Red Pine Mountain

Preparing to Say Goodbye

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:07:00 +0000

It's almost time to say goodbye to Red Pine Mountain for the winter. Mountain Man is already on his way home from the Ozarks anxious to get all of us on the road before weather becomes an issue. We might be here for another week as we prepare the farm for our absence and Mountain Man finishes a few chores. The countdown has begun.

In the Ozarks, Mountain Man was busy preparing the pasture for Khrysta and cleaning out the old barn which hasn't been occupied in years. Every night, he'd tell me about the 70 degree weather and I'd tell him about the beautiful frosts here.

I've been busy trying to get organized to leave but my biggest concern has been for Khrysta on this long trip. The vet came. I learned if we traveled across state lines without a current health certificate and we were stopped, Khrysta and the trailer would be impounded. I asked him question after question on how to make the trip comfortable for her.

I've spent each day acclimating Khrysta to the trailer. She was a reluctant loader but with the help of the clicker, she will now walk on the trailer with a hand signal from me. No lead rope, no dressage whip, no tugging on a scared horse. It's amazing. I've spent time with her in the trailer, feeding her dinner there, hanging out with her and letting her acclimate to the different environment. I think she's ready but am I? Not really. But I've learned the only thing constant in life is change. As I put my long underwear back on the shelf, I think just perhaps it won't be so bad after all.

Here's pictures from the sunrise the other day.

And thank you to all of you who stop by and read and leave me comments. I feel as though you are all on this journey with me.

Mountain Man Mondays; Gone Before Dawn

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:12:00 +0000

Life is never dull here on Red Pine Mountain. Just when I was sure we'd be here for the winter and even bought a new pair of snow boots, Mountain Man returned from the Ozarks and expressed his desire to spend the winter there. Maybe it had something to do with the balmy weather where he worked in shirt sleeves all week. Whatever the reason, we're going. I could have said no but I didn't. It's too important to him.

Mountain Man was busy last week working away from the farm. As soon as that job was over, he started loading the trailer with the heavy equipment he'll need in the Ozarks this winter. Once the trailer was loaded, he refilled the wood shed for me and prepared my meals and off he went this morning before dawn. This will be a quick trip though. Just one week and when he returns, we'll all be on our way, including the dogs and Khrysta.

I needed hay so we headed into Lyndonville on Sunday. Here's the photos:

Just a usual day on the interstate.

Beautiful vistas in the distance.

Love the yellow porta potty!

I didn't know the Dog Pound was there. Mountain Man would not let me go in.

Hay! It's cheaper this year. $3.75 a bale.

Mountain Man selects just the right bales for Khrysta.

A different route home.

The St. Johnsbury Country Club and golf course.

Mountain Man busy at home on his tractor.

Last night, a huge flock of birds migrated overhead. Maybe they are on their way to the Ozarks?

My last full moon on Red Pine Mountain until next Spring.

I have learned the only certainty in life is change. Here's to the adventures ahead.

The End of Autumn

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:22:00 +0000

Sandwiched between the riotous color of fall and the pristine beauty of snow covered fields lies the end of Autumn. Day after day of unrelenting gray marks the Northeast Kingdom. We watch the weather this time of year, we note the freezing days and complain about colder weather on the way. We complain about the warmer days as well knowing that they will soon end. It's an unsettled time of year as we wait for the onslaught we know is coming.

Yesterday, Mountain Man and I moved Khrysta's pasture for the last time this year. The grass is gone. She won't venture far from the barn when the snow is waist deep. No need to tend fences that will be brought down in the drifting snow. And the bane of my existence, hunting season, will start in just another week. We can't take a chance a lost hunter will wander into our woods and take a misplaced shot.

I pulled the fence posts and then waited for Mountain Man to join me half way up the pasture. Brown, gray, as far as the eye can see. The wind whistled through the pines. As I watched Mountain Man in the distance, I thought about my life. So many years now, so many Autumns. Will there be another one? Only God has that answer. I allow myself to feel the sensation of the wind on my face. I see the dead leaves dance with every gust. Mountain Man draws closer. I pick up the fence posts and head over. Back to work, no time to dwell on the inevitable march of time. I'm here, alive now, and that's enough.

An Interview With One Of My Readers; The Legend of Luke Sidewalker

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:51:00 +0000

A few months ago, I was performing yet another search on how to make money blogging. My discovery this time: "The Legend of Luke Sidewalker." I read the tag line, "The Quintessential Get Rich Slow Scheme" and I was immediately intrigued. I started with one post and ended up reading the entire blog. Now, I didn't learn how to make lots of money quickly but what I did discover was a gem of a blog. In a span of a few short words, Mr. Sidewalker writes with such insight and wit as to leave us wanting more. Whether he's writing about his experiences with banking or enumerating his tally of savings for the month, he is one of the most entertaining bloggers around.

I hope you'll enjoy this interview and when you're done, head on over to "The Legend of Luke Sidewalker."

MW: On your first blog post, you wrote, "This is the story of one man's journey from $0 to $1,000,000; achieved by picking up change seen on the sidewalk and depositing it into an online savings account." What gave you the impetus to start the blog? Were you already finding treasures left behind by other people? And, has your original idea evolved?

Luke: Up until a few years ago, I had always lived my life at a hectic pace, dashing from one place to another, from dawn till dusk. Never really seeing what was immediately around me. Then we had Sidewalker Jr. and as he took his first faltering steps my walking pace seemed like an eternity for him to put one foot in front of the other, I began to notice the amount of money on the sidewalk. We began picking the change up and blogging about it. That's pretty much how it started. The blog has evolved into a mix of anecdotes about bringing up two young kids and a lighthearted commentary on the general economy. On reflection, that seems a strange mix! I think it is well received because it's based on a very basic concept that we have all experienced.

MW: You've had some interesting experiences like the time they closed your savings account for "too much activity." What in your opinion has been the most interesting thing that has happened to you since starting the blog?

Luke: Two of my favorite finds have been the 50c I found behind the radiator in the labor recovery room when Little Miss Sidewalker was born. And the $1.32 I found under the cushions of a sofa that had been left out on the sidewalk for collection. On a personal level, the blog led to an invitation to write several articles for FiLife.com, which is a personal finance site owned by the Wall Street Journal. My old English and Economics teachers are probably turning in their graves at this development.

MW: How has the economy affected your journey? Do you see a recovery in progress?

Luke: It appears that my finds are not correlated to the economy, they seem to be more seasonal. On average, since January 2007, I've found 3 cents per day. If 10% of the American population found change at that rate, that would add up to over $1 Million a day. I think there are many worthwhile projects that could be funded in this 'micro' way. That is an idea I would like to pursue when/if the blog has more publicity and a bigger audience. As for the recovery, I don't see it happening anytime soon for the majority of us, I think a lot of the big banks are insolvent but for Government support, and that is not a recipe for recovery.

MM: One of my favorite parts of the blog is reading about Sidealker, Jr. How has your quest to find $1,000,000.00 impacted him?

Luke: He is very aware of money, but not obsessed with money. He thinks it is bad that people leave money lying on the ground. I hope to teach him that in a world where he will have to earn every penny he gets, all coins matter regardless of denomination.

MW: Do you have any tips for the readers who want to start their own quest?

Luke: Sure, I have found that plotting my finds on the Sidewalker Cash Trail Map was a lot of fun, and keeping a running total of the progress is a great incentive for the four of us. Plus it breeds a little in-house rivalry. Also setting monthly goals can be humorous, as 'sidewalking' is, by it's nature, a very random past time. My Twitter followers were going crazy as I hunted down the last few cents to reach my $15 target by the end of July this year.

MW: And, finally, would you mind sharing your favorite picture? Why is it important to you?

Luke: This is my favorite picture. It is an impromptu sign, a little rough and ready. However its message of a sidewalk being open makes me smile, because where there is a sidewalk, there are coins.

Live Your Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:37:00 +0000

Have you ever been in love? Do you remember those first days when everything about your beloved was exciting and each day was an adventure? Did your heart beat faster when you were together? Did every little discovery you made about each other just make you more enraptured? Did the time drag until you could be together again?

That's what has happened to me. With Mountain Man away and long days to myself, I've fallen in love. The object of my affection? A formerly cranky Morgan mare named Khrysta. With the help of one small device that delivers a click, we have turned around our relationship.

I started with little hope this method would work but every day has been a miracle of progression. I've taught her how to say yes and no. She can smile. She can dance the cha cha and even count to three. We've been on walks in the woods. Every day, we refine what we've learned the day before and build on that foundation.

Today I decided to take her down the driveway and over the brook that terrifies her. The water was rushing loudly from the recent storms and the wind was gusting. But, I decided to try it. I wouldn't push her. She could run back to the barn.

I set up the cones she loves to target; pink sentinels leading the way to the brook. I led her from the barn and started towards the driveway. Gusts of wind buffeted her and she became rigid and her nostrils flared. I held still, was silent and waited. She held her panic and walked forward again, I clicked and gave her a treat and on we went. Next, she spotted the cones. Out of place to her, she tensed again. I could see her thinking about her options. She walked on and when she realized they were her play cones, she got into the game of picking them up and handing them to me. So involved was she with our games, she failed to notice we were on the bridge and crossing the hated stream.

Live your dreams, it's the motto of my blog. But I've learned that all dreams come at a cost. My dream was to ride again and I thought all I had to do was hop on a horse and start riding. I've had many setbacks. I purchased a horse that was way too green for my experience level and age, I worked with incorrect training methods and I became further removed from what Khrysta was trying to tell me she needed. Mountain Man wanted me to sell her and for a moment in time, out of frustration, I agreed. But then, I realized there must be a way.

If your dream is important to you and you are struggling at the moment, take a break, do some thinking and then approach it from an entirely different angle. You'll be surprised at the joy you find in perservering.

Here's one silly horse video:

Sunrise Northeast Kingdom Style

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:47:00 +0000

Cloudy days are the norm in the Northeast Kingdom in late fall. The sun appears and just as quickly disappears again. But the sunrises over Red Pine Mountain, oh, they are so incredible. Here is today's at 4X zoom.

Listening To The Voice That Is Divine

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:19:00 +0000

I wanted to thank every one for your comments. They make make my day brighter in so many ways. Alan asked a question about deepening his prayer life and I wanted to answer on my blog.

Here's his comment:

"I sure hope your right with the prayers. I'm trying to get my "mustard seed" to get a whole lot larger.
Quote (from my post):
"I learned there is always an answer. Are you asking yourself the right questions?"
Alan:
"...yes, just hard to hear an answer...how do we, without wondering if it's our own self talk??"

One of the hardest things to do in developing a prayerful life is to still our minds. There's always something going on whether it's financial pressures, family life or day to day stresses. I'm no exception. I get distracted all the time.

Yesterday, while visiting Mommanator's blog, I read a quote by Ernest Hemingway,

"When people talk, listen compeltely. Most people never listen."

And, it's true. I think of the recent examples in my life: Mountain Man planning our Ozarks excursion and me, one eye still on the computer, saying "yes dear." Or watching my favorite television show and ignoring my shepherd who asks to go out. I talk on the phone and at the same time play a game on the computer. Am I listening? No, not really.

And, when I don't listen, I miss so much. It's a form of selfishness to be so involved with yourself, you don't make time to listen.

And, so it is with a prayerful life. How can we hear God if we are always busy with ourselves? And, if we are distracted by our own priorities, I can assure you it is ourselves we hear and not God's voice.

How do we start to open our hearts and listen? Put down the book when someone talks to you. Play with your child wholeheartedly without one eye on the television. We've started listening.

Let's take it one step farther. What brings you joy? Is it watching your child sleep? Is it a walk in the woods? How does your heart feel in those moments of stillness? That joy is God's voice. Relax into it, don't fight it and take it further.

Make some quiet time for yourself each day with no agenda. No, you don't have to read prayers or start chanting. Just be quiet whether it's sitting in a chair or out on a walk. What are your thoughts? Stress? Things that need to be done? Acknowledge them and then say goodbye. Be quiet.

Yesterday, I spent time beating myself up for all I had not accomplished and I started comparing myself to others who have so much more material wealth. I got so caught up in my own voice, I spiraled downward. I complained to one of my friends and this is what she wrote:

"J and I were just saying today that things usually turn out for the best even though it doesn't always look like it will - it's best not to fight it and just roll with it."

Perhaps to someone else, it's just an email from a friend but to me it's hearing the exact message I needed to hear at that moment. I listened.

Today, this was my reward after day after day of gray weather:

Is it just a sunrise? Perhaps but not to me. If that voice you hear edifies you and lifts you beyond yourself, it is not your voice.

1 Peter Verse 8:

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy."

You are truly listening.

A Different Kind of Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:19:00 +0000

I admit it. I was a grump the other morning. I guess it started out the night before when I singed off my eyebrows. Mountain Man had warned me but I forgot and stuck my head too far into the outdoor boiler. I didn't notice anything at the time. My face felt a little hot; that's all, but when I reached up and touched my forehead, I felt something prickly. Turned out it was what's left of my eyebrows.

There were other "poor me" moments. My friend's book was just published. I'm proud of her accomplishments but it left me thinking I'm no closer to writing a book than I was last year. My draft sits ignored.

I paid our property taxes and watched our bank account zero out. Grrr!

That did it. I decided to stay outside for the remainder of the day.

If you're on Facebook, then perhaps you've been reading about my clicker training Khrysta. Perhaps you've been so annoyed by my gushing, you've blocked my feeds. But it's true. I am proud of her. She has come so far as have I.

But today I'd had enough of tricks and decided to try something more practical. I called her over to me and off we went. First, we walked around the pasture. She was at my side the entire time. When we used to walk, she'd run around the pasture, bucking and kicking, return to me and run again. No longer.

I decided to take her for a walk to our log landing. Not a long walk, just about 1/4 of a mile. I had tried to ride her there earlier this year and we never made it. She would jump and spin at every little noise and head back to the barn with me on her back. But, today we would walk, no saddle, no halter, no lead rope, just two friends enjoying each other's company side by side.

We got to the clearing for the lower meadow and she lifted her head. I followed her gaze and saw a herd of deer. I felt her tense and I whispered to her, told her to stay, play "statue." She exhaled, I clicked and gave her the treat, she relaxed even more. Khrysta and I stayed for a while watching the deer until they disappeared into the woods.

We walked quietly on.

I have no adequate words to describe this experience. It's both amazing and humbling at the same time. It's as though God has given you a gift so precious, it is indescribable.

But I almost gave up on Khrysta. I had tried it all and nothing worked.

I learned there is always an answer. Are you asking yourself the right questions?

I realized I don't want to put the effort into writing a book. This blog and your friendships are what is important to me. And living on Red Pine Mountain and preserving it for future generations is important as well and to do that we must pay the price. But we will, the land matters.

I find my answers in prayer and quiet contemplation and opening my heart to listen to the message.

Live your dreams, push onwards to your goals and when faced with setbacks, the answer is there just waiting for you to ask the right question.

Khrysta practicing "statue" in the pasture.

Khrysta pushing through obstacles that before would cause her to spook and run.

And at the end of the day, I was blessed with a beautiful sunset.

Yes, She Can (Blow a Horn That Is)

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:15:00 +0000

This is the last post this week I promise. I'm busy catching up with all of you and having a great time doing so.

I've been clicker training Khrysta for the past couple of weeks in order to develop a stronger bond between the two of us. I had clicker trained my dogs but never thought about using it for a horse. I had read so many negatives: it makes the horse pushy, they mug you for treats, and on and on. But I've been at the end of my rope on how to handle this spooky mare I love so I had nothing to lose. I purchased Alexandra Kurland's books on clicker training horses and it's been amazing. I've been in tears every day as I watch this spooky, hesitant mare flourish. Nor have I experienced any of the negatives because the first thing you train is not to mug you ever.

Yesterday, I taught Khrysta to blow a bicycle horn. When I first blew the horn, she freaked and went running off but in no time at all, she was taking the horn, putting it in her mouth, blowing it and returning it to me. The video will only allow you to hear her blow the horn because my hands were full of treats, clicker, video camera and the horn. When Mountain Man returns, I'm going to have him film us so you can see all of it in action.

Anyway, I promise no more posts this week and thanks so much everyone for hanging in there with me. You are all such a blessing to me.

Karen said she was skeptical that it was actually Khrysta blowing the horn and not me and I can understand why so I ran out to the barn and shot this footage. I had to jump back really fast after she took the horn to film it so instead of handing the horn to me, she decided to throw it. Got to love her sense of humor.

Why I Love Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:22:00 +0000

Yesterday Karen said she doesn't understand why I like the snow so much. That made me think. Why would anyone choose to be buried under many feet of snow with sub zero temperatures? Here's my answer:

For the beauty and stillness of a cold winter morning:

For days when darkness arrives at 4:00 p.m.

The way the snow seems to light up at night:

And the moon so visible in the frozen air:

For horses impatient to journey on snow covered trails.

For dogs dressed in coats who frolic with glee:

For Mountain Man who is always at work:

For the discovery of a bird's nest left in the woods:

For leaving piles of snow to see how high they will go:

For a December sunset:

For the icy streams that run through the woods:

For snowstorms so big, you can't get out the door:

And snowbanks piled high making perfect places to play:

For the first time the light shifts and lets you know Spring is on it's way:

For the mud that appears signalling another winter's end:

Nature's cycle; so inexorably tied to life. Birth, growth, death, renewal.

That's why I love winter.

First Snow!

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:39:00 +0000

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all your comments. They really make my day and make me feel less lonely with Mountain Man away.

Yesterday afternoon, the forecast was for snow. When Mountain Man called, this was our conversation:

"It's going to snow!" Me, all excited.

"No it isn't. You might get flurries but nothing will stick. It's too early." The pragmatic Mountain Man.

Well, this morning, I woke to this:

Large flakes of snow and lots of them!

The sumac leaves were covered in white.

The weight of the snow crushed my sunflowers.

I could no longer see the mountains.

Khrysta wanted to know what had happened to the grass.

But I was excited. First snow brings back childhood memories and reconnects me to the past.

The day turned dark and windy. Snow became rain. It was a wonderful day to be by the wood stove reading books.

And then the weather changed again. When I went to feed Khrysta dinner, this was the sky:

An incredible, blessed day! How was yours?

Doing the Tourist Thing; Dog Mountain

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:38:00 +0000

Mountain Man left before dawn for two weeks in the Ozarks. Instead of worrying about himself, he spent last night preparing individual dinners for me tagged with instructions on how to reheat them so I wouldn't starve while he was away. Now I am alone on Red Pine Mountain. But I'm not lonely. I have 7 dogs, Khrysta and you to keep me company. So while I won't get to experience the incomparable beauty of an Ozark fall, I'll be able to take care of this mountain I dearly love and hopefully I won't set anything on fire. Here's what happened last time Mountain Man left:

In August, my son, his wife and their whippet, Jack, came to visit. I thought I'd continue today with more of our adventures.

If you love dogs and are in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, you absolutely MUST visit Dog Mountain owned by Stephen Huneck. Most of you are probably familiar with Mr. Huneck's work. He creates fabulous doggie designs on t-shirts, rugs, mugs and more as well as amazing sculptures. He decided to dedicate a special place for dogs and their owners; hence Dog Mountain. Dog Mountain comprises many acres of hiking trails, an agility course, picnic areas and a wonderful gift shop but the best thing about dog mountain is the Dog Chapel. Stephen Huneck discusses it in depth on his website and you can learn more by clicking THIS LINK.

It's a special place and I hope you enjoy my photos.

The views are incredible.

Off to the left is the agility course.

Just beautiful Vermont scenery.

The entrance to Dog Chapel.

A close up of the sign in front of the chapel.

The vestibule of the chapel. Tacked to the wall are thousands of notes and pictures from people paying tribute to their beloved dogs. I added memorials for my beloved departed newfies and our special Mastiff. I have to tell you this vestibule brought tears to my eyes and was incredibly moving.

A shot of part of the interior of the chapel. Although that is a statue at the front of the entrance, two ladies were inside the chapel with their elderly goldens. I didn't want to interrupt their prayers.

The fencing around the chapel and the buildings has dog head finials.

Beautiful dog weathervanes are atop all of the roofs.

No trip is complete without souvenir t-shirts. Here's what I chose:

Back at home again, my beautiful daughter in law hangs out with Emma, Tobias and Alvin.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to Dog Mountain!

Home for the Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:13:00 +0000

We've been planning our exodus to Missouri for quite some time now. Mountain Man has been making trips to the Ozarks trying to get our small farm into shape for my arrival but it's a daunting task. Nevertheless, we've been making plans to leave and I've been a participant although I admit a reluctant one. Not only did I have quite a rough time in the Ozarks on our previous trip (if you are a new reader, you can find out more by clicking HERE), but I also love Red Pine Mountain. Each night as the time to leave has drawn closer, I've been thinking about all the "firsts" I would miss (first harvest moon, first snow, first below zero day, first snow bank higher than the house, my list goes on and on) and I've been thinking about the farm buried under snow and alone and lonely throughout the winter. But, we were going to be leaving November 1st.

Yesterday, we took the RV in for an inspection. We thought we might need some adjustment to the brakes or some other miscellaneous repairs. We discovered in order to be road safe, our RV needed all new tires. And, the cost of those tires is $3,000.00. Yes, $3,000.00. And, did I mention our property tax bill is also due this month? Neither Mountain Man nor I slept last night and then this morning, we had a long talk. We've decided we just don't have that kind of extra money to spend on tires just to drive the RV to the Ozarks and we have no other vehicle large enough to haul a horse trailer and transport the 7 dogs. So, I'm not going, at least not now. We decided to try to find the RV a home with someone who has that kind of excess cash and Mountain Man will continue his trips out there to work on the house. And, me, well, I'll stay home on Red Pine Mountain and witness all my special firsts.

My faith has once again been reaffirmed in miracles in the most unlikely circumstances.

Mountain Man Mondays; Mountain Woman Takes Over

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:27:00 +0000

Mountain Man is busy staining boards for the barn so instead of showing you picture after picture that looks like this:

I'm taking over.

I've been struggling lately with many life issues as all of us do. Nothing critical but instead those nagging problems that can sap energy and make you second guess yourself. And, when I get overwhelmed, I tend to forget that which keeps me centered. Prayer and gratitude for all I have. So easy to dwell on the "don't, can't and not" but how that attitude of pessimism seeps into every pour and makes the slighest task seem monumental.

Yesterday, I decided that it's enough to be doing the best I can at any given moment and while I can't control other's actions or their negativity, I can control mine. Such a small thing, taking a breath, saying thank you for the opportunity to be here in this moment but it is the smallest of changes that create a groundswell. And as so often happens when I renew my commitment to gratitude, wonderous things happen as it did on my walk to the top of the pasture.

It was a day of disparities. Clouds overhead so low, I could reach out and touch them yet a glimmer of sun on the far off mountains.

The beautiful low lying cloud turned everything dark but then I looked to my right and here's what I saw:

I stayed for a while savoring the beauty and the joy of being alive and then I began the descent down to the bottom of the meadow. The vista always takes my breath away.

At the bottom of the pasture, I once again looked back to see a ray of sunshine illuminating the barn.

I started to walk towards home and as I turned and faced the mountains one last time, they were awash in light.

And, there it was, off to the left where the low lying clouds had been, a rainbow and next to it a mysterious, beautiful shape. Not it's not a cloud, at least it's not to me, but a symbol of hope and eternity.

And there you have it, a microcosim of life in one walk, darkness, light and the beauty of a rainbow. We are where we are meant to be at any given moment. Open your eyes, delight in it all. It's transitory, precious.

It's a gift.

The Cemetery in Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:21:00 +0000

There is an old cemetery in our woods. It's a special place to me and one I visit frequently. Every time I'm there, I think about the hardships the settlers of long ago Vermont endured and of those who died way too soon. Yesterday was cold and gray with snow in the forecast (it didn't snow)so I bundled up in hat and jacket and set out to remember those who went before.

Last time I photographed the graves for you, it was December and snow covered the smallest graves.

Today, Logan and I walk through one of our lower pastures. I always enjoy seeing the open farm land in the distance.

The trees are vibrant.

At the cemetery. A grave of a young man who lived for only 16 years.

Some of the other headstones.

The town maintains the cemetery and all of the headstones have been photographed and sketched for the historical archives.

Leaving the cemetery and headed back into our woods.

More Fall Pictures; If You Can Stand It

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Yesterday, we went to Littleton, New Hampshire. The first set of pictures were shot from the moving car (you know by now Mountain Man stops for nothing) and it was a rainy day. The pictures are rather dark but I didn't want to enhance them with Photoshop because I want the landscape to speak for itself.

Another day or two and we will be at peak color. It's a magical place here in the Fall and my pictures can't begin to do it justice. We'll just have to have Blogstock in the Fall instead of the Spring.

Lots of traffic due to leaf peepers. Usually we are alone on the highway.

The vistas from the road are just incredibly beautiful. No shopping centers mar our scenery and no billboards allowed either.

On the road to our farm.

When I returned home, it was pouring and I went out and shot some more photos so these are of our farm.

Headed home to get warm by the woodstove.

There are flurries in the forecast today and soon the color will be gone here in the Northeast Kingdom.

Morning Sunrise, A Rainbow and Color All Around

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:23:00 +0000

A beautiful sunrise complete with a rainbow:

And a perfect late afternoon as well:

Mountain Man Mondays; Planning the Exodus

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:37:00 +0000

I had a few questions. Theresa asked about the small animal in one of my pictures. That's K-Whip, the most fabulous whippet in the world. I also had lots of questions about our Monty Python gate sign. It came from AllPosters.com. We try to tell people to stay out in a humorous way.

Now on to Mountain Man Mondays!

One of the most difficult parts about our upcoming winter move to the Ozarks has been planning how we are going to get all of us (and Mountain Man's beloved equipment) from Vermont to the Ozarks. It's 1,565 miles from house to house and gas costs a fortune so we can't be running back and forth and we only have one driver because my eyesight is not that great any more.

For months, Mountain Man has been planning these trips with a general like precision. He's plotted mileage, weights of loads, gas efficiency and more in order to proceed in the most cost effective manner possible. I've been saying lots of "Sounds good, hmm and whatever you want dear" as my mind glazed over listening to all the guy talk. Last week, he finalized our exodus and I think we're all set.

Originally, Mountain Man's wanted to purchase a 38 foot cargo trailer which he would then modify to suit our needs including a stall for Khrysta. To afford the cargo trailer, we tried to sell our RV but there were no buyers in this economy so no cargo trailer for us.

Not wasting any time, Mountain Man built the coffin box and started hauling stuff out to the Ozarks. Next trip, he'll be hauling more stuff and dropping off his big truck cause a guy can't live without a big old pickup truck. In addition to stuff, he's also going to haul the pine boards he made for the siding for our Ozark farmhouse.

How's he going to do it? Simple you say. Drive the stuff out there and fly back? No, Mountain Man does not fly and the closest airport is a 3 hour drive away so he's decided to tow my Honda Element and drive that back to Vermont.

Underneath the Element will be the boards and in the coffin box will be more stuff. What's going to be in the box of the pickup? You guessed it, more stuff. (And men think women travel with too much luggage). That way our final trip will be in the RV with the 7 dogs hauling the horse trailer behind us (and, yes, in the horse trailer, Mountain Man is converting the empty stall to haul even more stuff).

One problem. We have a flat bed trailer and there are no ramps to load the car. A problem for most people but not for the enterprising Mountain Man. He just headed out to his shop, grabbed some steel, started welding and voila, we now have a car hauler. Here's the photos and wow, am I ever tired just writing about it. P.S. - The pictures of him welding were shot behind a pile of lumber. Mountain Man warned me of dire consequences if I looked into the arc while he was welding.

A test run.

Just enough room for the coffin box. Silly me, I said "Why don't you pull the car up further?" Mountain Man explained to me about distributing weight evenly over the axles so the trailer doesn't tip.

And, yes, he cooks 3 meals a day too!

A Different View of Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:23:00 +0000

The first frost has come and gone. Day after day of brilliant sunshine has given way to a different kind of beauty. Fog has encased Red Pine Mountain in a shroud of silence. Still, the vibrant reds and oranges peek through the mist. It's magical.

Randomness

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:58:00 +0000

Just a random day out with Tobias and doing some work on the sit/stay command.

Mountain Man is busy staining the boards for the barn.

I can drop Tobias' leash now and he'll stay. Did you know I used to compete in obedience trials with my dogs?

He loves practicing stay in water. After all he's a newfie!

Beautiful fall colors.

Our new gate sign

The days are growing shorter and shadows are on the mountains.

Khrysta is running in her pasture.

But she always has time to stop and give kisses.

Headed home again.

"I Don't Want To Close My Eyes. . .

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:04:00 +0000

I don't want to fall asleep, cause I'd miss you baby, And I don't want to miss a thing" Aerosmith

That's how I feel about life on Red Pine Mountain. It's so sweet, it fills my heart. Join me today on our beautiful farm, just photos, no words.

Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:44:00 +0000

Fall is such a beautiful time of year in the Northeast Kingdom and the leaves change every day. I'll be posting lots of pictures and probably updating the blog every day because in just six short weeks, we'll be leaving Red Pine Mountain for the winter. I have such mixed feelings about leaving. I love this farm and the beauty of winter but winters here last from November until April and that's a lot of winter. And while I'll miss our mountain, I'm excited to learn more about the Ozarks and I should have lots of adventures to share.

Anyway, Tim and Shinade asked how Mountain Man got the upper barn door onto tracks so I inquired and I can't believe I missed the most exciting part. So much for being sick.

Here's the scoop: He built a scaffolding then he put the front forks on the tractor and lifted the door up to the scaffolding with the tractor. He climbed onto the scaffold and balanced the door. Once it was balanced, he ran upstairs to the loft and lifted the door onto the tracks.

Now, onto fall pictures. Our leaves are just starting to turn now.

I get so excited as the colors change every day and I hope you'll follow along as our beautiful Northeast Kingdom becomes brilliant.

Mountain Man Mondays; The Barn Has Doors

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:23:00 +0000

While I was recovering, Mountain Man was busy putting doors on the barn. Because I love windows and natural light, Mountain Man did something he'd never done before and put windows in the main doors. I'm really happy with the way they turned out. Also, he usually does the staining after the doors are hung but because he's doing everything alone on this project, he decided it would be best to stain them in his shop ahead of time. As always, I have way too many pictures to share.

Just getting started.

Hanging the framework so the doors will slide.

Many trips up and down the ladder.

Staining the doors before they are hung.

Door up and on the track.

Moving on to the main doors.

Door in the barn waiting to be hung.

The view from the back of the barn.

Making sure they slide correctly.

On The Way To Royalton

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:32:00 +0000

Yesterday was my birthday and I wanted to spend it visiting a miniature horse farm. Mountain Man was happy to oblige so we set off to Royalton in central Vermont. As usual, Mountain Man slows for no one and that includes me and the camera so all pictures were shot through a truck window going 60 miles an hour. Hope you enjoy the beautiful Vermont scenery.

This property belongs to a train collector.

One of the beautiful, old barns. There are not many of this style still standing.

Headed back up the mountain to our farm. The leaves are starting to turn here in the Northeast Kingdom.

Some deer were in our lower pasture.

As to the mini horse farm, it was wonderful. There is definitely a mini in my future but more about that later.

Back Again

noreply@blogger.com (Mountain Woman of Red Pine Mountain) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 11:41:00 +0000

I wanted to thank everyone for their messages and their words of support. I appreciate them more than I can say. I got hurt a little bit more than I thought and it's been quite a while since I've felt like my old self. I'm finally on the mend and I know I'll be okay because yesterday I picked up my camera once again and started photographing clouds. I didn't play with Photoshop at all. The colors are all natural. It's just so incredibly beautiful here. I'll be catching up with all of you soon.

If you're wondering about Khrysta, she's fine. I was never angry or upset with her. She's a very young horse and she is still quite green. I've been debating whether or not she'd be better off in a home with a more experienced rider but I've decided to keep on working with her. I'm going to send both of us to training with a "natural horsemanship" trainer.

Thanks everyone for being such good friends to me. It means a lot.