The zombies didn't get us.

With all the winter prep, hiking. houseguests, crazy job stuff..I haven't sat down at the computer for anything but work.
But, we're alive and well.
I'm playing catch-up on all your blogs again (209 posts..you are all chatty. Dammit.).

My beloved Flatlanders are here..we've been hiking and cooking up a storm.
I haven't picked up (or remembered) my camera until yesterday.

I once scratched my cornea by hanging out of a moving car to get photos.
Did not learn my lesson.
At all.

Started out along the creek and had a total elevation change of 341 feet.  That doesn't seem like much until you realize that change happens all at once omg wtf was I thinking I am not a mountain goat.
No gradual incline..you are hiking along and wham. The trail is suddenly at eye level.
Dammit.

No photos of the incline, since I was too busy trying to breathe.

Plus, you're in front position and realize Flatlanders are behind you..and there are big rocks everywhere..and you might just have an "unfortunate accident" 341 feet to the creek bed below.

As a bonus gift, this morning it is SNOWING!
Irie was so wiggly I couldn't get a clear shot.  Or, maybe my hands were shaking with excitement.
I LOVE SNOW!

"Get my backpack..we're going HIKING!!!"

I'm passive-aggressively waking up the household by loud coughing and door slamming. It's starting to work..Michael just groaned.

Remembering..

Michael and I were hiking last summer, one of the little used trails in our local park.
As we're walking along in silence, we start hearing crashing in the brush far off the trail.
Those of you who live or hike in eastern woodland know how thick that brush can be.  No chance of seeing something until it's gnawing on your head.
The dogs became very alert, very still..listening.
I told Michael that is no deer..it sounds too big..but, we don't have bears here.

The sound gets closer.. we all tense.

Two ladies burst out of the brush down the path from us, both cussing and very upset.
Irie, of course, lets out her Swamp Beast roar and scares these poor women into simultaneous shrieks.
  I left Michael with the dogs and hurried to them, apologizing for scaring them to death.
The ladies calm down enough to tell us they went off the trail and have been lost for an hour or so..scared to death..never been here before, or in this state before.
They've never hiked in the woods before.
(PSA:  Stay on the blazed trails if you are new!  Even better, ask the park staff what trails are blazed clearly and stick with those!)
The women are behaving strangely..moving slightly away..passing glances..
What the hell? Do I stink?

We point them in the direction they need to go and they take off like bats out of hell.
I'm peeved.  I didn't have to apologize for the dog scaring them...and I did offer help.
We continue on, and Michael bursts out laughing.

I'm wearing a t-shirt that says "Bring a compass.  It's awkward when you have to eat your friends".

Who needs SAR dogs?

All day yesterday I kept smelling this weird chemical/funky/citrus smell. I tore the kitchen and living room apart, scrubbing everywhere, trying to find the source.
Couldn't find anything!  I told Michael that it reminded me of a rotten orange.  None of the oranges on the butchers block were funky..nothing in the fridge..WTH?
Early this morning I opened the kitchen window.  There it was again.
So..there I am..outside in my jammies..with a flashlight..air scenting like a coonhound.


Michael pops his head out the window and stares at me.
Michael: What..are you doing? Are you sniffing?
Me: Yes, I am.  I'm pretty sure that smell is coming from out here somewhere.
Michael: Honey, I'm sure you're right, but..it's dark.  And you're not a search and rescue dog.
Me, squatting in the ferns outside the window: Wait..*sniff*..I think *sniffsniffsniff*
Michael: Oh sweet Jesus.....  
Me: AH HA! I found it! It was an orange! It must have rolled off the butchers block and out the window.
Michael: Great, can you come in here and sniff out my keys? For a cookie?  You wanna cookie, good girl?!

He should be glad I have my shots.  I'm sure the bites will heal quickly.
---
Fall is creeping in.
The maples are getting touches of color, the insect noises have changed, the dogs are changing coat (which means I vacuum twice a day)..

The wildflowers are golds and purples, instead of pinks and blues

The Marsh Mallow has gone to seed..from palest pink blooms to this.

The BEST hiking weather is coming up...chilly and dry.  Spring hiking is great, but dear GOD the mud.
This morning was foggy and gorgeous.  Didn't take the camera (!) but had a great hike.

We lived!

Good stuff:
Great campsite 30 ft from the backwaters of the lake:

A great blue heron hung out with us for several days..and a green heron popped in yesterday morning:

Our dogs were quiet and well-behaved:

Last night, all hell broke lose!
We never camp on weekends.  Now I remember why.
FOUR loose dogs wandering around.  Apparently, leash laws only apply to..us?
  I think ALL kids should get to go camping..don't get me wrong..but with that comes teaching respect for other campers.
Stop the damned screaming.  Stop running into other campsites.
I would have gotten my head handed to me for screaming for no good reason.
Had I run into someone's campsite (screaming), I would have gotten strapped to the roof rack.

Or fed to the fish!

Pant..pant..

It was 46 a few mornings ago.  High of 68.  GORGEOUS.
Now this crap is back for a couple days.
BLAH.
Irie and I are NOT happy bitches ladies, let me tell you.
Michael and the boys are fine with it.  Irie and I are staying the HELL in air conditioning.

We had a good walk this morning, even with the 89% humidity.
 Because of the delightful weather, we only logged 3.3 miles.
The dogs (ME!) can't handle the heat (freaking hate it!!!).
No, really. It's the dogs.
*cough*

Very mottled great blue heron..maybe a juvenile?
Not a great shot, but it was definitely mottled..lots of light gray blotching.  We tried to get closer, but the dogs decided it was time to swim and scared it off.
Ah, well!

I hope most of you get a long weekend...enjoy it!

I love...

ok, bear with me here. I'm feeling particularly hostile this fine evening, so instead of ranting..


I love:  (envision sunshine, rainbows and puppies, instead of my current sneer)

Beaver Creek state park, in East Liverpool Ohio.
Amazing views, excellent camping, challenging trails.
Close to home!

These dog collars.
They last forever, don't mat or discolor their coats and come in outstanding colors.  You can call and order the Soft Slip in quick release safety collars.  They are fantastic!

Hmm...what else, what else!?
I'm still bitchy!

OH!

I love THIS organization.
Hardcore people..in hardcore sports..against dog fighting.  Rock on.

Ack, what else!?  FOOD.  Food makes me happy and full of love.

"You love BLTs.  Except you wouldn't give me any.  I just got the L part.  Jackass."

I had the best BLT today..simply perfect.  Crisp bacon, cool lettuce and a sun-warm tomato.  I could go for another five one right now!

Homemade tortillas.  I love homemade tortillas.
(do you see where everything comes back to food with me?!)
And when they go stale, corn tortillas are perfect for tossing to groundhogs.
(ok, food and groundhogs)

And, if you have mad skill like me, you can do this!

"Did you seriously just toss something on my head?"

"I will effing CUT YOU"

"Oh!  You can eat these!"

"Hell, try to get me again!"

I think I need out of the house a little more often.  I'm losin' it here, folks.
The lettuce yesterday gave me Evil Ideas today...and now we have Tortilla Hat.
If she acted scared, I wouldn't have done it...so don't get all "omg poor humiliated baby" on me or I'm shoving a groundhog down your pants.  

"No one..is leaving..the PIG"

Gardening.  I really do love to garden.  Right this moment since I'm NOT gardening.
I pulled up a Parisian carrot today..I LOVE!
Serious gardeners should look away now.....
They are so adorable..teeny little orangey orbs!

My melons are busting out (HA! T, that was for you!) of their thigh-high stocking slings.  I need to replace the stockings tomorrow.

Michael has worked a hellish shift this week..he leaves early, while I'm working, and by the time he gets home, I'm ready to pass out.  It sucks.
He's off this weekend and I can't WAIT to have some downtime with him.

I'm far less bitchy..still somewhat, as it is a permanent condition..but I don't feel like Riverdancing on someones kidneys now! :)
Yay!

GrrrRRRrrrrr...

We hiked.
Well, first we pulled into the park and spotted two jackasses people with their two off leash dogs.
They are special.  
County leash laws don't apply to THEM.
State park regulations?
Please.  Those laws are for commoners.


Got the dogs geared up and headed toward a trail..and heard screams.
Toddler screams.  Toddler that ran toward us, leaving Dad and Big Brother playing in the creek.
My dogs don't have to enjoy strange children.  They have to politely ignore them as we pass.  
That's my rule.
As Toddler chases us, still shrieking, Dad finally realizes one of his offspring is about 300 yards away and running toward Very Large Dog and Very Medium Dog and the two people with them are hauling ass away.
So...we climb a hill, thinking Toddler will be slowed down long enough for Dad to catch him.

Wrong.
We were chased up the hill, around a parking lot, down a park road and onto the county highway that passes through the park...Michael and I were honestly astounded they kept after us for a mile!
As we reach the road, Dad angrily yells, "Can't you just let them pet your damned dogs?!".
Oh, oh...Pleasepleaseplease God, help me NOT bitchslap him into the lake in front of his children.


For all the million things I wanted to say, I only said "Well, I'm not sure how they are with toddlers, but what the hey..let's do it!".
For me?  Epic control.
Annnnd...then I told him not all dogs liked kids..didn't HAVE to like kids..and he was taking a huge chance with his kids, them being at FACE LEVEL to giant freaking teeth.  But whatever, they aren't my kids..but, he's not putting MY dogs in that situation.  So no.  Back off.  Now.
My control? Maybe not so epic.
My dogs like kids.  I like my dogs interacting with kids..kids I know, in a controlled situation.
*grumble*
...and we went hiking to get rid of some stress.
AHAHAHAHAHA.

After that, things were calm.  We walked a total of 5.5 miles.  Not thrilled with that wimpy total.

Post Toddler Stalking:

The creek is SO low...we need rain!

We discovered they paved one of our favorite short trails.  I hate walking on pavement, but I'm thrilled they did it..
gorgeous trail and now wheelchair accessible. :)  Forest for everybody!

First toddlers..then the fish stalked us.  ACK.

All is calm now..feeling much less stressy!

Home..

and no worse the wear...except for my knee and ankle (thanks, Voo).

"OMG you take forever to wake up.  Let's go hiking!"

Our tent attracted wildlife...happily, nothing with fangs or claws.

A bit of our hikes....

Random woman, hiking: Awww are you making that poor little baby dog carry his own water??
That's so mean! *simpers*
Me: No. He's carrying poop.
Random woman stares..starts to walk away...
Me: Why should I have to carry it!?  I picked it up and double bagged it..biodegradable bags, no less.

Ah well...

Some hiker out there has a good sense of humor!

Hey, Universe, look over there!
We're trying for another quickie trip next weekend.  Fingers crossed!