Sunday Drive

My goodness, where is this month going?  Time just passes too quickly these days. 

With the time change and nicer weather, we've been spending as much time outside as possible.  On Sunday, we went for a drive up to Ryan's parents' property above Berry Creek.  It was a really nice day, a little cool, but sunny and bright.  It was quite a drive for the peanut in the back seat - you have to drive up above Berry Creek, then turn off the paved road onto a gravel road, then turn off the gravel road onto a dirt road.  I couldn't even tell you where we were if I was looking at a map, but it didn't really matter.  It is usually a pretty drive but with the fire that blazed through there last Summer, the scenery was a little depressing.  Laci did great, though.  She slept most of the way and then was content to chew on her toys until we got there.  We tromped around for a while and Ryan reminisced about camping there as a kid.  I took a gazillion pictures and then had to do major tick patrol before we left.  I found two on me, crawling on my jeans.  Can I just say, "SO GROSS!!"  I think I am a country girl at heart, until there is a tick or two on me.  Then I just want to get the heck out of there.  Something about ticks just completely freaks me out.  The whole concept of a bug digging its little head into your skin is more than I can handle.  Plus, now I have mom guilt to deal with, "What if one gets on Laci?"  "What if one bites Laci?"  "What if she gets Lyme's Disease?"  I think you get the picture.  I am happy to report that we are officially tick free, bite free, and Lyme's Disease free.

Ryan is showing Laci the "shooting range" - really just a flat-ish spot on the side of the hill where we can throw clay pigeons.  Once, when we were first dating, he brought me up here with a few of his friends to shoot at night.  They popped open a glow stick and painted the clay with them.  They weren't very bright for shooting, but it was entertaining enough.  I believe one person who shall remain nameless (ok, it was Scott) painted his whole face with the glue stick goo, after which we told him it was toxic and would make him sick.  That was the first time I went to the property...brave girl I was.  I had absolutely no idea where we were, wasn't really into the whole shooting thing, and was freezing cold.  I ended up sitting in the truck watching the shenanigans if I remember correctly. 

I had never seen this before, so I took a picture.  Why not, right?  It isn't really special, it is just a tree marking the property line and the little plaque says something like they'll punish you if you remove the tree or damage it in any way.

I wonder what they'll do to Mother Nature

when they realize the other side of the tree has been destroyed by fire.

More destruction.

The only plus side to all the burned trees is that the view of Bald Rock is cleared.

Usually there are too many trees to get a clear shot of it.

Check out this tree.  It is totally hollow inside.

Makes you wonder how long it will really hold up.

These are the branches of the same hollow tree. 

I had to go on the other side of the tree to get the shot.

I wanted to get the whole tree in a picture, but couldn't do it because of how the road goes.

Most of the branches are hollow too

and reach out over the road.

Very strange looking.

Sadly, Laci finally figured out how to take her hat off.

Now I can't hardly keep one on her.

Good thing the weather is warmer now.

It was a good day.