An ice storm cometh

Today is October 29th. We awoke today to rain and cold, but by the time breakfast was over we found it had started to clear. We loaded up into Sandy and Drupeys van, and headed for a ride on the Parkway. We traveled our usual route through Ferrum, and over Shooting Creek road and hit the Parkway. In the distance I saw what I thought was snow on the far mountain peaks. As we travelled south...yes south, and climbed up to Rocky Knob, we found ourselves in an icy wonderland !
The sky was brilliant, and it was melting fast with chunks of ice coming down in sporadic spots as we travelled along thinking that the windshield might crack!

Some spots would cloud over and dark freaky clouds would roll over us and then there would come splashes of sun. Very wierd !

The distant mountains were frosted looking, with fields of green in the foreground, then areas of browned grass followed by spurts of color on the trees.

What an odd sight... this went on for miles.

At one point we stopped and used the wayside facilities, and it was blowing and cold. Bob posed in this ice pile that was like huge ice rigatoni pasta. It was loud and we didn't stay out near the trees long for fear of getting impaled!

Sandy was back in the van waving...smart lady.

We had wanted to travel North on the Parkway, but decided to go south and go to Meadows of Dan to the Poor Farmers market to have lunch, but THEY ARE NOT HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE. I was never aware of the places we love to go that I hadn't noticed that Sandy could never go and enjoy with us. Very dissappointed with Meadows of Dan stores. We went past to Nancys Candys, and THEY ARE HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE. Kudos to Nancys Candys, and they got a chunk of our money. We also learned at Rocky Knob ranger station that the Parkway was closed above Roanoke, so we did the right thing by going south.

We headed down 58 until we got to the first place that was accessible to Sandy and that was Wendys. Kudos to all the Wendys and shame on so many places for not making their businesses available to the handicapped people who love to travel and sightsee. For some, vehicle trips are their only way to get to do and see what we take for granted.

The icestorm commeth and its not just weather related. I plan to check every place I go to frequently and make sure that they are handicapped accessible, and if they are not, my business will go elsewhere...after I let them know...and a blog will show which ones you are...

the power of the pen, or computer can be very icy...

In the shadows

This morning I arose early, for whatever reason. Probably because Bob is off fishing, and I am home alone, or maybe because I am still sick. I let the dogs out the back way and walked across the back deck to check on Belle and make sure she didn't 'chase' the horses. She just followed Penny towards the fruit trees out back to do her business, and as my eyes adjusted to the early light I saw my horses lying together under their favorite cedar tree. I looked up toward the rising light and saw the shadowy figure of a deer. They are hard to spot in the shadows, and they know they are. This deer just watched me, and didn't seem put off by the dogs or my presence. In a bit it bent its head to eat more of the sunflower seed that are dropped by birds shaking the feeders. I wished once more that I had a camera capable of taking those type of pictures, but since I don't, I went to the Internet to find something comparable to show just how lovely it was, but nothing compared. I did find these photos, and thought they might be of interest to some readers..
This first one was captured on a wildlife camera at about 1 am, according to the person who posted it. What is hard to explain is the child's image in the photo...
Do you believe in... shadows?

This image is so typical of this area and reminds me of what I see almost daily, although this one was clearly shot in Autumn, if you changed the foliage to the different seasons, I see them all.

This is what you see if you have 'Critter eyes'...that's what I have...I see deer and turkey and coyotes in bits and pieces through the woods and grasses. It's a big asset for hunters to be able to see animals like that, but I don't want to shoot them, except with a camera..

As the sun comes up or goes down, the deer will head to the hollows and then the woods for cover. Bob and I have ridden through our trails with the dogs running ahead of us, and we have seen deer lying down or standing just a few feet from where we pass by. The trick is being able to spot them. They will stay if they are secure in the shadows, knowing that they are hidden, not seen by the intruders.

We all hide in the shadows, watching the world and hoping the intruders will pass on by. My cousin Laura passed away last week. She had cancer. She was only 68. She was a wife/mother/friend and writer. There are so many who will miss her, and think of her as I did this morning while watching that graceful deer in the morning shadows.

But remember, there are also dangers hiding in the shadows. Cancers hide in shadows. Belle,my Aussie dog had a tumor removed last week. The vet called and said it was not malignant.Quarrie,our big grey cat-who-thinks-he's-a-dog,had a tooth removed and the swelling was questionable. It's gone, and he seems fine.

Exhale.

I have a breast exam every year, and I am overdue for one. Today I will make the appointment for my mammogram, and hope that the shadowy images will hide no cancer.

Are you in the clear?