Dog Wash Day

We couldn't stand the smell any more so we washed the dog.



Somebody save me - PLEASE!



Get this water off of me!



Must... get... dirty!



Isn't the prom tonight?

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words... what's a video worth?

Jenny's Birthday!

Ready to blow out the candles...



The birthday girl and her dog... nothing better than GO!

Birthday Peonies

Dog Day!

Sunday was a great day for Bark to the Park!

Flowers

Petunias in a hanging basket.



Clematis growing by the back deck.



Dianthia in a pot we have in the back flower bed.



Kyra keeps all of the flower beds organized and secure from moles and other undesirables.

Home at Last!

Smokey finally made it home from the vet. He's on some great meds and seems to be feeling pretty good. The vet says all he needs now is a little TLC. He made a lot of friends after almost 2 weeks in the animal hospital - seems he's been cuddling with all of the pretty girls that work there. I can't say enough good stuff about Dr. Sheridan at the Cat Clinic of Columbia and the other vets at Shandonwood (particularly Dr. Wales). We're very glad to have the Smoe back!

Sick Kitty

Smokey has now spent an entire week at the Vet recovering from urinary crystals. Other than not being able to pass urine, he seems ok. He doesn't like catheters though, and pulls at least one out a day. Hopefully we won't have to sell any of our organs to get him out. So... here's a picture of what this sweet cat endures at our house. Everyone at the vet loves him. I visit daily - but I think it helps me more than him. So, please cross your fingers that Smoke-stack is home soon.

The Trip That Almost Never Was - Backpacking The Foothills Trail Hwy. 178 to Bad Creek

The latest trip was planned to finish dad's last section of the Foothills Trail. It is a 32 mile hike from Highway 178 (A4 in the Foothills Trail Conference Guide) to Bad Creek Access (A7). This first photo is of dad & me at Hwy. 178 before the first attempt on Thursday. Notice something missing with the guy on the left? (hint: tent poles) We hiked a few miles in before remembering the poles. After hitchhiking our way back to my truck at Bad Creek we went home to regroup and start again Friday.



Dad early on day #1... warm and more importantly, dry.



Dad on a bridge made out of a fallen tree.



There were lots of flowers along the trail.



More trail-side flowers...



A waterfall on Laurel Fork Creek.



Oconee Bells on the trailside.



Looking over Laurel Fork Falls. This is where we camped the first night (7.5 miles)



Laurel Fork Creek upstream from the falls.

There are no pictures from day two because it rained hard and cold. We decided with the nasty forecast in front of us we'd hike as many miles as possible so we could make it out in two nights instead of our original plan of three. At the end of the day we hiked 17 miles from Laurel Fork Falls to Bearcamp Creek.



This is me the morning of the third day leaving Bearcamp Creek. Still smiling but cold, wet, and tired.



The Thompson River



More of the Thompson River



Dad on the Thompson River bridge officially finishing the Foothills Trail.

Yes... we're still around. We made it through the winter and things are looking up! So here are some updated life pictures!

New tile in the kitchen!

Foster giving kitten an ear bath (she's never been good at cleaning herself)

Caught!!

I ran the Lexington Race Against Hunger. 6.1 miles in 55 min!! My best 10K time yet! And there were tons of hills.

Me looking really goofy while crossing the finish line...

Its snowing in Lexington!

Lexington's first 2008 snowman!

Merry Christmas!

Thompson River - November 2007

Dad & I took a one night trip on the Foothills Trail starting at
the Bad Creek Project and camping at the Thompson River.
The weather was a little on the cool side (40 F at night) but
otherwise it was perfect. Here are a few photos.



Me crossing the bridge at the beginning of the trail (Bad Creek Project Side)



Dad at the Thompson River



Me putting out the fire in the morning



Home sweet home



Dad filtering water



Looking down the Thompson River



Near the campsite



More photos near the campsite

Happy Halloween!!

Kyra is back!!!

Miss Kyra decided to go on a little adventure while I was in Portland a few weeks ago. She was VERY hungry when she finally came home. We think she spent some time locked in a very nice new home down the street, and we are relieved that she wasn't eaten by a fox!

Caesar's Head to Table Rock Hike

Dad & Me just getting started at Caesar's Head. Notice: clean, no cuts, working watch...



Flowers on the side of the trail



Dad and his new tent



Goofball on a rock...



Dad on a rock ledge near Sassafrass Mountain



Me looking a lot less comfortable on the rock ledge.