What in Blue Blazes?

What in Blue Blazes was I thinking? 

See those blue blazes painted on the rocks?

Those are trail markers. 

Do you see a trail? 

Well, those boulders ARE the trail.
Miles of boulder trail.



So let's see...
I started the day with a bottle of water,
a camera, and a little headache.

We climbed up from down there somewhere
and headed to the left of the photo
onto the the Appalachian Trail.



Once we climbed up, up, up,
my water was 50% gone and my sinus headache was 50% worse.
After a brief period of level walking,
we followed the blue blazes.



The trail took us across and up the ridge of a mountain:
Hawk Mountain,
passing a rattlesnake on the way...



...to some beautiful views.
But by now my water was 100% gone
and my headache was 100% pounding.
So I really didn't care about the views.
I was more likely contemplating going back and
offering myself to the rattlesnake.



I just wanted to get home.



And the kicker?
You can access the views from a visitor center MUCH
more easily than this trail!
But I was with a large contingent of humans
bearing the Y chromosome...
so what fun would that be?


The smiley faces on the map show our path.

I might mention,
the ride home, with the traffic jams, was torture on my head.
Once home,
I ran into the house,
took lots of pain killers,
and went to bed!

I swear, somewhere along the trail
my husband mentioned getting me a new lens.
Funny, he doesn't remember that.
He thinks I dreamt it.

Turkeys in April

In the USA we associate Turkeys with our fall Thanksgiving holiday. 

But really, the image of the turkey with the fanned tail 

is something you see in spring, 

during mating. 

The Tom (male) fans his feathers 

to attract the hen (female). 

These turkeys live in the wild at Pennypack Preserve 

in Huntingdon Valley, PA. 

I never noticed how colorful they were before, 

until I was able to get close to them. 

They even have blue on their heads!  

There is always something to see at the preserve.
Oh, and if you happen to see my lens hood on the ground somewhere,
pick it up for me!  :)

2955 Edge Hill Road
Huntingdon Valley, PA

From Taxes to Murals in Philly

I am not a city girl...
no way-no how.
In fact, I really don't like Philadelphia at all.
This just happens to be where I live
because Center City Philadelphia
is where my husband works.



Thankfully, we don't actually
live within the city limits.
My kids are getting a more than decent education
in a suburban district. Yay!

And don't get me started on
City Wage Tax.
It is the large tax my husband gets to pay
for the privilege of working in the city.
The tax he gets to pay...
without getting any representation.
Yeah...Like I said,
"Don't get me started."



Or, the reason I don't buy anything in Philadelphia?
You have to pay an extra 2% sales tax.
Hello?
No thank-you dear Philly, I'll leave the city for all my purchases.

Now that my crankiness is vented,
there are a few bright spots in the city;
if you look past all the trash lining the streets.



Philadelphia claims one of the largest collections
 of public art in the form of murals.
That's pretty cool.
At least it hides all the graffiti.



And then there is the history.
I love the history of Philadelphia.



And the history
brings me to the beautiful architecture!




But then,
that takes me right back to my rant.
:(
Because many beautiful, vintage buildings
are sitting,
vacant,
dilapidated,
crumbling,
forgotten,
and burning.

It is a sad state for Philadelphia's history.
Right now,
there is local interest in saving
the beautiful Divine Lorraine.
But who knows,
it may end up like the
Buck Hosiery Building,
which recently cost two fire-fighters their lives.



Gee, I wasn't intending on being so grumpy today.
:)

Time to Shear Sheep

At Peter Wentz Farmstead, 

there was quite a bit happening for Sheep Shearing Day. 

And I love this place... 

just the feel of it makes me happy. 

The Paper Maker


So despite being sick
for what seems like forever...
I visited the Farmstead.



And took lots of photos!






But I love this one...
the little lamb kept his sleepy eye on Mama
the whole time!



Mama had just been shorn!



Then I came home too exhausted to even look at the photos!

The Blacksmith at Peter Wentz Farmstead

It was Sheep Shearing Day at Peter Wentz Farmstead.
And along with the Sheep Shearing Demonstrations,
other period artisans practiced their crafts.



Here the Blacksmith focuses on heating the metal.
Then he diligently forms the shape desired.



I love seeing these handmade crafts practiced today.

A Stroll Through Longwood Gardens in Winter

During the wintry months 

you can still have your fill of flora here in Pennsylvania. 

A visit to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square will give the that flora fix you're craving.

You'll be toasty warm strolling through the gardens.



As beautiful as it is,
Longwood Gardens is really not my cup-of-tea.



It is all just a little too perfect...
with straight rows of matchy-matchy flowers.
I much prefer the whimsy of Chanticleer Gardens.



But then,
 Chanitcleer is closed in winter,
so Longwood will have to do.

I promise to bring you photos of Chanticleer
this year!
They just opened for spring!
:)

Fo more of my photos from Longwood Gardens click here.
For orchids, click here.