Vacation Photos Ad Nauseam...

This post is dedicated to the aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandma who dearly love Kirstin and Julie and who won't mind looking at so many pictures of them. To others who read my blog, I thank you for your indulgence and your patience.




Julie bought herself a camera while we were in Maryland and she thoroughly enjoyed it, as you might be able to tell from some of my photos.



Kirstin and Julie love Swallow Falls State Park as much as I do. It is a wonderful place to enjoy together.



Julie and her camera - again.



Kirstin on that very cool rock formation.



Julie taking a picture of Kirstin on the very cool rock formation.



Well, I think she's cute.



I thought it was interesting to find "sea" shells in the little river gravel. I would guess they are freshwater clams, but I don't know much about it.




Another one of Kirstin.




Beautiful green Oxalis in the stones.




Kirstin, in case you haven't figured that out yet.



Of course, Julie had to go join Kirstin on the very cool rock formation.



And I, being the mom, had to take pictures of them. Of course.



I thought the way this rock had eroded was pretty.




Sisters. Lovely sisters.



These two really are a lot of fun. And I love them dearly.


Have a beautiful day!

More of Swallow Falls State Park...

I've got more photos to share of this gorgeous place. Anywhere you stop along the trail, it seems it is just as beautiful if not more so, than the spot you just were.



In several places along the trail, there were stairs like these. I love how nicely they fit in with the woods.


The river and the trees and the whole of it all is so very peaceful. Maybe it is all the water that makes it so. Or maybe the green of the trees. Or the blue of the skies.



When I come here, I feel as if the whole world somehow disappeared and there is only this wonderful river and its surroundings.



The Youghiogheny River. There is so much power in the water.


We're getting closer to Swallow Falls now. I really didn't want the afternoon to end.



You can see the edge of this formation on the right side in two of the pictures below. And in the picture above. Kirstin and Julie climbed part way up it on the other side and sat on a ledge. I'll show you those pictures tomorrow.


Here is part of Swallow Falls. It is actually a series of rocks and smaller falls so it is much more than the picture shows.



And another shot of Swallow Falls.



And one more.


Have a beautiful day! And go visit this place if you ever get a chance!

Swallow Falls State Park...

Another VERY cool place we visited while in Maryland was Swallow Falls State Park. The hiking trail we followed begins at one falls and ends at another falls. It is a loop from the parking lot so you have the option at starting at whichever falls you want. We started at Muddy Creek Falls.



The trail comes to the top of the falls first and then there are wooden stairs to take down along the side of the falls to the river bed.



The scenery down there is absolutely amazing. The rock formations are fascinating. And some of them are almost scary.



I like this teeny tiny ferny stuff growing on the side of the rock. It reminded me of something similar I saw at Stone Mountain.



There were mushrooms growing all the way up this tree!



We saw lots and lots of ferns. I love the way they grow at the base of trees.



Many, many trees and many, many rocks. The Youghiogheny River is flowing to the left, although not visible in this picture. And don't ask me to pronounce that name! I just know that it is gorgeous!




Fungus on a tree.



I thought this rock was interesting. And I like the moss growing on it, too.


There are so many trees along the banks of the Youghiogheny River. I LOVE this place!


Have a beautiful day!

Plants at Nemacolin...

So, if you read my blog yesterday, you know that last week I visited Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania. And while looking at the plants wasn't the main focus of my afternoon there, I have to admit that some of stuff planted there did catch my eye. For example, this grass. I saw it quite used quite often at Nemacolin and in McHenry, MD, where we were staying.



Is it a Miscanthus? I think it is, but I don't know for sure. But I do think I would love to have it in my garden.



We came across this tree filled with little red berries and it reminded me of the Pyracantha shrubs that grew near my house when I was growing up.



My sisters and I gathered the Pyracantha berries for "meals" when we played "house" under the short palm trees that also grew there. But, of course, we never ate the berries as we had been sternly warned that they were poisonous. Anyhow, this tree at Nemocolin had wicked, wicked thorns that were about 2 inches long. Do you know what it might be?



I like the shape of this tree. The one in front, that is. Well, I like the one in back, too, but I was photographing the one in front.



There were pots of annuals by the Auto Toy Shop. They were beginning to wane a little, as summer had ended, but I still enjoyed them.



Look at the color and markings of this Petunia!


And here is another showy one. Enjoy.


Have a beautiful day!

Nemacolin...

Well, I'm back home again. And my garden actually survived my absence - thanks to the remnants of a tropical storm coming through. One of the places we visited on our trip was part of the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania.



The scenery there is very beautiful. After eating lunch at "The Wild Side," we spent the afternoon walking around looking at the animals in the little zoo on the property.




Nemacolin is home to a white Buffalo, as well as a herd of the usual dark buffalo. This guy, named Lightening, is sacred to the Native Americans. He was perfectly content to let us take his picture, but when we started photographing his female (a dark buffalo named Thunder), he got up and herded her away from us!




There is also a tiny airplane museum, and an "Auto Toy Store," with amazing vintage automobiles for sale. I'm sorry I didn't get pictures of the planes or the cars. Just the landscape. (That fits a little better with a garden blog, right?)




One thing I find very interesting at Nemacolin is this portion of the Berlin Wall. Talk about a piece of history!



On the way "home," we stopped at an over-look off of the highway. It is an incredible view.



And when we got back "home" again in McHenry, Maryland, there was an absolutely gorgeous sunset.


Have a beautiful day!