St. Mary’s Guild Mardi Gras LunchI just happened to be visiting church lunch time and a stumbled on the St. Mary’s Guild Mardi Gras Lunch. It looks like a great time was had by everyone.
Commitments for the kids, work projects, and voluntary work have all conspired to keep us from hiking, camping and backpacking for the past couple of months. This afternoon we made the effort to leave our desks behind and hike what we call the ‘Hill Loop’ of the Busiek Silver Trail – 2.58 miles and 574 ft of Elevation. …
Jim brought in this fantastic kaleidoscope for me to get a few pictures of. He’s found a source of very thin mirrors that virtually removes the lines between the images. It is a wonder to behold.
I put this image together for a customer using one of my stock photographs and a favorite verse they mentioned. It matched the spirit of the book well.
Ginger’s parents have been asking us to come down and visit for ages. For some reason things always seemed to be getting in the way and our weekends haven’t been clear. Either Lanie had to be at church – or I’ve either been ushering or needed to grab a couple of pictures for the Church Facebook page. To top it off October has been Ginger’s month of being ‘choir mom’ so she’s had to be there each week too.
Looking at our schedules, we knew I had to be in Springfield the weekend of November 3, as I’m speaking at the diocesan gathering and on Saturday I volunteered to take pictures of the Diocese’s Youth Gathering ‘Zombie Rave’. So this weekend, Lanie got excused from choir, Ginger got excused from ‘choir mom’ duties, and we packed our bags and Friday night straight after school we headed down to Ginger’s parents.
The guest house had been warmed up and prepared for us and Lanie stayed in the house with her grandparents. The last time I stayed in the guest house was on my second night in the US on August 12, 2007!
We had a great time. Saturday we went on a short hike up the bluff and and around to the north of Ginger’s parents farm. We made a short diversion to visit a farm with baby pigs, baby goats, chickens and turkeys. More cuteness than Lanie could possibly cope with.
In the evening we had a big fire with toasted hot dogs, marshmallows and s’mores.
Sunday Lanie took me exploring up the hill, to find Ginger’s childhood cave hideaway. Lanie had only been there once and I’d never been there so we had great fun looking for it. We found Lanie’s uncle’s old abandoned shack in the woods, and after a while found the bluff by the creek and then Ginger’s cave.
We hiked the Busiek Red and Yellow trials today – 5 miles and 596 ft. of elevation. We ventured off-trail for a while so I could show Ginger some of the things I’d discovered when I backpacked through here in June.
The 1930s Dodge Panel Truck has been put the right way up by someone (it was on its side). I’m not sure if I like the idea of it being moved or not. Regardless it was an opportunity for a few pictures.
We also got to see a fair bit of trash visitors to Busiek have left behind. We’re not sure if this is caused by ignorance or laziness. Is education the answer or just a waste of time?
Busiek East Parking Lot
Busiek East Parking Lot
Campsite 5 Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area
The fire rings at Busiek are quite primitive and don’t include a grill.
Busiek – trail to Campsite #8. The Red Trail passes to the left here, while the trail to campsite 8 goes right. Campsite 8 is officially a Group Campsite.
Busiek Red Trail
It seems someone has tipped the truck upright since I was here in June.
Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck
Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck
Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck
Engine number — Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck
Fall bouquets. Copyright © 2012 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Fall bouquets. Copyright © 2012 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Last of the color. Copyright © 2012 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Weekend at Thornfield. Copyright © 2012 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Lanie – up a tree. Copyright © 2012 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Ginger and her dad. Copyright © 2012 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Ginger and her dad. Copyright © 2012 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Lanie in Ginger’s ‘secret cave’. Copyright © 2012 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Lanie in Ginger’s ‘secret cave’. Copyright © 2012 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Gary hidden in Ginger’s secret cave. Copyright © 2012 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Gary hidden in Ginger’s secret cave. Copyright © 2012 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Busiek East Parking Lot
Busiek East Parking Lot
Campsite 5 Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area
The fire rings at Busiek are quite primitive and don’t include a grill.
Busiek – trail to Campsite #8. The Red Trail passes to the left here, while the trail to campsite 8 goes right. Campsite 8 is officially a Group Campsite.
Busiek Red Trail
It seems someone has tipped the truck upright since I was here in June.
Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck
Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck
Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck
Engine number — Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck
Engine Block — Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck
Busiek 1930s Dodge Humpback Panel Truck — Engine Block.
Shame I didn’t remove the cat fur from my bandana first.
Persimmons
Busiek Yellow Trail heading west
Once more tempting the chiggers by laying in the grass taking pictures.
Busiek Yellow Trail heading west
