Thanksgiving in Iowa ("Ee-Oh-Way" in Hawaiian)

Our journey this time of Thanksgiving led us to the great corn state of Iowa to visit kin-folk. Being that the time off was so short we decided to fly instead of drive. Although the trip was several hours, it beat the typical 16+ hours of driving plus the wear on the vehicle and the bodies of the transient pilgrims.

As we flew, I wondered if man was meant to see the clouds from the top side. Regardless, it was beautiful. The clouds formed ripples and ridges much like a river or wind swept sand.

This was only the third time I had flown on an airline so to start, I was nervous. The irony I find is in that I seek the pleasure of being saddled atop a mountain bike at high speeds on rock laden downhill trails with little to no body armor and I hear the mighty Cumberland falls calling me to come play, but seat me in a flying sardine can and I'm almost a nervous wreck. However, I believe the difference comes down to control.

I found many sights and smells to feast my senses on while in the Northwest.
My parent-in-laws had decorated their farmhouse for Thanksgiving, which coincided with the harvest.

The trek into the the real Yahoo.

Saturday afternoon came to another pleasureful hike into the wilds of Creation. This time, we went into McCreary County, KY to explore an area around a well known waterfall. At 133 feet, Yahoo falls is the highest in Kentucky. It plummets onto a pile of large rocks before streaming into a small, shallow pool which feeds into the Big South Fork of the Cumberland river.


Unfortunately, I was unable to capture it's full height as I did not place myself in a position to do so.



However, I was able to catch a view from the top of the falls looking down to the bottom. It's not clear in the picture, but keep in mind it is 133 feet and I was hanging on to a tree while holding the camera out for the view. For some reason, it was hard to keep the camera still.


The journey continued around the falls area admiring the beauty of the scenery on the trail. I was drawn to many of the small creatures, but did not take the opportunity to photograph them. However, this time textures seemed to appeal to me more; specifically the textures of the trees and rock formations. The artwork of Creation is amazing in its randomness.




The first texture was just a few feet from the second. The side of this rock was more "smooth" with concave designs in its surface.







This passage was just approximately twenty feet from the first rock I photographed. It had some smooth characteristics of the first that seem to have been caused by previous years of wear caused by water running over the surface. However, the texture changed drastically as one moved down the surface of the rock face. It began to look more like what man would construct out of concrete block stacked one upon another.







Further down toward the river, this boulder was showing its design in which grooves tapered from one side to the other.







Along the path we came across several trees that caught my attention. The openings into the trunks of trees have always been intriguing as the hollow appears as it to be an opening into another world...if looked at it with the proper imagination that is...




The path that was leading us eventually joined us to the Sheltowee Trace, which coursed along the river. Here, we stopped after a while and sat to enjoy the delights that came to our senses and to converse with our friends we embarked with to further know them better.



The river was cold, but provided a soothing environment with its playful streaming around and over the riverbed. Ever since discovering the joys of kayaking, flowing water is almost mesmerizing to my mind. Once seated within a suitable receptive distance I find it hard to part from that place.

The waters also brings to mind the cleansing power of the Creator and how he longs for his children that he created to let his love flow around us as gently and playfully as the river and sweep us off to a sacred place full of completeness of life....



Finally, my wife showing off her wings.


Overall, I am grateful for such a place as where I live and the people I am blessed to share it with, whether first hand in the completeness of the fresh environment or in an attempt to show a very minuscule glance of the experience digitally...which never does justice.

A very informative video on the flu vaccine:

Another trip down Bark Camp creek

This trail has become one of our favorites in the area because of the lush growth along the creek.

This time, right at first we were taunted by an elusive buck that seemed more content with snorting and grunting than showing itself. Being that this is deer season here in Kentucky and I have decided to forgo any form of indulging in it's activities, the buck was safe from me...for now.

I have also been drawn more to the small things of the earth. For years I have found a certain quietness about simply squatting down next to the ground and observing the life that so often goes unnoticed underfoot. Closer to the earth time seems to go...slower.

Along with this increased attention comes a fascination with the fungi and their "other worldliness". Compared to the rest of the vegetation, these delightful creations stand out with their curves and smooth surfaces.

Perhaps it's their mysteriousness in how they just suddenly "appear". Or their purpose of transforming "death" into "life" to continue the cycle instilled into creation.

Along the trail, there were many such pleasureful signs of the ongoing call for life set in motion from the beginning. One such was a natural "planter" in which a tree had been cut long ago and the slow decay of weather and time had carved out a hole in the center in which a small fern had found a place to grow.

The creek was not as full as the last time I saw it, which regretfully I had not taken the camera along. However, there was enough volume this time to add a different beauty to the area, which was quickly showing signs of the approaching winter with near barren tree limbs reaching to the sky as if to beg the Creator to cover the Earth once again with the warm clothing of Spring.

Despite the coolness and the rapidly approaching nightfall, the soft pool of water below my position as I took the picture seemed very inviting to enter in.

Yes folks, there has been a very important global warming study going on. A couple of researchers at Victoria University have now issued a statement professing that dogs and cats contribute to global warming by their mere existence.

One of the researchers states that "If you have a German shepherd or similar-sized dog, for example, its impact every year is exactly the same as driving a large car around."

So we need to get rid of our vehicles and start riding our pets..or eating them.

Another adrenaline depraved mind wonders aimlessly...

The kayaking forum is interesting tonight!

Here's a link to so fun going on in N.C. A church (used lightly) has decided to burn basically everything except the KJV (because it's authorized, ya' know). Writings of the Pope, Mother Theresa, and Billy Graham are included in this social gathering. Afterward, they are having a cookout. Quaint.

This is also talked about in the First Things Magazine online, which includes the announcement program.

Interestingly, Tim Lahaye's books are also amongst the list.

More Youtube surfing...

Actually, I was on a kayaking forum and the link to this video was posted so I decided to explore it.

Yes, it was on a kayaking forum. This is what happens when the adrenaline starved have too much time on their hands