Outdoors Calling With Fennel Nutkin

[fennel]

Welcome to stay at my place a few days so I can show you around.

What a generous offer! Thank you.

[fennel]

Back to the cabin tomorrow...perhaps I will have some new pics to post on Sunday evening.

The sky is definitely getting that "wintery" look...pewter greys with tinges of cream in it.

[Glass Half Empty]

Glassy, I tried to pm you. Your mailbox is full...can you empty it?

Hi Fennel
Not sure what's going on, because it wasn't full. I've deleted quite a few anyway so can you please try again and let me know?

[fennel]

Hi Fennel
Not sure what's going on, because it wasn't full. I've deleted quite a few anyway so can you please try again and let me know?

Looks like it went through this time, Glassy. :thumbsup:

[Rags]

What a generous offer! Thank you.

No worries.
As long as it's not when we'll be over in Alaska.

[fennel]

No worries.
As long as it's not when we'll be over in Alaska.

Alaska! That's awesome. I imagine you would be there in June or July...unless you are attending the IEDC convention in Anchorage in October.

Do you have family there? Are you going there for fun? Business? What will be your modes of transport?

[fennel]

I had a lovely time at the cabin this weekend. Yesterday, Mrs. Fen was not up for hiking in the cold and blustery weather...nor was anybody else. I was the only person visiting the entire park while I was there! I hiked the three mile "small cave" loop.

I took some photos, which I will post tomorrow. The brilliant hues of fall have all but faded away...only the washed-out russets and browns remain, aside from the grass, which is still a sort of green.

Before we left this morning, I had to drain the house lines and water heater of all water, which involves shutting off the well pump and water heater, opening some valves and closing others. Additionally, I had to remove all water from the toilet reservoir tank and add R.V. antifreeze (friendlier on the environment) to all the drains. Amazingly, the temps will be falling to 14 degrees (-10 for you undies and europeans), so I really could not take the chance of leaving the cabin set up. Our baseboard heating will solve this dilemma once it is installed...but that won't be for another week to ten days.

I am afraid that this winter will be just as brutal as the last was for us. No sooner did we celebrate Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday of November) last year, when we were hit over the head with below freezing temps (often below zero) that did not lift for many months. To have temperatures this low, this early, does not bode well.

I can only wonder what it was like for my fore-skwerls to experience these extreme temperatures with only a wood burning stove to warm the house! Although, at the moment, that's the only form of heat I have at the cabin...:exclaim:

[fennel]

I ran into this little friend while hiking. They are a common sight during the fall here...seemingly always in a hurry to get somewhere, unless you pick them up! They curl up into a tight little ball until you set them back on terra firma.

They are known as "Wooly Bear" caterpillars (Isabella Tiger Moth). Unlike other caterpillars, these critters hatch in the fall. They have a sort of "anti-freeze" in their system that allows them to be frozen solid through the winter. In the spring, they revive and mature to adulthood during the summer. In the arctic circle, it may take several years for one caterpillar to mature to adulthood.

[fennel]

At the State Park. Note the gorgeous pewter grey of the winter sky.

The brilliant display has disappeared, leaving only washed out tones. The sumac was scarlet a few weeks ago...

[See the Light]

This is from the mountains of western NC, about an 1 hour from my house...great biking, hiking etc. this time of year...boone nc 2.jpg

[fennel]

How gorgeous, STL! How far are you from Asheville? I did a lot of hiking in that area about four years ago. I loved the mountains there. :heartbeat:

[See the Light]

Hi Fen- about 1.5 hours..that's actually part of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs near Asheville..Asheville is one of the greatest cities I've ever been in (except they have a super huge concentration of breweries and bars there, which now I would need to avoid)..otherwise, yeah..very scenic area

[fennel]

I hear you about Asheville...I did love all the art, though.

My friend and I did hiking in Pisgah Ntl. Forest...it was so lovely!

[fennel]

Mrs. Fen heard that snow is in the forecast today...and right now, I can hear sleet pinging against the windows.

[Sunbeam]

Last day today for me to get outside and do the yard stuff I love. Temps will begin dropping regularly into the 20's starting tomorrow night, the ground will begin to freeze, sigh. No snow storms predicted yet, they will come. Our lake effect is notorious for that.