And on and on I go...

Today, the 13th, was my 12th day hike on Roan Mountain in NC. White froth whipped up in the valleys raced over the balds as I walked. The forests below are glowing with reds and yellows, burnished golds. Such a lovely patchwork of color.

Where clouds are born

and goats have fed

the cheerful bluet

blossoms still.

That's where I'll be-

out on the Trail

traversing each

dear mountain hill.

Blueberries still cling to the bushes, which are now mounds of fushia and burgundy. I've never lived anywhere where I could pick blueberries in October! What a treat...

I found evidence of bear along the trail Sunday, also heard and saw six ravens with their various calls, gliding, soaring, diving on the updrafts. In a muddy place what looked like wild boar tracks were sunken deep, as I had seen on the hill behind the house last week.

Mountain Balds

shrouded in mist:

dragons' breath

rising from some

primordial lair;

exhale of dinosaurs;

ancient snows' droplets

cling to grass and branch.

ethereal other-world

guarding secrets

yet to be revealed.

What a lovely autumn we are having and I am blessed to be here at this time.

Colors fading

leaves swirling

bold wind

takes them

where it will

leaving bare hope

of tender sprouts

after the cold

of winter.

and one more inspired by that magical place:

Whispers of memories

from yesteryears

echo off rocks,

wrap like wraiths

around tree-shadows-

curling, clinging,

shifting substance-

here and then gone.

Nothing to hang on to.

Why look back?

Herding Goats

I was intrigued to learn about the grassy bald restoration project and volunteered to help herd the goats off the mountain for the winter. Saturday's move was only a few hundred feet to a new, lower paddock. Clouds and mist gave way to a cold, sideways pelting rain which soaked me to the bone. The next Wednesday about fifty helpers showed up, again in the mist, to escort the goats down to a trailer at the road crossing. At least that's how I thought it would work. Actually, the goats ran the whole way following the goatherd with his jug of dry corn. Volunteers also ran, trying to keep the herd from fanning out or breaking up into smaller groups. With minor incidents, the event was successful. Afterwards, the sun came out and I took a break, resting on the rocks, having a snack and enjoying the view (see top of blog page). More photo's to follow...

Fawn Gambol

A few weeks ago, I watched a spotted fawn browsing across the lower yard with two does. This young one was very playful, stopping to inspect something in the driveway, sniffing the mailbox, wandering into the middle of the road to eat a fallen leaf. They moved up the hill by the side of the house. Little fawn approached the porch where I was standing. He was fearless! Then mama gave a "MOO" (what a shock, to hear a deer sound like a cow!) and off they went trotting into the brush. We didn't see them for a while, and I worried that a cougar or coyote might have eaten the fawn for a snack.

This morning, something charging down the back hill caught Sis' attention. She and I watched an interplay between two young bucks, one doe and the fawn who is getting long and lanky. The adults are grey, the fawn is an orangy brown and losing his spots.... (It could be a female, but oh, so inquisitive- I've dubbed him "Curious George.")

Curious George approached one of the bucks. They were nose to nose. The buck didn't like it. The fawn persisted. The buck smacked George with his head and George backed off. Then the fawn went for a rear inspection. The buck seemed to resent having a fawn nosing his tail end, whirled around and lashed out with a front leg. I'm quite sure he connected.

Undaunted, Curious George tried to cozy up to the other buck, who also was having none of it. Nose-to-nose and then WHACK! CG got hit with another hoof. The female wandered in one direction, the two bucks and CG went the other. I wondered if they were annoyed with this youngster hanging around.

Sis and I ran to the opposite side of the house to watch. The fawn must have heard us. He kept looking in our direction, getting closer and closer. I was thinking, "Little one, your curiosity may get you into trouble!" Hope not. Last minute he changed his mind and frisked up the hill after the disappearing bucks.

I figured it was a gift, getting to see wildlife in action right outside the window. A nice start to a cool, breezy day in the mountains of Tennessee.

Photo Fun

Fishing and hiking adventures lend themselves to "photo op's" and I enjoy using the digital camera. I hope you like these pictures.

Late Summer Dayhike

................The pictures were taken on a section of the Appalachian Trail bordering Tennesee and North Carolina. Because the native deer populaton has decreased, domestic long-hair goats are being used to graze on encroaching Canadian blackberry bushes in an attempt to keep the bald mountains open. Information is available at this site http://baatanygoatproject.blogspot.com/ regarding the Project for Grassy Bald Restoration. Blueberries and blackberries are still ripe. Hiking 6,000 feet above sea level seemed rigorous, at least I blamed my fatigue on the higher altitude. The vista was also breath-taking!

Night

I eased out the door onto the front porch of this log house tonight, instantly surrounded by an intense cacophony of insect sounds reverberating through the canyon. Some bugs sang "chick-a-gum, chick-a-gum," others repeated "widget, widget, widget." It filled up my senses.

Fireflies sparked in the shadows, and I almost expected to see the sleek form of a mountain lion floating across the lawn, or to hear a bumbling black bear breaking branches in the brush. But nothing added to the background noises.

Last week a strange vocalization caught my attention. My sister and her dh also heard it early this morning. A seeking, searching loud and persistent domestic cat type of "maow" with a quivering suffix of "wub-wub-wub-wub." Never have I heard such a thing and I can't identify it on the Internet, unless it might have been an elusive Lynx. That would be a thrill!!!

A cool breeze riffled through the leaves, caressing my face. I rocked and gazed at a sky sprinkled with twinkling lights. One "stoplight star" directly in front of me blinked red/green/red/green. Minute by minute, the yellow thumbnail moon edged toward the heavily wooded ridge.

Numbness began to set in as I relaxed, I could have stayed outside for hours. Unfortunately, the children have to rise early for school and I'm part of the wake-up committee. Hoping for another night, another breeze, another moon...

Pretty Posies etc.