Spring on the River...

With so many wildflowers in bloom lately I have spent my time looking down at the ground. A few days ago as I was driving home from work I realized that the leaves were nearly full grown. In this shot of the Boquet River you can see that several trees are in full-leaf, while some are not quite there yet.

It seems like we are looking forward to warm weather in May, then all of a sudden it is the 4th of July, then it's August and school is almost ready to start for another year. With the speed of life in mind I'm enjoying so much green around me this year. I'm savoring every leaf and flower! Here is some springtime green for you to enjoy!

Decoration Day,...

When I was growing up my grandmother lived with us. She always referred to this day as Decoration Day. We would take lilacs and decorate the graves of grandparents and other family members.

We know it today as Memorial Day. Being curious about the history of the day I did an online search... History.com has a nice page on the day which was originally to honor our fallen soldiers from the Civil War.
This photo is taken from the National Archives. You can find many Civil War photos there as well as other great information.

Now we call this day Memorial Day. Somehow to me saying "celebrate" doesn't quite fit. And I can't bring myself to say "Happy Memorial Day!" as some do. For me it's remembering those men and women who have served us all, and so many who gave the ultimate gift. So to all of our men and woman who are serving, and to all of the fallen, and their families, -- I say a heart felt "thank you!"

Starflowers...

While walking in the wooded area on the hill below my front deck I showed you the ground covered with Gaywings. Sprinkled among the Gaywings were many Starflowers. The Starflowers are the same size as the Gaywings, very small and low to the ground.



Here there are two blooming, and one bud not yet opened which is nearly invisible against the leaf in the upper left of this photo.

I couldn't decide which shot I like the best, the first one or this one so I've posted both!

When I get home from work this afternoon I will be leaving to go camping for the weekend,... see you all when I get back.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend, but don't forget why we have this holiday,... our dedicated servicemen and women. A tip of the camera lens to you all, -- without you we wouldn't have the freedoms we have today. Thank you!

Gaywings...

The ground in front of my deck is awash with purple. It took me a while to identify these delicate little wildflowers. They are Gaywings.


To give an idea of how small they are notice the pine cone in the lower right of the next photo.

I noticed them a few years ago and they seem to have spread farther and farther in every direction. I don't know how common they are, but I've spent a long lifetime walking in the woods and had never seen them until in the spring here the last few years. I really enjoy these delicate little flowers!

Solid Gold!...

This high school class ring is dated 1922. It is from the same K-12 school where my grandchildren attend,... and the ring belonged to my father,... their great-grandfather!

Yesterday on Red Pine Mountain Mountain Woman invited bloggers to write something about special men in our lives. So, I have been thinking about this post for some time,... a post about my own father!

Below you see my father, on the left, sometime in the early 1950s working for the local power company. As you can see, it was when times were simpler. Note the wooden poles and cross arms. The power company was sold and consolidated with a large electric company. My father took his ability to climb poles and work on the wires to the local telephone company. Here again he's shown at the left in this photo. This was taken around 1957.

After he began to get a bit older and decided that he should no longer be climbing poles he went on to drive a school bus and then served as a local town highway superintendent. For a man who only graduated from high school he did well in his life and provided a good life for my mother and me.
This photo above is my favorite one of all the ones I have of my father. It shows him as I will always remember him. A man who loved his rural community, his Adirondacks, in his hunting jacket and cap... and his gentle smile. He and my mother had built a log cabin, and he was known as a woodsman. There was a saying years ago when he was still alive,... "you could drop him on any mountain top in the Adirondacks and he'd walk out in three days,... he could have done it in two days but he took the extra time just for the enjoyment of it!"

It's with great pride that I dedicate this post to my "daddy"... I will always love you, and I miss you terribly. You were solid gold.

Happy Mother's Day!...

Lilacs for all the mothers...

A Closer Look?...

While experimenting with my camera trying to get some closeup shots I took the following photo. Yes, it's our common "weed" the Dandelion! When you look at it closely it is beautiful! Perhaps we should look more closely at other things around us!

Here is the fresh growth on an evergreen tree at the edge of my lawn...

And the closeup view...

The white Trillium is blooming at the end of my driveway.

And again,... a closer look!

It's been raining for a couple of days now, I wonder what will be blooming when the sun comes out? I will be looking more closely!

Sweet Violets!...

In 1951 Dinah Shore recorded the song "Sweet Violets." Sweet violets are growing in abundance all around my home and along my driveway! I have had fun experimenting with my camera the past few days...

Play Ball!...

High school softball season is here. My granddaughter plays three sports each year, soccer, basketball and softball. So as you can guess, I'm watching as many games as I can! As she's just finishing ninth grade I am looking forward to three more years of games. This is their first home game. She got two hits. The first hit was a long one and unfortunately was caught by the center fielder. The second hit got her on base. However the inning finished before she could get to home plate.
Here she is in right field shouting encouragement to her friend who is pitching...

Our field is in a nice setting behind the school,... tall pines flank two sides...

The girls fought hard but lost...

OK,... maybe we'll win next week, right? I know I'll be there to cheer them on!

Will You Protect?...

Day before yesterday Libby Murphy of Twirl and Taste posted about an issue that has always brought me sadness. So today my "view" will look beyond the mountains, lakes and people of the north country and focus on that issue.

David Keith, an actor (Law and Order, An Officer and A Gentleman) and good friend of Libby's has taken up a cause.... PROTECT , The National Association to Protect Children. Unfortunately children are exploited every day. When we turn on the news we hear of the tragedies, but we seldom think about the fact that so many children are used for financial gain through the porn industry. That is a tough subject for me to write about as it gives me a physical reaction in the pit of my stomach to even think of it.

Please check out Libby's post from Wednesday,... "Quarterbacking The Noblest Sport In The World" and read of David Keith's effort and the organization now supported by people such as Tennessee Titan coach Jeff Fisher and singer Martina McBride. I'm joining PROTECT, will you?