My son came up with the word "manzineering", which he defined as using manzinita bushes to facilitate forward/upward movement on a bushwhacking trek, so I tried to come up with a term that would combine taking lots of photos, while simultaneously exploring and hiking--the term is "Photohikography". I do not anticipate my new word to be added to the 2024 Urban dictionary, but at least I know what it means! My son (G) and his wife (S) came from California, to visit me, and I wanted to show them around the backwoods of Arkansas, while as unobtrusively as possible, taking lots of photos of them, since I do not often get to hike with them in my home state. Our first stop was beside what used to be an old homestead, but the weathered oak boards it was made from, finally were blown over in a storm, leaving a heap of rubble. However, close examination shows that one can still observe the hand held ax marks, that were used for the foundation joists. But even if all the boards and rusted corrugated tin roof were gone, a trained observer could tell this used to be a homestead location,That is because of the presence of "ghost flowers", aka, jonquils. These bright yellow blossoms are one of the few blooming flowers that deer will not eat, and, as such, are good indicators of abandoned homesteads.
The hiking group I am in called "Women Hiking the Ozarks" abbreviated WHO, always includes information in a hike write-up, about how many "water crossings" the hike is likely to encounter. I knew we would probably have some on the day we set out, but the width and depth can vary from one day to the next, especially in the spring. The photo below shows our first water crossing:
One of my favorite type of areas to explore, are the many bluff shelters that can be found in the Ozarks. I have visited some, that would have held hundreds of native Americans seeking shelter, but this one would probably only hold one or two small families. If one gets as far back in the bluff shelter as possible, it can provide a natural frame for a photo:
I am 5'2" tall, and can can barely touch the ceiling of the shelter, when standing on my tip toes.
Judging from the amount of large rock fall here, one might thing this bluff used to be much higher, but has eroded, and fallen into the creek.
Look at the present-day explorers on the distant rock! (S is standing behind G)
Here is a closer photo of the cute couple
Of course I wanted a mother/son photo!I like this photo of S with "God Beams" (sun beams that are captured in a photo) on each side of her!S is a skilled knitter, and the cute cap she is earing is one she knitted herself!
Here is a photo of G and S bouldering One can barely see a human figure in this scene. I remember when G was rock climbing on El Cap, in Yosemite, and I was in communication with a photographer at the base of the monolith, who was photographing his ascent. Knowing I wanted to purchase photographs of my son that he took, the photographer said he wished my son would wear a brighter colored shirt, so he would be easier to spot, as he ascended hundreds of feet up the granite wall! (Translation: The photographer could sell more photographs, if the climber was easier to see against the wall!)
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Photo below shows G and S, "putting their heads together", for a short rest, before we proceeded on our hike.
Even though this was the first week of April, the photo shows that these deciduous trees have not leafed out yet.
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S and I, stretched out on a flat rock in the creek, after the day got warmer.
These two triangle-shaped rocks, when placed with their tips together, remind me of the shape of a man's bow tie!
So thankful I could get my handsome son to flash a smile for this photo!
Here I am, trying to look glamorous, while balancing on this very narrow rock, above the water!
We encountered a waterfall on the second creek we explored, so I used the long exposure feature on my iphone to "fuzz out" the waterflow. Back in the olden days, one would have to put their 35 mm camera on a tripod, set it for a long exposure, with low speed film, then hope the "fuzz out" effect turns out. It is much easier with a smart phone to get the same effect!
Here is the couple in front of the same waterfall, but without the long exposure feature. The newly-sprouted green tree leaves, give a bit of color to the scene.
Our last water crossing on the hike, was a bit deeper, and there were not any stepping stones. So G took off his shoes, and carefully walked across, with the help of a fallen limb he found.
Did you know that the next time G and S come to visit, this waterfall will be farther away from where they are wading, than it is at present? That is because waterfalls "walk" backwards, as the water erodes the rock surface they tumble over, moving it back slightly with each drop. (But don't plan on seeing a difference in this lifetime---the process takes eons!)
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I made a photo prop for the eclipse, after seeing some ideas on line, and this photo shows the "Umbraphiles", wearing their special eclipse glasses, holding the prop.
And here are the Umbraphiles, just wearing regular sun glasses. (The root of this phrase means "shadow lover" and "umbra" is also the root word for umbrella!)
We put the camera on "automatic", so all three of us could be together for the eclipse photo below. I guess you could call us the framed "ecliptomaniacs"! On April 8, 2024, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, these three people, joined millions of other Americans, and gazed at the sky to behold the Creator's majesty! It was a total solar eclipse and a very memorable point in time! (But just in case my memory starts to fade into nothingness, these photos, and this blog post, will preserve the celebratory occasion!)
After we returned from hiking, we relaxed a bit on the back porch . The green bench where you see six feet propped up, was
made by my grandfather Grover. The white wicker couch G and S are sitting on, is one I purchased when I was in Graduate school at the University of Arkansas in 1971. It was used, and purchased at a second hand shop, so I am totally amazed that it is still able to be of service, considering it is well over fifty years old!
My son has a type of soda named in his honor!
The green, vintage metal lawn chairs G and S are sitting in, are the same ones G's grandparents, Grover and Effie, sat in, almost 100 years earlier! The footstool is one made by my father for his boathouse.
For viewing the eclipse, we hung out in the front yard, partially in shade, and partially in the sunlight. Although it was not especially troubling to me, whenever the sun was totally covered by the shadow of the moon, the darkness automatically triggered the bright security light in the front yard to come on, as well as the solar lights. So future eclipse viewers may want to seek a location away from "automatic lights"!
I wanted to make a stone souvenir of G and S visiting here for the eclipse, so I tried mixing concrete, for the first time ever. The results are shown below. If these cement souvenirs last as long as the wooden chairs behind me (made by my grandparents, Grover and Effie) I will be amazed! (The vintage, push lawnmower behind me also belonged to them, and the brown bench beside them was the wash stand in use, with the old wringer washer they used. I put my hand between the roller ringers, when I was a little girl, which may account for my weird shaped fingers today!)