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Monday, September 30, 2013

Going Off-Homestead

I deliberately chose to ignore my weighty list yesterday to go hiking up a mountain.  In retrospect, I may have been suffering from delusions of youth.  It was ... are you sitting down? ... a date.  It involved breathtaking vistas, a picnic I did not have to pack, interesting conversation, and a mini-concert at the end.  It also involved mostly uphill trekking, long patches of mud, a million rocks, and MILES of trails.

This is why it was all worth it:
View at the trail head

Looking West from the mountain.

Nature's chimney

Entrance to the Snow Hole
There were lots of points where the scene laid out before us was breathtaking.  Unfortunately, my breath was already being taken up in panting gasps - which I valiantly tried to cover with coughing, pointing my camera and pretending to take a picture so I could recover.  The trail was on the NY/MA border - I believe it's the Taconic Trail.  Much too late, I discovered that my hiking companion thinks nothing of hiking the trail from his house (in Pownal, VT), all 26 miles to this point.  Had I known, I would have cited an old football injury and done a more sane hike.  But, all in all, it was a lovely day.  Plus, he knew all the native plants and trees, could give me the Latin names for the various fungi we encountered (while I sagely nodded and said, Um hum.)

I barely made it home in time to do chores and meet the nice young woman who bought my beloved Lulabelle.  She raises and shows goats (plus), has chickens (plus plus), loved Lulabelle's bumper stickers (plus, plus, plus), was recently separated (boo) and has two adorable children, no car and limited funds.  It was a perfect match.  We worked out a payment schedule and her brother drove Lulabelle off to her new home.  Plateless.  I love these country folks.

My day was perfectly ended by some companionable knitting with my friend, Melanie, accompanied by a bowl of dark cherry ice cream, a Gluten Free shortbread cookie, and a nice mug of tea.

11 comments:

Carolyn said...

Sounds like a wonderful weekend! And come on, who wouldn't be wooed by a man spewing out the Latin names for various 'shrooms!?

Sue said...

Ha! I love this. I know all the Latin names. I do not know WHY.....or HOW---something odd I picked up somewhere along the line. Imagine my fascination when I looked at a property years ago for sale by a retired biology professor. What a great hike around the property having someone knowledgeable showing me what was what. So???? Did you LIKE him??????? Second date in the works???? C'mon--you cannot leave us hanging!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:D

Tombstone Livestock said...

Yes it does sound like a wonderful day and great photos, good to have camera along for a chance to stop and take pictures aka rest stops, LOL. So if there is a second date maybe he will let you pick the activity, say a day of hiking for photo shoots. Good luck.

Mama Pea said...

So this guy was so fascinating he took your breath away? (Oh, wait, it was the hike up the mountain that did that.)

Good to hear Lulabelle went to a good home. Good for you for making changes that need to be made. (Got a pill you can share so I get the gumption to do that, too?)

Sitting and knitting with your good friend Melanie sounds like the perfect end to a good, good day.

P.S. Of course, I'm right beside Sue saying: So???? Did you LIKE him?????? Second date in the works???? C'mon--you cannot leave us hanging!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (We are bad. We are so, so bad. Now tell us!)

Sandy Livesay said...

Susan,
I'm beside Sue and Mama Pea...............what did you think about the guy??? Second date :-)
Come on spill........................Please !!!

Susan said...

The scoop is - there will probably be a second date. It should be interesting, to say the least. He is very nice, smart and funny. Don't get your girdles in a twist, as I am moving veeerrrrryyyy slowly. The jury is still out, but he is fun to spend time with.

Akannie said...

Be careful, Susan...the last time I went on a hike with a man he read me poetry and sweet talked me into....21 years later...LOL

Sounds like the wonderful kind of day that recharges your batteries to me. Kudos !

Susan said...

This brings back memories. I was a sucker for red headed guys. So when one of the species invited me outside to look at the stars I was right there. He named every star that had a name and then the ones with numbers while I nearly froze to death.

D.Hausmann said...

Sounds like you had a good time, Glad to hear it! Go slowly and enjoy the ride. I hope and pray things work out in your favor (and hopefully his).

Florida Farm Girl said...

Well, you did survive!! Just baby steps, you know.

Michelle said...

YayYayYayYay; we can all live vicariously through you. Like a romance novel, only better. ;-)