the River Walk

I think this view is just lovely. The trail is headed east to the Sandy Creek. You can see one of our trailblazing marks on the closest tree. I told Himself that perhaps we should be making slash marks on the trees as the early woodsmen, or long riflemen, did. However, if we would have had to reclaim our trail looking for slash marks, we might never have found it. The orange fluorescent paint was much easier to see . . . the other side

Found "Treasure"

This is a photo of the old limestone well we found, while floundering through the timber on the river bottom. We were so excited! I want to get down in it, of course, to see if there are any artifacts but Himself is saying that we cannot for fear of collapse. I do think we can find some kind of a grappling hook or long handled tool, so that we can at least probe for treasure . . . the other side

Writers block over

We have gone to III this past weekend(october 15,16, and 17) Saturday we put all other projects aside and decided to finish our trail. First we had to find the river. I knew the way to the North fence boundry, so when we got there we split up. I went to the west and herself went to the east. Herself found the river, so we went back to where our previous trail ended, and forged into the heavy timber armed with loppers, chain saw, and mower. We headed mostly east, clearing as we went. After we cleared several yards, we came upon a piece of tin lying to the side. As herself was in the lead, she investigated and found an old well about 20ft deep and 5-6ft in diameter, lined with limestone rocks. After looking for awhile, we went ahead with the trail and came to a beautiful overlook to Sandy Creek. The creek is low this time of the year, but it looks interesting. I noticed just about every tree of age has poison ivy vines creeping up to the tree tops. One vine I noticed was approx. 5" in diameter. Eventually, we will attact the vines near the trail. On we went, cutting and clearing until we came to the SE border, where we we're going to have to start up a big hill. It was getting late, so decided to call it a day. Went back to the shack, cleaned up and had brots for supper.
We have since found out that limestone wells were built in the 1800's, as later wells were lined with tile. The well is in excellent condition for being over 100 and maybe 200 years old. It is empty, except for some branches and leaves. I am very curious to do further exploring in this area to see if we can find and indication of a cabin or house. To much poison ivy at this time.

We knew it was supposed to cool off that nite, as around 7:30PM the temperature had already dropped to the lower 50's. So we decided we would fire up the stove for the nite. I was in bed around 10:00. Around 12:30 I could feel the cold creeping, so got up and threw more logs into the fire. I checked the temperature outside, it was 48 degrees. Got up again at 3:30 to fire up the stove again, and the temp was 42 degrees. Got up again at 5:30 for good and got the coffee going. I know herself got up once to feed the fire, yet she claims twice. I am such a light sleeper that I hear every sound, so I have my doubts as to her having got up twice.
Sunday we got up and started up on the trail again. It was decided that we would start where we wanted the trail to begin and see if we could meet up where we had finished from the previous day. It must have been luck, or herself's compass reading ability, but we came out right where we wanted. We ended up with eight tenths of a mile of trail. The next time we will continue the trail to the west end of the property which should give us a minimum of 2 miles of trail. Keep in mind that this trail is going thru raw, heavy timber. It is hard work, but a feeling of accomplishment greets us when finished.
We have used the dc/ac converter for three weekends now. I estimate the lamp has been on for approx. 5 hours, and have filled the air mattress 3 - 4 times, and have not had to re-charge the battery yet. I know it will fail when we need it the most, but I need to have some kind of idea how long we can expect from the battery. Thanks again, Clint, for introducing our "cabin in the woods" to electricity.
Just to give credit where credit is due, herself forged the new trail, leading us and marking the way, clearing with the loppers, then I would follow up with the chain saw, followed by the mower. She did a truly fine job, and the trail is very scenic. Daniel Boone could not have forged a finer trail.
On Monday, we got up and herself started clearing brush from the lane where previous owner had cleared trees. She got 2 trailer loads, and only cleared about 25 yards. At that rate it will take approx. 500 more trailer loads, but its a start. While she was doing this, I took the marking paint and went and marked some trees so we could find the trail after all the leaves have fallen, covering the trail. She worked much harder than myself, but then she is much younger.
All for now.
Boi

October 1, 2005: The leaves are just beginning to show color.

The sounds of Silence

Himself has a block, a writers block. He has not made an entry for over a month. I have been silent, giving him space, but he still does not write. I think, then, the remedy is to take him to III. We will go to Too tomorrow evening. I imagine that we will winterize the cabin; lock her down for winter. Not that we won't go again this fall but at this time of year, you never know what Mother Nature has in store. So to protect against a freeze, snow or just plain cold temperatures, we will need to close her down. Then, Saturday morning, we will head to III. We hope to get out into that beautiful timber and a have a look see. Maybe cut some trails. Look around to see where we might situate a house in a year or two. We are taking an extra day and will stay until Monday. We are anxious; can't wait! Our weather forecasters are predicting a beautiful weekend. 70 degree highs. Lows in the mid 40s. A fire in the woodburner will feel good at night or first thing in the morning, to take the chill off but Himself shouldn't have to get up in the night to add firewood -- not if we go prepared. And we will.

I have faith that on our return, Himself just might have something to say. the other side

The lull before the storm

Saturday the pond was still and green and stagnant. It almost seemed that one could take a piece of chalk and write on the green, slate board surface.

Sunday morning we arose to thick, gray skies and drizzly rain and the look of the pond was fresher, clearer.

I like both ponds.

Fall fashions

From: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/nathis/seasons/fall/
Kansas City Region: Fall colors are just starting to turn in most of the region, but the process will begin to accelerate with cool evening temperatures predicted for this week (lows in the 40's). Sumac, Virginia creeper, poison ivy and dogwood are starting to turn red. Hackberry, redbud, honey locust, elm, ash. hickory, and cottonwood are starting to show some yellow. There is good viewing of fall color in Swope Park, White Alloe Creek CA, Burr Oak Woods CA, Maple Woods NA, and Big Buffalo Creek CA. Highways 45 and 24 make excellent drives for fall color viewing. Many trees in the Sedalia area are beginning to show fall color. Most notable are walnut, ash, and sycamore with shades of yellow. Dated 9/29/2005

We are sitting on the porch at III. The skies are overcast, the wind gusty and occasional thunder rumbles around the edges. Rain drips and, falling on the tin roof, it sounds more than what it is. To the noise of a thunderstorm in the night and what sounded like pouring rain, we got up to not even a half-inch of rain in the gauge. There will be more rain this morning and we are more or less content to sit on the porch with our morning coffee and wait it out.

I take a stroll in my green, waterproof, shoes and sweatshirt, around the clearing. I am almost wishing I could be working, cutting brush and trimming back cedar trees but I remind myself that I wished for the thunderstorm and rain and I must be satisfied. We hear crows and blue jays scolding and an occasional wild turkey's gobble. There are other bird sounds that we cannot recognize, nor name. A gray squirrel runs through the clearing and disappears into the trees. Himself catches a glimpse of a deer bounding across the trail and into a thicket. The pond was moss green yesterday, stagnant and still, but the rain has brought it back to life with raindrops stirring the surface.

A fall shopping list:
Tarps for winter.
Snowshoes and
Cross-country skies.
Ice skates, perhaps.
A yellow, "no'eastern" rain hat
to allow for rainy walks;
to keep rain off the neck
Mud boots for Himself.


Yesterday we cleared more of this old pasture and cut up some of the bigger logs for firewood, thinking forward to winter. I cut back cedars to allow more sunlight for little hardwoods and Himself used the chain saw to move the clearing back and then mowed down the tall grass.

There is some color coming to the timber. Oaks are starting to turn brown or red, just around the edges. The few walnuts have thrown off their summer foliage and the fewer cottonwoods have changed to yellow and lightened their load of leaves. One large tree in the west, which I can’t identify, is standing out from its neighbors dressed in red and orange. The fall fashion parade has just begun, giving us a preview of the coming show . . . the other side