to somebody getting a rare solo-hike on Chimney Tops. further seething
Alum Cave Bluffs trailhead was similarly barricaded. There were multiple cars parked in the grass along the roadside beyond the barriers on both ends and a few also parked at the next pull out.
Sugarlands Visitor Center/park headquarters is closed and all parking is coned off.
Little River Road, connecting Sugarlands to Townsend, passing Laurel Falls, Elkmont, Metcalf Bottoms and The Sinks along the way, is closed - coned off at the visitor center.
Cades Cove is closed. Tremont is closed. Cosby. Smokemont. Deep Creek. It just goes on!
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is closed, gated just at the park boundary. A handful of cars were parked at the gate, including a govt. service vehicle. I wonder if Ely Mill is closed? A huge portion of their traffic must come from those exiting the one-way Roaring Fork.
Basically, in this area of the national park, this all means the average tourist can get out and stroll around. Those in the know could still milk a bunch of miles out of this situation, often without actually walking past any barricades.
Having said all of this, it was busy! Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg were both hopping and the traffic in the national park was heavy but not congested.
Newfound Gap parking lot.
Campbell Overlook view. Clearly not nearing peak color yet at this elevation, though there is some color showing on Mt. LeConte, in clouds at far right.
But up on Newfound Gap Road you do drive through some nice pockets of autumn, and the crisp blue sky with fluffy clouds made a fantastic backdrop.
So. Although the park is "closed" you can still drive up and over.
And if you know where to do it, you can still get some hiking in.
This shutdown better get resolved soon, it is certainly interfering with a great many fall plans.
So, what does the shutdown look like in the Smokies? Fair question.
This is the sign that faces you at the closed gate of Clingmans Dome Road. There were several cars parked on the roadside and families were walking off down the road beyond the gate. Reflected in the laminated sign are the taillights of visitors who had to turn around.
Newfound Gap Road remains open from Gatlinburg, TN to Cherokee, NC, which means visitors can drive up and over the mountains. Scenic overlooks, pull-offs and quiet walkway trailhead parking lots remain open. (This was not the case at the very start of the shutdown; I've read that ALL parking areas had been blocked with traffic cones/barricades.)
In Newfound Gap parking lot, a portable electronic road sign warns "No Overnight Camping". The lot was almost completely full. The leaves are starting to turn, a few patches of bright yellow and some emerging red here and there.
This is the barrier that greets you at the junction of Appalachian Trail and Newfound Gap parking area.
Sign Reads:
"Warning: This Park Area is CLOSED. Emergency Response will be significantly DELAYED beyond this point."
A good many people were checking out the Rockefeller memorial and heading toward the restrooms (which I think were open but I'm not sure). I could see people walking on the AT. A guy with day pack and trekking poles was just exiting the trail as we approached; he took a selfie with the warning sign. He probably went to The Jumpoff. That's where I'd go. seethes with jealousy
Chimneys Picnic Area - closed. Heavily barricaded.
Chimney Tops Trailhead parking area - closed. Heavily barricaded.
As well as heavily coned all along the roadsides and any potential pull off as you approach and pass the parking lot to prevent people from stopping. We did however see one car parked up above the loop that I'm sure belonged to somebody getting a rare solo-hike on Chimney Tops. further seething
Alum Cave Bluffs trailhead was similarly barricaded. There were multiple cars parked in the grass along the roadside beyond the barriers on both ends and a few also parked at the next pull out.
Sugarlands Visitor Center/park headquarters is closed and all parking is coned off.
Little River Road, connecting Sugarlands to Townsend, passing Laurel Falls, Elkmont, Metcalf Bottoms and The Sinks along the way, is closed - coned off at the visitor center.
Cades Cove is closed. Tremont is closed. Cosby. Smokemont. Deep Creek. It just goes on!
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is closed, gated just at the park boundary. A handful of cars were parked at the gate, including a govt. service vehicle. I wonder if Ely Mill is closed? A huge portion of their traffic must come from those exiting the one-way Roaring Fork.
Basically, in this area of the national park, this all means the average tourist can get out and stroll around. Those in the know could still milk a bunch of miles out of this situation, often without actually walking past any barricades.
Having said all of this, it was busy! Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg were both hopping and the traffic in the national park was heavy but not congested.
Newfound Gap parking lot.
Campbell Overlook view. Clearly not nearing peak color yet at this elevation, though there is some color showing on Mt. LeConte, in clouds at far right.
But up on Newfound Gap Road you do drive through some nice pockets of autumn, and the crisp blue sky with fluffy clouds made a fantastic backdrop.
So. Although the park is "closed" you can still drive up and over.
And if you know where to do it, you can still get some hiking in.
This shutdown better get resolved soon, it is certainly interfering with a great many fall plans.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Vegetarian Pole Beans and Corn recipe
Our garden is doing well! Today I harvested a heaping handful of pole beans and cooked them up with onions and sweet corn. Came out very tasty and went nicely as a side dish alongside flounder and salmon fillets and garlic bread.
Vegetarian Pole Beans and Corn
Big handful of pole beans (ours are Kentucky Wonder)
1 ear of sweet corn, uncooked
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 banana pepper, finely chopped
1/2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp chili powder (or to taste)
pinch of sugar
Heat butter and oil in heavy pot. Add onions and banana pepper, cook until onions are clear; stir in salt, black pepper and chili powder.
Wash and snap beans into bite-size pieces, removing strings. Add to pot and stir constantly until beans turn bright green. Pour enough hot water into pot to cover beans; cook on high until tender, about 20-25 minutes.
Cut kernels from corn cob and add to pot. Sprinkle in sugar. Cook another 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add water as needed. Taste for salt/pepper.
Vegetarian Pole Beans and Corn
Big handful of pole beans (ours are Kentucky Wonder)
1 ear of sweet corn, uncooked
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 banana pepper, finely chopped
1/2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp chili powder (or to taste)
pinch of sugar
Heat butter and oil in heavy pot. Add onions and banana pepper, cook until onions are clear; stir in salt, black pepper and chili powder.
Wash and snap beans into bite-size pieces, removing strings. Add to pot and stir constantly until beans turn bright green. Pour enough hot water into pot to cover beans; cook on high until tender, about 20-25 minutes.
Cut kernels from corn cob and add to pot. Sprinkle in sugar. Cook another 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add water as needed. Taste for salt/pepper.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Fauna Friday
Bird babies!!
In the middle of the Clinch River, on the island near the weir dam, there is a Great Blue Heron nest we've been watching for a while. Three babies are in it and boy are they getting big.
The standing one was giving its wings quite a workout, won't be long and it'll be airborne!
Here is a youtube video of the babies.
I tried and tried to upload the video to blogspot, then tried to embed the video here from my youtube account.... nothing is working!! Anybody else on blogspot having this issue? I wasted so much time trying to make it happen :-(
In the middle of the Clinch River, on the island near the weir dam, there is a Great Blue Heron nest we've been watching for a while. Three babies are in it and boy are they getting big.
The standing one was giving its wings quite a workout, won't be long and it'll be airborne!
Here is a youtube video of the babies.
I tried and tried to upload the video to blogspot, then tried to embed the video here from my youtube account.... nothing is working!! Anybody else on blogspot having this issue? I wasted so much time trying to make it happen :-(
Friday, June 21, 2013
Fauna Friday - The Return of Mothra
I found a big, beautiful moth on our garage door just before we went camping, and coincidentally while we were in the campground there was another one perched outside the bathrooms all day.
He was so soft and fuzzy, it was very tempting to reach out and touch but I managed to contain myself.
Didn't want to hurt or scare him!
My Googling efforts indicated he is a Polyphemus Moth.
If only he'd fully opened his wings, I would have been treated to a couple of very stunning eye-like dots on the lower portions.
Oh well, maybe another time.
It was still very enchanting to be able to examine him so closely and he hardly moved at all. I wonder if he had just emerged, or if he was drying off after the drizzle we'd had in the night......
He was so soft and fuzzy, it was very tempting to reach out and touch but I managed to contain myself.
Didn't want to hurt or scare him!
My Googling efforts indicated he is a Polyphemus Moth.
If only he'd fully opened his wings, I would have been treated to a couple of very stunning eye-like dots on the lower portions.
Oh well, maybe another time.
It was still very enchanting to be able to examine him so closely and he hardly moved at all. I wonder if he had just emerged, or if he was drying off after the drizzle we'd had in the night......
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