Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Day 15 - Exploring the Woodcock Estate - The Trail Less Taken

Tuesday, 06 September
Today, we decided to take a hike and explore Brandyn and Jen's property after the rain storm.  (Those who have been here know that this is not your typical front yard).  We wanted to hike down to the falls and see if they were flowing since it rained...  Along the way, the boys decided to swing from a sapling that had bent across the trail...






Kaleb pulls himself up... These guys are all boy!

















When we got to the water falls, to our surpise, they were not flowing!  I don't know how this is possible because it has rained hard non-stop for 48 hours (nearby Chattanooga got over 11 inches in the last 24 hours)... I guess the ground is so dry that it has all been absorbed... I am going to check again in the morning.













A rare contemplative moment when Hyrum was quiet!

















Deb found these beautiful fungi growing on one of the many tulip poplars that grow here on the property amongst the oaks...
















She found this drop of water hanging from some fresh lichen...

(Click on the photo if you want to make it bigger)

















One of the boy's dogs chased up this frog... the boys rescued him from being a for sure dinner...
















Hyrum decided he liked hiking in his bare feet through the soft, wet forest floor...












This is Jen's favorite fern... it had wilted a little over the last month of searing heat... the rains rejuvenated it!
















This is some mountain art guarding the wood shed...

















These scary little footless people are lurking behind a tree next to the trail that goes up high around the top of the 30 acres that is the kids property...










Story is that this tree was contorted by the Cherokee indians that used to use this property as a sign to others that would travel through here... Personally, I don't think it is that old... but, it is a cool looking tree.














As we left the high ground and descended back down to the lower pasture (after walking the new fence line to see how everything is holding up), Deb saw this picturesque view of the horses... they were sure glad to have some fresh grass to munch on!  It was a real treat to meander through the hardwoods after the fresh rain... it smelled great and it was COOL.

This afternoon I spent some quality time with the grandsons while Jen and Deb fed the horses and worked in the barn. 

Later, I put some beef ribs in the oven on "low and slow" to cook for dinner, and I helped Jen sort more books.

When Brando got home, we had a great dinner.  After dinner I help Brandyn build a small light table for Hyrum to use when he draws.  It was fun to work on a project with Brandyn again... one of the things I really miss since he has grown up and moved away!

Great day.

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