Friends Beth & Chuck recently hiked through the Rock House area to enjoy spring wildflowers. They report that trillium, jack-in-th-pulpit, Dutchman’s-breeches and many others are on full display. I’ll have to get over there.
In the meantime, I hiked into the woods behind our house (same woods our Marsh Hollow cabin is near) and found the following beauties today:
I can only hope I got the names right because I’m using the 1968 edition of A Field Guide to Wildflowers of Northeastern and North-central North America by Roger Tory Peterson and Margaret McKenny. Things can change in that amount of time.
We’ve had almost a week of somewhat normal temperatures after weeks of well-below-normal temperatures. Dave and I decided to check out the Ash Cave waterfall to see if it was frozen. On our last trip in January, it had big stalagtites reaching down to a really big stalagmite of ice.
Yesterday, it was running freely and there was still a nice pile of ice at the bottom:
Beware: the trail in was a solid sheet of ice. VERY SLIPPERY!
Last week, our very kind and patient guests reported the following birds at our Marsh Hollow feeder (sunflower seeds in a hopper and a suet cake):
And an unidentified hawk, possibly a Marsh hawk (that would be appropriate, wouldn’t it?).
The most unusual creature reported at that feeder, but only in summer, was a flying squirrel.
The feeder area at the Marsh Hollow “homestead” is crowded with gold finches and dark-eyed juncoes, and mourning doves. No kinglets or creepers, but all of the others. Our feeder menu is a little more extensive and includes thistle seed, safflower seeds, and shelled corn.
The Old Bear’s Den is offering an all day photography workshop Saturday, February 17, 2007, focusing on frozen waterfalls. This is definitely going to be a great weekend for frozen waterfalls. We walked up to the ones at Conkle’s Hollow last Friday, late afternoon and they were the best we’ve ever seen. Beautiful blue-green shading, amazing shapes and sure to be even better after the storm this week and VERY COLD temperatures today through the weekend.
More information is at: http://www.theoldbear.com/workshops.html
I really need this workshop. I’ve got lots of bad pictures of frozen falls!
Our creek is doing its version of a lateral frozen waterfall. There’s a layer of running water on the bottom, a thick layer of ice, then another layer of running water. I’m expecting solid ice by tomorrow afternoon.
Yesterday (Saturday, February 3), we had a wonderful day out and about in the Hocking Hills with our friends Diane & Sherwin.
First stop: Ash Cave. We got to see how a frozen waterfall begins – it grows from both ends. Right now a pile of ice is forming into a sort of stalagmite on the ground. The water is still falling freely, but has also formed a line of huge icicle stalagtites. Dave & I plan to drive back over on Monday to see how close the mite is to the tite. We saw a similar formation at Cedar Falls.
While it was very cold (in the upper teens), the sky was so blue and clear, and the sun was bright. Since I needed boots, Dave needed gloves and Diane ended up needing a sweater, we drove down to Rocky’s in Nelsonville for some shopping. Then we met Sherwin’s son Dirk and fiance Meredith at the Coffee Cup for lunch.
To finish off our excursion, we stopped at the Midwest Glass Outlet in Logan so Diane could buy 20 candy dishes to celebrate her office’s move into new quarters.
Perfect day!
I’m beginning to feel a little tender from the 5k “Indian Run” race at the Hocking Hills State Park on Saturday. Dave and I ran/jogged/walked over the trails, and while we improved our time from last year’s event, we dropped in the standings! But our Kelly won her division!
This is a great event, with 5k, 10k, 20k, 40k and 60k runs. While some of it is on paved roads, most is on trails. Plenty of hills and tree roots to navigate. Check it out at http://www.1800hocking.com/indianrun because there will be another one next September.
Yesterday, Dave and I met up with our good friend Sandy for some great music at the Washboard Festival in Logan. Year after year, this festival features incredible music, and this year was no exception. It’s not too late for you, because the music continues today (Sunday) until 5 p.m.
The bands must all have a washboard in them, and since the washboard is a funny-kind of instrument, most of the bands are pretty funny too. They all have such a great time, the audience just can’t help but join in. The music ranges from jug to blues to jazz to zydeco, plus just plain silly. These are professional musicians and all are very talented.
Yesterday, Dave and I got to see Big Mama Sue & Friends (the voice, the banjo, the piano playin’), the Cincinnati Dancing Pigs (funny funny funny), the Juggernaut Jug Band (such harmonizing) and Robin Lacy & Dezydeco (young, tight leather pants). These were all great, but my favorite was when Buffalo Ridge and the “Washboard Ensemble” took the stage. In addition to the great band, the ensemble included a bunch of amateurs and other professionals. Amatuer might be the wrong word, these people take their music seriously. The closing tune, “When the Saints Go Marching In” was toe tappin’, foot stompin’, hand clappin’ good stuff. And you’ve never seen that many washboard players in one place. And yes, I might have to get me one of those ‘boards!
2015 update: Etta’s is long gone, but Rocky’s Outdoor Gear is still there and still wonderful.
Pat, Patty, Maggie & Makenzie (daughter & family) drove up from Georgia week before last to visit all their folks in Ohio. We were lucky to have them stay with us for almost a week (in the cabin, not in the house for goodness sake).
We had a wonderful time showing them the sites. M&M are finally both old enough to do a little hiking so we tripped over to Ash Cave and Cedar Falls. Then it was off to Etta’s Lunchbox Cafe for some eats. Motto: “we’re not your Mom, but we’ll pack your lunch.” Very tasty.
Next stop was Rocky’s Outdoor Gear in Nelsonville, one of my favorite places to shop. They’ve got much more than boots. It’s 3 floors of house stuff, clothes, gifts, knives and boots, boots, boots. DEFINTELY worth a stop (about 45 minutes from Marsh Hollow).
Our Spring magazine from Geico had a nice little article for teens about different driving dangers, comparing the city to the country. Excellent advice, which I will paraphrase here:
On rural roads:
Enjoy your drive in the country. Just SLOW DOWN.
Mary at Marsh Hollow