Sixteen and Hyner View State Park

Hi friends! Let's play some catch up! We spent 9 wonderful days at the family cabin in northern PA, all three kids are back to school, hubby turned 40 (WOW!:), real estate stuff (BLEH!!), and our first baby turned 16! WOW---Katie, my little Peanut is 16 years old! She is growing into an amazing, kind-hearted young woman and we are so very proud to be a part of her life!

An Ebay find to add to her elephant collection! What a pretty young lady!

Onto vacation....ahhhh.....okay I won't bore you with every detail, but bear with me while I share a little. The family cabin is about 3.5 hours north of our farm. It is located in an area known as the Pennsylvania Wilds. It is a beautiful area that is home to mountains, deep valleys, tons of hiking trails, PA's Elk herd, and woods, woods, and more woods. Most of the towns formed years ago when the lumber and coal industry was in full swing--today they are small, sleepy versions of the bustling boom towns they once were.

One of our favorite places to visit is Hyner View, in Hyner Run state park. Just south of the town of Renovo, if you follow a long winding mountain road to the very tippy-top, the most amazing view will await you. I'll let the pictures do the talking here...they can say it all so much better than me!

The wood ramp is where Hang-gliders leap off the mountain!

Newly shed snake--you can tell because of the milky eyes

I wish the pictures were better--I wish they could convey the feeling of this place. I love it here--standing and looking out over the world, I feel hope in my heart. Hopeful of good things to come, maybe it is being so high up...you almost feel like you can reach out an grasp the dreams that often feel so far away. A picnic, a favorite view, family, and a happy heart....it was a good day to be alive.

Fifteen, Cicadas, and Sunflowers

Let's start with 15. My son is 15! WOW....my son is 15!!!! Where has all the time gone is the first thought in my mind.One day he was a squalling infant, and now a funny young man. Seems like life just goes too fast sometimes.....on the other hand, this son of mine is a blessing. That makes for 15 year worth of blessings, making me pretty darned lucky. This dear blessing is flawed though....he spent his birthday grounded.....I will save him the embarrassment of sharing why.  So instead of a party, although we usually keep it low key anyway, we had a family campfire just for us, and grasshopper pie as the "man child" requested. Fifteen....fifteen....wow.....I am truly thankful for each and every moment. It was a good day, and I feel lucky to be his momma....on his birthday and everyday.

The 15 year old prisoner!!

This yearSpring arrived in this part of Pennsylvania early. The weather warmed, the flowers bloomed early, and we began our work in the garden way ahead of schedule. The arrival of spring this year also brought with it, a flurry of news reports about the large hatch of Cicadas the experts were predicting. Our last big hatch was in 2004, and this one was predicted to be just as big. Early in the summer of '04 the air was filled with the distinctive sound of the Cicadas. In fact, the numbers were so great that for those of us lucky enough to have woods around us, it was often difficult to have a conversation outdoors. The sound is unique, some call it a chirping, but it is really more of a chirping with buzzing sort of sound. If you know about the night "peepers," well just multiply that by a few hundred. When millions of them "sing" together I pretend I live in some far away exotic jungle, I can almost see the monkeys leaping from limb to limb:) Following is a good video clip of the sound.

Cicada music (not my video, found from Bing search)

People complain about the Cicadas, I love their music though. Even on the days and nights it is particularly loud, I feel lucky to be here to hear it. It's only temporary anyway, why not enjoy it?!?! Ahhhh, the music of nature beats listening to the neighbors anyday! (Dear neighbors, RELAX--Just a joke!) 

So, back to the predicted big hatch...it never happened. At least not in York county where I live. This past week though, we've been noticing more and more of them. We always have a few each year, this year seems no different. Although, maybe the big hatch is just late?

Newly hatched

The shell that is left after the hatch

All grown up!!!

Our sunflowers were planted later than usual this year. No reason really, other than I just did not get around to it until late. Last week some began blooming, others have followed this week. I love Sunflowers, they are just so happy!

Just beginning

A little farther.... 

Almost there.....

Stunning!!!

Mexican Sunflower

Smaller than traditional Sunflowers, but no less beautiful....I think this butterfly agrees!

Evening Sun

Our happy little Sunflower Patch!!

Teddy Bear

Lemon Ice

Autumn Beauty and Vanilla Ice (ice, ice baby!)ha!

Austin standing at the base, to give you an idea on height.

We are off in a few days for the family cabin in the mountains until the 24th...expect tons of pics from there...it is our favorite spot in all of PA!

Another edition of 'What's blooming around the farm?', Autumn's secret garden, and an early fall???

What's blooming around the farm this week is brought to you by my mom--thanks mom, for taking all the nice pictures for me!

Buzzzzzyyyy!!

White butterfly bush

And now, Autumn would like to share her secret garden with everyone. This is her little quiet place she visits nearly everyday.

I think this sunflower wants to be a daisy instead!

Autumn showing off the flowers

Here she goes towards the hidden pathway

Up she goes......

And up......

Where did she go??

She nears the top!

"Mommy, come on, hurry up!" she says. Can you spot her?

Here it is, her secret little place!

Silly girl!

"Okay mommy, you can go now." she tells me, guess I am not invited for too long!

Not too much going on at the farm this week. We have the usual parade of teenager friends, and the normal chores to keep up with. We did get some new barn doors hung up this week--YAY! I know it is only July, but I have to tell you that we are already beginning to see some early signs of fall. Yellow leaves float through the air on nearly every breeze, and the plants have taken on the tired look that comes in early September. The apples are sporting a deepening rosy glow, and the Willow trees are looking spent. We've had some cool and crisp mornings this past week, sweatshirt weather...I love it!