Bays Mountain

Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened. 

--Anatole France (1844-1924) French poet, journalist, and novelist. 

Summer is a great time to visit Bays Mountain in Kingsport, TN. Pictured here are some of the animals found in the nature habitat at Bays Mountain Park in Kingsport, TN. Featured at the top is a gray wolf named Tanasi. The wolf habitat is always popular to visit, especially with the addition of wolf pups this spring. In addition to wolves, the park also has bobcats, deer, otters, turtles, snakes, birds, raccoons, a bee hive, an aquarium, and numerous other exhibits. There are also 25 miles of hiking trails, a 40' dome planetarium, and barge rides on the 44 acre lake.

Click here to visit their website.  See my previous posts from the park by clicking here.

ol' blue eyes

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself. 
--Josh Billings (1815-1885) American humorist and lecturer.

Hard to believe it's been four years... This was taken the day Blue arrived home from the shelter. From the very start he's loved playing fetch. :)

happiness

Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies.
--Gene Atkins Hill, author. 

My friend's 7 week old puppy, Raka -- a Rhodesian Ridgeback.

progress

Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.
--James Bryant Conant (1893-1978) chemist and university president

a perfect gentleman

To call him a dog hardly seems to do him justice, though inasmuch as he had four legs, a tail, and barked, I admit he was, to all outward appearances. But to those who knew him well, he was a perfect gentleman.
--Hermione Gingold

My heart goes out to my wonderful neighbors who lost their beloved Gatsby last night at the age of 16. He was such a big part of their lives. He was such a good dog -- and they were so very good to him. (another photo here)

wild freedom

To me, horses and freedom are synonymous.
--Veryl Goodnight (b.1947) Sculptor 

Above: One of the wild ponies found at the spectacular Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia.

splish splash

 The most affectionate creature in the world is a wet dog.
--Ambrose Bierce (1842-1913) American journalist 

This was the week my boy Blue discovered the joys of swimming. I wasn't sure if he'd like the water. Up till now he's been reluctant to get in too deep. But now he can't get enough of the water. Here he is enjoying a sunny afternoon at Watauga Lake. For a list of dog breeds known to love the water, click here.

It's been awhile since I've taken the Appalachian Trail from the Shook Branch Recreation Area just north of Hampton, TN toward the Watauga Dam. Parts of this 3+ mile section of the AT have been re-routed to avoid the steep ups-and-downs, and to have the trail more closely follow the contours of the lake itself.  It makes for a much more enjoyable and scenic hike. 

Directions: To reach the trailhead, take 19E to Hampton, TN, turn north onto Highway 321/67 towards Mountain City. Drive 3.2 miles to the trailhead at Shook Branch Recreation Area (on your left). Click here for a map of the area.

farm friends

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.
--George Eliot was the pseudonym of novelist, translator, and religious writer Mary Ann Evans (1819-1880)

Introducing "Blue"

You cant keep a good man down -- or an over affectionate dog.
--Anonymous

It's been a year since I lost my dog "Duke" -- and not a day has gone by that I haven't missed him. I know some people get another dog right away, but I didn't really feel ready until now. I found Blue at the Johnson City Animal Shelter...and like Duke, he's an Australian Shepherd mix. I really like Aussies, they're a good size, intelligent, and athletic, with fun (often silly) personalities. I'm not exactly sure what he's mixed with, but he's got short legs and big meaty paws (I'm guessing he's got some Lab in him).  I'm hoping he won't get too big! He gets his name from his bright blue eyes (and the fact that I'm a Duke fan, go Blue Devils!). It's been awhile since I've had a puppy (he's 4 1/2 months), so I'm rediscovering what it's like to have a shadow following me everywhere I go around the house and relearning the habit of putting my shoes and remotes out of the danger zone.  So far so good...Blue is very affectionate without being excessively clingy -- he seems to be a pretty laid back dog.  We've already played fetch a bunch today -- I'm looking forward to taking him out on the trails on Friday!  It was sad separating Blue from his 'littler' brother at the pound -- he is mostly white (with lots of black and gray speckles), and shares a lot of the same characteristics as his brother. I hope he'll find a loving home - let me know if you want more info about him.

Click here for my "Tips for Dog Training" (I need to re-read that myself!)

Remembering Big Duke

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.
--Unknown

My friend Lee (who many of you know from the blog 'From These Hills') lost her sweet lab, Duke, today. He was twelve. In his life, Duke hiked lots of trails and fetched lots of sticks and tennis balls -- and brought those of us who knew him, lots of joy. In the woods his delight was to find the perfect stick (sometimes log) and then prance through the woods with his new found treasure. Even when his health kept him from embarking on hiking adventures, he brightened everyone's day with his constant wag and the "thump, thump" of his tail. He was a loyal and loving friend...and we're gonna miss him.

the melody of the highlands

I heard a neigh, Oh, such a brisk and melodious neigh it was. My very heart leaped with the sound.
--Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) American novelist.

To be honest, the wild ponies at the Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia aren't all that wild. Though park officials have policies against visitors petting and feeding the ponies, rustle a plastic wrapper and they'll come right to you. So something tells me that rule isn't strictly followed. One family I saw brought an apple for a treat -- at least it was a healthy snack. There are usually a few small herds of ponies at different parts of the park, so wander around the trails and you'll eventually find them. We didn't see any on our way up to Wilburn Ridge from Massey Gap, but on our way down we came across two different groups of ponies (maybe a total of eight or ten). Once a year the ponies are rounded up and checked out for health problems - but other than that they're pretty much left alone to graze in the beautiful Grayson Highlands. See yesterday's post for more information about the park.

eies and eares

Fieldes have eies and woods have eares.

--John Heywood (1497-1580) English writer--

Stepping outside on my way to work I was surprised to see this deer standing in the woods behind my house. He didn't move as I went inside to grab my camera. It's surprising how curious these animals are. Sometimes I think they're as interested in us as we are of them.

Jack

Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
--Roger Caras (1928-2001) American wildlife photographer and writer

My friend Bill's dog, Jack.

horse sense

Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people.
--W.C. Fields (1880-1946) American comedian

agreeable friends

Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.
--George Eliot (1819-1880) Pen name for Mary Ann Evans, English novelist

Remembering Duke

A good dog never dies. He always stays. He walks besides you on crisp autumn days when frost is on the fields and winter's drawing near.
--Mary Carolyn Davies

Yesterday, my beloved dog Duke was put to sleep. This was very sudden and unexpected. On Wednesday, he was running and playing, on Friday he was paralyzed and in terrible pain -- and the prognosis was not good given how quickly and aggressively the paralysis was spreading. It was an awful decision to make. Duke was my best friend -- a constant companion for six years. If there's consolation it's that he lived a very full and happy life -- he took in more trails and beautiful vistas than most people I know. He always stayed on the trail and led the way. And when I stopped to take pictures, he stopped and patiently waited. He brought lots of joy to my life -- I'll miss our walks in the woods and curling up with him on the couch. He was so smart -- he knew lots of tricks and loved to put on a show for friends. Today, everything I see reminds me of him. The house is quiet and empty without him here. I know the hurt will one day heal, but I'll always cherish the memories of a dog named Duke.

More photos of Duke here, here, here, here and a picture of us together here. I'm grateful to my friend Lee who put together a wonderful slideshow of photos of Duke.

mental training

It may take practice to think more positively and more compassionately, but just as you must train a puppy to behave the way you want it to, you must train your mind to behave itself. Otherwise, like the puppy, your mind will just make a lot of messes.
--Tom Barrett

A lucky little puppy gets taken for a walk on Roan Mountain.

What is real?

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, ... "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

--Margery Williams (1881-1944), author of the 1922 classic, The Velveteen Rabbit

sing out loud

Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.
--Henry Van Dyke

I have a lot of respect for those who take amazing bird photographs. I just don't have the patience (or the equipment) for it. It's not easy -- they don't tend to come close for long. Click here to see a wonderful gallery of bird photos.

Look Alive

Look alive. Here comes a buzzard.
--Lady Stella Reading

In the last month a roost of Turkey Vultures (a.k.a. Turkey Buzzards) have appeared in the woods behind my house. I'd say there's 20 or 30 of them. They eerily sit high on the branches of dead trees, just waiting, I guess, for someone or something to keel over. They don't bother people or pets (as long as they're living), so for now I don't mind my ghoulish, new neighbors. And as disturbing as they appear in the trees, they are absolutely stunning when they glide and circle -- with wingspans reaching up to 6 feet. They get their name because their red, featherless head gives the appearance of a turkey. And in case you were wondering, a bunch of vultures is called a venue. And when they're circling, they're called a kettle. There ya go, fun facts to impress your friends at work! Of course there's a Turkey Vulture Society where you can go and learn all about these interesting birds.