Bluff Spring Journal
March 2006
March 18, 2006
When you're too busy to head for the woods you're probably cranky, irritated at people around you and generally not fit for human companionship. I've hit all of those over the past two weeks as the day to days have had me in their grip and I have not been able to get away from pavement. Enough wining. I finally got to spend some time with my feet on dry leaves and boulders. Something about hearing the gentle sounds of the woods that tends to drown out the shouting of the city.
The LCITW (Little Cabin in the Woods) is coming along just great. The metal roof will go on this week with windows and doors not too far behind. We're looking forward to moving in.
Wild flowers are blooming and I even saw a lone dogwood in bloom. The guy is about 3 to 4 weeks early.
March 22nd, 2006
Spring Break? I don't think so. It's a balmy 29 outside this morning. I feel sorry for all those kids who had 70 degrees a couple of weeks ago while they were in school and now on spring break it's cold enough to butcher. (For you non-Ozarkers, you butcher in the fall when it gets cold). I could have used an old Navy phrase but there are children reading this for literary enjoyment. Not to worry kiddos it'll be warm next week when you're back in school. Figures.
Cold aside it is really a good time to go hiking. No bugs, snakes or the hikers worst fear-spider webs across the trail. Spider webs generally don't give me a problem. I've successfully employed a method that assures me of not having to meet these little critters and their homes on an up close and personal basis. I just use my walking pole and wave it in small circles as I approach a passage between two trees or bushes that might contain spider webs. I know that it must look strange to others that have observed my spider web removal system. Sort of like I'm walking through the woods either invoking a blessing or putting a curse on the land with some weird waving of a magic stick. Hey, it's better than a spider in your face is all I can say.
Dug Hollow was our destination on this great hiking day. The small streams which feed this beautiful hollow were flowing nicely which heightened our anticipation of some good water falls. The water had also cleared of sediment from the big rains we had a couple of weeks ago. Not to be disappointed we encountered the following.
This is one of the first of the bigger falls that occupy this hollow. If you're interested in going there it is up Cave Mountain Road off of Highway 21 (turn right if you are heading south just before you cross the Buffalo River). The hollow starts at approx. N35 54.53, W93 27.30. This water fall is about .86 miles from the dirt road as the crow flies.
We had a great day of hiking this area and enjoyed just being outside and seeing the early stirrings of spring as some trees have started to bud. The wildflowers were out in a few areas and I plan to hike Lost Valley tomorrow where wildflowers are usually present in large numbers.
March 23rd, 2006
Did I mention cold? Here's what we woke up to this morning.
There was almost two inches of snow on Mt. Sherman. The temperature was 30 degrees and quickly warmed up to melt the snow. Below is a picture of our cabin with and without snow.
As you you can see the metal roof is starting to go on. The interior cedar walls are being built and we hope to be in by the end of May.
Not to be deterred by snow we headed over to Lost Valley to see if any of our wildflower friends had survived the frigid temperatures. As we started the hike up the trail we were found a few flowers but most were closed up tight trying to stay warm I'm sure like the rest of us.
Liverleaf?
I searched my handy dandy wildflower guide by Don Kurz but couldn't identify this brave little flower. The closest I could come to was a Liver Leaf. If you have any insights please email me. Try as I might I couldn't identify this little fella.
'Closed for Snow' May Apple
Downy Phlox ( Phlox pilosa)
Most of the flowers had their heads hung low as the low temperatures had taken their toll. I hope to get out later in the week as the temperatures warm up and revive the wildflower population. As a side note it was good to see families out hiking together. One family had several small 'ankle bitters' who were having the best time hiking along and looking at the nature surrounding them. The cold didn't seem to bother them at all. I admire those parents who brave the elements to get their kids out among God's creation.