This is a glorious time of year at home in northern Indiana. I always miss being there now.....the leaves are turning, the smell in the air coming off Lake Michigan takes on a slightly different scent, the temperature turns to JUST that perfect mix of cool but not TOO cool. It's just simply glorious.

I have a box planted near my childhood home where my mother and stepfather live. It hadn't had any hits yet, as far as I knew, so Mom decided to introduce my niece Anna to her first letterboxing adventure. Mom knew that I would miss the experience terribly, so she took pictures for me. What a marvelous chance to show Anna something new...and something of ME too!

Jim had her all ready for finding the treasure and you can tell she was so very excited to get her hands in there!

It's like the line from "Pretty Woman" where he explains the effect of the first visit to the opera. The first moment when little Anna experienced the joy of that treasure! I may not have been there physically, but I was through my box and my carving, and the love I have for Mom, Daddy Jim, and the beautiful soul that is filling Anna with light and love. Hopefully a new boxer is born sharing the thrill Mom gave me too for the outdoors and all the wonders it can hold.

Her first inky fingers! Too cute. :-)

Our First Gathering!

Our first gathering held in Greenwood has come and gone, but OH what a wonderful time we had! That night I felt like Anna of Little Foxes here (photo used with parental permission)....just too much fun and too tuckered out. It was a terrific day though, and it seemed like everyone had a great time.

The theme was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the program sometimes called 'The Tree Army' that put so many desperate young men to work. They built many of the state parks around the country, including our local Lake Greenwood in 1938. For the gathering I planted a series of five 'quest' boxes, each one leading the visitor to another structure built by the Corps inside the park. I also released a gypsy in honor of the weekend that will hopefully visit many CCC installations around the country on it's travels.

Paula and Jim planted some awesome local-theme boxes including two at a wonderful cemetery just down the road, two FABULOUS night-hike boxes (removed by request after the event was over). Paula also did a terrific box honoring one of Greenwood's own legends-- a young man lost in the tragic plane crash which forms the background for the current inspirational movie 'We Are Marshall!" Zoe did a special box as a surprise to honor Paula and the receipt of her official Veterinarian license this week. We're all so very proud of her accomplishments.

Lunch was potluck with hotdogs roasted in the fireplace. Lake Greenwood has a fabulous enclosed building that we were able to use for the day which kept us out of the cool wind in the morning and protected everyone's goodies. Some old boxing friends joined us...Eidolon, Artemis, and TRex (and the boxing pups C0mmunity and Cemetary of course!), JenniMcD, Knit Wit, and lots of others. We also had the great pleasure to become acquainted with some terrific boxing families....Little Foxes, dtandfambly (who did an incredible job with the kids activities!!), Peas in a Pod, and so many others! Ballentine Buddies also had their two poodles, my greyhound Florida was thrilled to join me for the day, and my friend HoundSong had her beautiful little whippet Jenna. I tell ya, Boxers are just THE most awesome folks you'll find anywhere in the country.

Big thanks to everyone who attended...even those already saying we need to do it again next year! I'm too tired to think about that yet. (laughing) We're so glad everyone enjoyed the day with us and has said so many wonderful things on AQ about the event. It was so much fun and I'm very glad Paula had the idea to host it in Greenwood. What else can I say....a good time was had by all!

The View Before the Fall

We visited a lovely place last week for a little treasure-hunting and R&R together. It was a lovely day and we had a blast finding this cute little covered bridge!

I grew up in Indiana and have always loved covered bridges. I have a box at one near my favorite state park, and another one to do on my next trip home. When I heard there had been some down here in South Carolina and that one was still standing I just had to go see! I have to admit it wasn't what I expected. (laughing)

In Indiana, the bridges I grew up loving are grand, sweeping things that take you out to spectacular views. They were born of necessity as a way of protecting travelers from the hazards of inclement weather and many of them are WAY up there over major streams and rivers. They're described by the way they're constructed and the person who invented it. I feel a real connection to the bridges of my midwestern youth.

So, this bridge was a 'must see'. It's a lovely drive way up into the foothills above Greenville towards NC on one of those 'twenty miles, but 2 hour driving time' trips. The little red bridge has been restored several times and spans a little bubbling stream. It's only a little over 30 feet long-- the shortest I've ever seen! I just kept snapping pictures thinking 'isn't it just CUTE'. The construction is a four-span Howe truss: four sets of diagonal wooden beams stabilized with vertical iron poles. It's also closed in on the sides which is unusual for the bridges I've seen. In every photo I took the bridge seems to be leaning one way or the other but that's an optical illusion. The entrance from both sides has a panel extending up and out toward the roof that makes it appear like the whole structure is sitting at an angle.

Finding neat things nearby is always a bonus too. There was evidence of an old homestead close to the bridge that included this lovely traditional wall. Somehow I've always been fascinated by the play of light on stones like this. There were little areas of whimsical tile work too, like someone had playfully added bits of broken pottery, old souvenir ashtrays, and various other bits that struck their fancy into a mosaic set into the ground. It was an eclectic bit of nonsense that I really enjoyed looking at, imaging the artist so many years ago placing them there.

That little stream it crosses is deceptive too! The title of this post is The View BEFORE the fall...and I'm not referring to Autumn. The water runs over a solid rock base that was absolutely lovely and perfect for pictures, but also perfectly slick and sneaky too. I hit the ground more than once sliding on rocks that looked absolutely dry and safe. Even sitting down the view was glorious though and worth the trip. Pun intended. (laughing)

When is it THE time?

When is it time to change your sig stamp? IS there a right time? I think yes.... sometimes, your heart tells you it's time.

When I started boxing years ago, I used a simple stamp I picked up in a hobby store of a ginkgo leaf. It was pretty but it sure didn't have anything to do with my trailname of GreyCrazy. I knew that as soon as I found the right image it would somehow become my first carved signature.

That perfect inspiration came from a lovely picture I took of Angel one fall afternoon many years ago. We were relaxing in the yard, surrounded by the leaves and the crisp air, and Angel was doing what he ALWAYS did when given the opportunity...lying with his body touching me, front feet crossed. He was such a beautiful dog with such a beautiful soul to match.

I lost him last fall after long years of wonderful moments together. (If you're interested, my incredible sister Paula wrote a tribute to us as the first post on her new blog found here: http://ervetchick.blogspot.com/2005_10_01_ervetchick_archive.html) He was my Heart Dog-- a gift that I will never cease wondering how I earned, or ever forget, or ever hope to replace either. I will love many dogs in my lifetime but Angel was truly unique and will forever have my heart.

Well, that heart told me that now is the time to set his stamp aside and move on. Suddenly, it was just time. I have carved a replacement stamp to use until that next perfect image of my current girl Florida jumps off my camera and grabs me. And I haven't given up Angel's stamp entirely either. He'll continue to travel with me-- those who enjoy a Quest will understand that perfectly.

So now is the time and my heart is lighter for it. It's funny how important our signature stamps become to us....for a very long time I just couldn't imagine boxing without my Angel stamp. It was 'who I was' a boxer. Now I have a new image, and I'm looking forward to new adventures with it. Time to rest, Sweet Angel of My Heart. Your travels will be light and your burdens mine now, forever at peace but always with me.

Glorious autumn in the south

Oh my gosh, living in the south has some definate problems....chief of which for me is the AWFUL heat and humidity during the summer. I freely admit I just don't deal with that well.

But oh....goodness.....does autumn make up for it! When I was young I hated this time of year because in my (admittedly way too immature) mind, "everything dies in the fall". I've since learned alot, and passed through alot of autumns, and I'm fully convinced now there is simply no time of the year to box like early fall in the south! The leaves aren't even turning yet but the sky is that perfect crystal blue and the temperature just exactly perfect.

Zoe and I ran away searching for a little treasure last weekend and came back with some fun memories too. We start off with a couple on a nearby lake and dam that were just fabulous! (Sorry, you'll have to look that up yourself!) Just terrific stuff. Even the storm clouds coming over the horizon intensified the light more and made for some really dramatic pictures. It never did rain on us either-- always an iffy thing around here.

From there we went toward the next closest town in Georgia with me navigating and yeah, Zoe, I got us lost. However, during a point that we didn't even realize we were in the wrong place, we passed the location for a box! Surprise! Zoe caught that one, whipped the car around, and we nabbed another one. It was almost like Christmas. :-)

We also found an indoor box, missed two that just didn't seem to be alive after thorough searching, and were first finders on a marvelous carved stamp that made us want to go make a drink. In a good, citrusy kind of way that is. This photo is ZoeMomma, joyfully stamping in our favorite box of the day wearing her Purdue Vet School shirt because our most-special Peaser couldn't be with us. (waving to Peaser)

In a few weeks we'll be attending a letterboxing gathering held in Augusta that should be a relaxing, wonderful day for everyone. Susan will be joining us too and I hope she enjoys her first event as a boxing newbie. I even came up with a new theme for the desperately-needed recarve on my sig stamp! All in all, a great afternoon and a nice push to get me back into boxing after the long hot summer.

And yes, Beloved Sister, I made it before the deadline. You're up. (big wink)

For Zoe

So.....Zoe has repeatedly pointed out that my blog is in serious need of updating, even when I'm trying to get ready for our trip together!

So.....here's one for you Zoe. Beware of what you ask for. (wink)

This is Zoe on a recent boxing trip trying to be serious while I'm trying to get a good picture of her.


I really will update my blog when I have more time. Someday. Eventually. LOL

Florida on my mind

Florida and I had fun this weekend!

We didn't do any serious hiking, but instead got out on Saturday for a couple short walks and some visiting. Zoe met me at Lake Greenwood where they became fast friends. I was trying to get a picture of her in the collar I love so much for John to check the fabric. (John's collars! They're great, you need one! crazycollars.com ) I got that, but also caught a whole fun series of the two of them talking and kissing. Too funny!

Then, we headed over to Star Fort because I wanted to replace my national passport book and take a look at the walking trail out to the observation deck. I caught this cool picture of our shadows on the path in front of us....but as soon as I stop where does Florida look? At her mommy. :-)

Last week was the one year anniversary of Florida arriving back into our lives. She is SUCH a mess-- I don't think we'll ever quite recover and I'm not really convinced I even want to try! LOL