Do go chase some waterfalls!

Saturday I decided to take a break from the usual yard work & took a road trip to Ricketts Glen. The 2.5 hour drive was well worth it to take in some of nature at its finest.  What's really amazing is it started to rain when I made it to the parking lot near the Falls Trail - but once you enter the forest little to no rain makes it to you.  The trees are so big and old they make a fantastic natural umbrella.  I didn't make it the whole 7 mile loop to see all the falls, hell I didn't even get half as far.  BUT I did get to see the main attraction - the 94' Ganoga Falls.  In a word, stunning.  I would highly recommend visiting this park right now - bring plenty of water, take your time, wear good shoes - the trail is clear but a little rough in some spots.  There is great access to the falls, lots of photo opportunities.

Click here to view these pictures larger

TRIPLE rainbows you say?

Yesterday the weather beat the bejesus out of all the plants, luckily nothing is mortally wounded, just standing a bit crooked now.  Nothing a few supports can't fix.  I try not to whine too much about the rain anyway because the veggies sure do need the water and of course with rain showers there's always the hope of a rainbow.  Shawn pointed out a very faint but very wide rainbow, so of course I grabbed my camera.

Oh look, a rainbow nuglet!

A bit before 8:00 I looked out one of the living room windows to see what Forrest was staring at & saw another rainbow.  This one was much brighter and far more complete so I went outside to see.  Upon further investigation, I saw something I'd never seen before: a DOUBLE RAINBOW!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN???

Oh yes, full on!  Across the sky!  So intense!  It was so bright & vivid!  I almost cried like this guy but then I remembered it's science and not a unicorn peeing across the sky. 

Bun-Bun VonCutenstein

It's not unusual to see baby bunnies in the yard.  We encountered quite a few last year - Shawn even ripped apart the shed to evict one of the little guys that had zoomed in there.  I had very few surviving sunflowers last year because of them, but oh well.  They are too cute & I'd rather they eat the flowers than go to town in the garden.  Besides, they have to eat something.  Today I tinkered in the yard for a bit and on my quest for water I discovered this guy, who I promptly dubbed Bun-Bun (very original, I know).

Bun-Bun VonCutenstein
aaaw

The bunnies are extremely patient with my paparazzi like maneuvers so I was not surprised at all that he remained still for me as I clicked away.  I was, however,a bit alarmed that on my third trip past he had done nothing more than change directions.  I looked him over and he appeared ok, but a little poke to the back leg with zero response told me there's a problem.  I shaded him from the sun & talked to him while I wondered what to do.  His breathing became more labored and his tiny mouth started moving...  I think that's when I realized Bun-Bun was on his way out.  I stayed with him until the end.  I wish I could have done more for him, but I take a bit of comfort in the happy look he sported when I stroked his teeny head.

Sweet dreams, little dude.
May there be miles of sweet clover for you on the other side.

Life along the path

Let's make that even creepier with this: I discovered the path behind the dumpsters at work.  Yes, at a location where there is a large koi pond complete with a bridge and little waterfalls, I was wandering around behind the dumpsters.  I'm really glad I was because in my wanderings I discovered the path.

This beautious mowed trail leads to the path

I was delighted to find a blacktop trail surrounding a field where I soon encountered Bill.  I asked if the path went the whole way around or if it was a dead end - he assured me there is indeed a circuit & he sure does walk it twice a day with his dog Sandy.  I met some other nice people that told me a bit about how the path used to be & gave me some history on the building I work in.  Since the first day I've met some more dogs, the delightful Miss Helen and said hello to a variety of passersby on the path.  According to Noom's Cardio Trainer app it's nearly a mile (0.8 to be exact) and it's my new favorite place to be for lunch!

Marvelous after working in a windowless office all day!