fall fruits inside and out . . .

I was hoping to have a finish to share this morning, but we had a busy day yesterday!  I do have this to share . . .

It's not attached or quilted yet, but give me an hour (some hour, any hour) and it'll be finished!

Todd is working on updating the camp's website, so I spent a good portion of my day sorting through three years worth of photos, picking the best ones and editing them.  Then we decided we needed to go out into the camp and grab some new photos.  So I did something I haven't done in well over a year . . .

Yup.  I can wear my tennis shoes again!  I tried sometime in the last two and a half months (when I was doing the de-cluttering process) and couldn't do it, so I was *very* pleased to be able to get into them yesterday afternoon!  Sometime next week I'll update my whole foot/weight loss progress (because I'm really thinking it's all tied together, now).

The golf cart is down ... and needs major $$ to get it back up and running, so we got in Todd's little truck.  But it meant we would have to 'hoof it' onto the trails.  One I've really missed is the little trail down to Crawdad Creek.  It really is a lovely, magical little spot.  First you have to find the Hidden Pathway . . . 

And then there's a trail opening in there somewhere!

Now, past the Forked Tree (which is so tall, it made my neck hurt to look up at it).

And through Fern Valley . . . 

Tiptoe past the upended group of trees . . .

Then there's the *magical* mushroom . . . 

Okay, it's not really magical, but I imagine if mushrooms could be magical, this one definitely would be.  

And finally, the creek starts to widen and make an appearance!

I got several great "micro" shots while I was out.

AND! before I forget, Kim, from Big B (everything embroidery!), had the solution/answer to my mystery nut!  It's from a Sawtooth Oak -- and as soon as I googled it, I knew that was spot on. Thank you SO much, Kim!

But after yesterday's adventure, I now have a new mystery:

Neither Todd nor I have ever seen one of these before ... they were falling on me as we left the Crawdad Creek area (had we overstayed our welcome?!?).  They're really tiny -- less than an inch big -- and very spikey!!

Today I'm off to Athens, Alabama to catch the Piecemaker Guild's quilt show!  Then Alabama plays at Arkansas this afternoon.  Should be a fun day!

:)

happy trails?!?!

As I've mentioned before, Todd really likes to get out and about on the trails in the camp, and now that we've got the golf cart, I'm actually able to comfortably go with him. When I got home from work one day this week, Todd was ready to hit the trails! So we loaded up in the golf cart and headed down to the upper campground, where the top of the High Ridge Trail is located. I'd been up this trail from the entrance of the camp,
but never from this end!

It's a LOT of up and down and zig-zagging, but it's beautiful and serene. I love being in the woods and not being able to hear anything but birds and squirrels --
no human noises except our own!

We'd gotten about halfway through the trail and I asked Todd to stop, so I could catch this photo of the upper pond through the trees. The trail is probably close to a mile and a half, so we'd already gone about three-quarters of a mile. After I got my pretty photo, Todd started back up, only to exclaim,
"The back tire is really low."

And he rolled a little further forward before exclaiming,
"That tire is really low."

He rolled forward a little more until I exclaimed,
"Todd! I can hear that flat tire!"
And sure enough, it was flat to the ground!

So, we got off and had a moment of deliberation. There was no question but that he had to go back and get some fix-a-flat; the question was whether or not I'd walk with him. Because not only was it three-quarters of a mile in either direction to the end of the trail, it was the distance from the trail back to our RV, too!
Then Todd pointed out the terrain . . .

which is less than ideal for my poor little foot.
And he also pointed out the trail heading first in one direction . . .

Pretty steep down and up again. Hmmm.

Then he pointed out the trail in the other direction . . .

Oh. More of the same. So, can't go forwards or backwards.

And I certainly can't . . .

go up!

So I elected (with his encouragement) to stay behind and patiently wait in the golf cart for him to return. Though the sun was definitely setting, it wasn't near dark yet,
and I wasn't anxious a bit.

In fact, I noted a perfect spot for a new trail to be formed off the High Ridge Trail, down to the upper pond!


I also used the time to find lots of acorns with fun little caps (these are cap-less), and the hulls of hickory nuts, which I have a craft idea for (which I'll share later).


And while I was really enjoying the feeling of being 'one with nature', I was also starting to get anxious. It was getting a little darker, and dinner did need to be made, and besides, I had to use the potty. And I was NOT using it out on the trail. Woodpeckers and Blue Jays were watching, after all!

And then I heard it. Low and in the distance at first, but getting louder and closer with every passing second . . .

And then I saw it . . . I saw HIM!
My hero, my champion, my rescuer!

My knight on a shiny . . . FOUR WHEELER!!

Milady, your chariot awaits . . .

And we lived happily ever after.

:)