Ozark Regional Land Trust Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Ozark Regional Land Trust (http://www.orlt.org/) was held this past weekend in various locations in the Missouri Ozarks. For those who are not familiar with the ORLT, it is a non-profit organization with this Vision Statement: " That people in the Ozarks express their relationship to the natural environment by preserving its unique beauty through responsible stewardship and sustainable economic activity." The business meeting and lunch on Saturday were held at the Ozark Seed Bank (http://www.ozarkseedbank.org/) in the tiny community of Brixey, Missouri. The group then departed for a tour of the Alford Forest (http://www.alfordforest.org/). The Alford Forest is a 4,300 acre oak-pine-hickory forest in Ozark County in central Missouri. ORLT owns and protects 3,200 of these acres. The remaining 1,100 acres are privately owned, but protected by ORLT-overseen, conservation easements. The photos above were taken as the group accessed the edge of a section of the forest where forest manager David Haenke (in green shirt in upper left photo) explained to those present, the use of eco-forestry methods designed to improve the health of the forest.

Next the group drove to a location deeper within the forest with the goal of hiking to the headwaters of a stream that runs through the property. Although it was a very hot and humid day, the green canopy over the access trail helped make the hike more enjoyable. The upper right photo of this collage shows the ORLT Board President, Andrew Thomas, as well as the ORLT Board Secretary, attorney Jillian Hishaw.

Our group found the headwaters of the stream we were following, and took advantage of the waterfall there, to cool off, and go wading in the pool beneath the falls.

On Sunday, the group convened in front of the house at the Elixir Farm, as shown in middle, right photo (http://www.elixirfarm.com/), for instructions on the canoe/kayak trip planned for a long stretch of Bryant Creek, which runs through the Elixir Farm property. The upper right and lower left photos in this collage show some of the structures at the Elixir Farm. Our local guide for the waterways part of the trip was Kyle Kosovich (http://www.longboatoutfitters.com/) . He is shown in the upper left photo as he gives us some details of what to expect during the next few hours on the water. Fortunately, he had done the trip the day before---with a chain saw---so that any large trees crossing the river in such a way as to block our passage, could be appropriately trimmed. This was very helpful, but a few of the canoes tipped over anyway, when faced with an obstacle they could not maneuver around. However, with the temperatures hovering near 100 degrees Fahrenheit, no one seemed too upset about getting an unexpected "baptism" in the cool waters of Bryant Creek. And speaking of preserving the Ozarks, we cannot forget the common practice in the Ozarks, in days gone by, of a church group, all meeting at the creek, for the baptism of one or more of a congregation. Old photography records preserve numerous examples of this Ozark tradition, and I heard my parents speak many times of the "creek baptisms" they had participated in. Such a practice is based on Bible verses like Mark 16:16 that say "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." You will notice that in this blog, there are not photos of actual "in the water" activities. That is because I have been on enough canoeing and kayaking trips to know that my odds of unintentionally immersing my digital camera are pretty high, and there was such an incident with someones digital camera today. So you will just have to use your imagination in this particular blog post to visualize a clear, peaceful stream in the Ozarks, shaded with lush, green, overhanging sycamore trees,flowing beside beautiful limestone bluffs; imagine the sound of water rippling over river-smoothed stones, birds chirping, herons and red-tailed hawks soaring overhead, and great conversation with folks who share a passion for being good stewards of our earth. Better than just visualizing it---why not get out there and experience it yourself!! Wishing you miles of paddling smiles! Tricia

DESTINATION?? WEDDING!!!!!

You may have seen the term "Destination Wedding" in travel brochures and bridal magazines, and this blog is about an expedition to participate in what might be called a "Destination Wedding". The destination was the tiny town of McCloud, California (www.mccloudchamber.com), at the base of the massive, snow-covered peak, known as Mt. Shasta. (see previous postings on this blog---December 4 and December 28, 2008---for additional information on McCloud.) In the past, the village was known as a "company town" because most everyone there worked for the McCloud Lumber Company. More recently, it was known as the departure point for the Mt. Shasta Sunset Dinner Train. However, since neither of these businesses are still in operation, visitors to the town can pretty much have it to themselves. Such was the case for the couple pictured in the "Kiss and Ride" area in front of the McCloud Railway, in this photo collage. (The first time I saw an official-looking street sign that said "Kiss and Ride" near a large, metropolitan train station, I had no idea what it meant! ) The actual wedding ceremony for the couple in the photo (Grover and Stacy) was held at the lowest of the three McCloud waterfalls, in the nearby area called Fowler Campground (www.roadcamping.com). I did not have my camera with me at the actual wedding ceremony, held at the overlook above the falls, so I don't have any photos of that portion of the wedding. However, in reading up on the area, I learned that the Fowler Campground/McCloud Falls area is one of THE most visited places of all the U.S. Forest Service properties. While there, I saw several hikers taking photos of our wedding party, so I know there are pictures out there somewhere in cyberspace!! I have stumbled into my fair share of weddings being held in scenic locations outdoors, so I was not at all troubled by the numerous on-lookers.

You know you are in a small town, when the bride and groom can casually stroll across a wide, paved road to a lemonade stand, being run by some young girls, smack dab in front of the post office. In fact, the upper right photo of the collage shows the groom pulling out his wallet to make his very first purchase for his bride, following the exchanging of the wedding vows. He bought her a cup of the cold beverage, which served as their first wedding "toast"! (middle photo) Since no where could be seen, a "cloud in McCloud" on the warm, summer day of the wedding, the young girls attempt at the free enterprise system was a welcome sight!

The couple loves the outdoors, so it is not surprising that their wedding photos would include something like a bicycle and an RV (The RV is named "Franklin"). Note the difference in the appearance of Franklin, "before" the wedding reception (upper left) and "after" the wedding reception (lower right).

The location for the wedding reception was the former "company store" (as in the old Tennessee Ernie Ford song) of the McCloud Lumber Company. It is called the McCloud Mercantile (http://www.mccloudmercantile.com/). The lower floor of the Mercantile houses shops reminiscent of the last century, while the upper floor has been converted into guest rooms and a large banquet space. The catering for the delicious food and beverage service was by Lily's in Mt. Shasta (http://www.lilysrestaurant.com/). The fantastic party band from Bellingham, Washington, (lower right photo) known as Yogoman Burning Band (http://www.yogomanburningband.bandzoogle.com/) provided music to raise the rafters and dance the night away. However, since all the guests staying overnight at the Mercantile were members of the wedding party, the loud music bothered no one! In fact, the Bible says it is good to "raise the rafters" with songs of celebration! Another verse from the Bible is my prayer for Grover and Stacy, and goes along with a necklace wedding gift they received: "Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man." (Proverbs 3:3) Wishing them miles and miles of married smiles! Tricia

Marshmallow Farm with Oreo Cows

Since so few kids these days have ever lived on a farm, or had family/friends who lived on a farm, there is quite a bit of "disconnect" between the foods youngsters see in the supermarket, and the knowledge of where food really comes from. Some kids might even believe the title of this blog, and think that the familiar candy we call "marshmallow" actually does come from a chopped-up version of the big, white marshmallow-like objects shown in the top photo of this collage. (The actual origin of the name for the white candy is that when it was first made, it resembled a plant called the "mallow" that was commonly found found growing in a marsh, and hence the term "marshmallow") Also, a youngster with no concept of where their food comes from might truly believe that the animals pictured in the lower photo are the ones responsible for "hatching the eggs" that later turn into Oreo cookies! These previous sentences explain my reasons for being thankful that there are places like Meadow View Farm ( http://www.meadow-view-farm.com/ ) in Vermont where school groups, or any group for that matter, can take a tour and learn about food origins.

Meadow View Farm is located in the "Northeast Kingdom" of Vermont, and is a fully-operational beef farm with one of the country's largest herds of registered Belted Galloway cattle. ( Belted Galloways developed during the 16th century in the former Galloway district of Scotland). In addition to the cattle operation, visitors can learn about the farm's organic gardens and orchard, plus take advantage of services offered by their spa (http://www.steppingstonesspa.com/) .

The name of the farm suggests that one will view a meadow from their location, but in actuality, one can also see the mountains and valleys, as well as the meadow, from the higher locations of the 845 acres that comprise the farm. In addition, it is close to the Kingdom Trails (http://www.kingdomtrails.org/) that are popular with cyclists (as illustrated by the three bikers shown in lower left photo, who were also enjoying the scenery on the day I visited).

To me, the most memorable thing about Meadow View Farm was the beautiful chapel that sat on a high hill overlooking all of the property (top photo of collage). It was built in 2006 by the Downing family (lower left photo) as a demonstration of gratitude to God for the success their various business ventures have experienced. I was reminded of the story in the Bible (Luke 17:11-19) where Jesus healed 10 lepers of their disease, but only one of the healed men came back to express his gratitude to Jesus for his healing. The Downings have demonstrated that they are in the "one in ten" category, as they have beautifully expressed their gratitude for the blessings they have received. You can read more on the history and current activities of the chapel at http://www.chapeloftheholyfamily.com/ For additional information on this and many other outstanding Vermont attractions, click on http://www.vermonttourismnetwork.com/ Here's wishing you miles of smiles! Tricia

Vermont Tic-Tac-Toe Design

When I saw these cows grazing on a hillside in Vermont, it seemed they were getting into position to make a grid for the familiar game "tic tac toe". I guess if you cut out just the center of the photo, you would have a genuine cowhide playing surface! Miles of smiles! Tricia

Lake Champlain Expedition

Lake Champlain was named after Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer who in 1609 visited what is now Vermont, and called it "les verts mont" which means "green mountains". The three-word French phrase was later shortened to just one word----Vermont. Lake Champlain extends southward from Canada for 120 miles, varying in width from one-fourth mile across to 12 miles across, at its widest point. A great way to experience the grandeur of Lake Champlain is aboard a cruise on the luxury cruise ship, the Spirit of Ethan Allen III. It is a 424-passenger, triple deck ship that offers both scenic and dinner cruises from April through October (http://www.soea.com/). The top photos of this collage show the bow of the ship, while the middle photo shows a view from aboard the ship, looking westward toward the Adirondack Mountains of New York. The lower photo is taken from aboard the ship, looking eastward towards the harbor of Burlington, Vermont, where the Ethan Allen is docked.

The narration on board the Ethan Allen pointed out landmarks of the cruise, such as the Lake Champlain Islands (top photo). The great thing about the brunch cruise my group enjoyed, was that we could savor the delicious food from the buffet, and still see the gorgeous scenery through the large, (and clean!) windows of the ship (bottom two photos of collage).

There are other ways to experience the beauty of Lake Champlain. The top left photo shows sailboats (some of which can be rented) or one can simply enjoy picnicking beside the lake (upper right photo) at one of the state parks along the shoreline ( Knight Point State Park http://www.vtstateparks.com/ ). However, if just enjoying views of the lake from the comfort of your hotel room is more your style (bottom photo), check out lodging properties located on the harbor at the Vermont Tourism Network website( http://www.vermonttourismnetwork.com/ )

As far as public transportation to get across Lake Champlain, there are ferries (top photo), or various bridges (middle photo). When I made my crossing, I chose to take a bridge that led to U.S. Highway 2, and drove north on this route through the Lake Champlain Islands (bottom photo). It was such a feast for the eyes to be driving on a ribbon of highway, surrounded by water; then looking to the east and seeing the Green Mountains; alternately looking to the west and seeing the equally beautiful Adirondack Mountains. As I was thanking God for this visual blessing, I was reminded of this verse from Psalm 121:1 "I lift up my eyes to the hills---where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." So many miles---so many smiles! We are indeed blessed to live in such a wonderful country!! Get out there and SEE it! Tricia

Boldt Yacht House Expedition

Once you have recovered from the jaw-dropping beauty of a Boldt Castle tour, you can extend your amazement by touring the equally incredible Boldt Yacht House. Although it is just yards away from Heart Island where Boldt Castle is located, there is no bridge connecting that short span of water, so a shuttle boat is used to get guests from Heart Island over to the Boldt Yacht House. The Yacht House is actually located on Wellesley Island, which one can drive their car to, assuming they do not mind to pay the small toll to go over the expansive Thousand Island Bridge (http://www.tibridge.com/). The agency that maintains and operates the Thousand Island Bridge (between the mainland and Wellesley Island (where the Boldt Yacht House is located) is the same agency that owns and operates Boldt Castle. On the day I visited the Yacht House, I went by car (lower left photo of collage), since the public shuttle from the castle was not yet in operation.

Behind the massive doors shown on the left side of this collage, George Boldt could motor in one of his yachts, and keep them in an enclosed, secure location, while still keeping them afloat in the river. ( My family in the Ozarks called such a structure a "boat house", since there were no "yachts" on the local lake where I grew up.) These days, a tourist might be able to see a beautifully restored antique wooden boat in the Boldt Yacht House (like the one on the right), as the Antique Boat Museum ( http://www.abm.org/) in nearby Clayton sometimes has pieces from their collection on display at the Wellesley Island location of the Boldt Yacht House.

The Yacht House is several stories tall, and has both inside and outside public spaces. The walls of the inside are lined with artifacts, telling the history of the area (right photo). The photo on the left shows the the unusual thickness of the stone walls of the Yacht House, which is probably one of the reasons that it is still standing today.

Perhaps since I have lived in the South all my life, far away from the region of the country known as The Thousand Islands, it never occurred to me until this trip, that there is a connection between the Thousand Islands area of the St. Lawrence River, and a product I have eaten all my life called "Thousand Island Dressing". According to the website www.1000-islands.com/dressing, the original recipe was developed by the wife of a St. Lawrence River fishing guide. Just as fishing guides in this area are famous for their "shore lunches" along The White River, so the fishing guides of a hundred years ago on the St. Lawrence River, were likewise famous for the delicious shore dinners they prepared. Customers especially liked the salad dressing that one of the fishing guide's wife (Sophia LaLonde) prepared. George Boldt was one of the patrons who liked the salad dressing, and ordered his world famous maitre d' ---Oscar Tschirky---- to put this dressing on the menu of Boldt's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. It was this widespread exposure to the dining public, that helped get the word out about Thousand Island Dressing. Reading about the popular shore dinners prepared on The St. Lawrence River reminded me of the "shore dinner" that is talked about in The New Testament (John 21:1-14). Curious about who the cook was for that shore dinner??? ----it was none other than Jesus, himself!! The Bible tells how Jesus cooked fish along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and called to his friends who were fishing nearby, to come join him. So now you know (concerning both the origin of Thousand Island Dressing and The ORIGINAL Shore Lunch) THE REST OF THE STORY!! Miles of smiles! Tricia--------------------------------> click on www.1000-islands.com/shoredinner.htm or http://www.visit1000islands.com/ for additional information

Uncle Sam Boat Tours

Nothing pleases me more than being out on the water on a beautiful, sunny day. So you can assume I was delighted to be able to take the "Two Nations - One Border" cruise on the St. Lawrence River, with Uncle Sam Boat Tours (http://www.usboattours.com/), headquartered in Alexandria Bay, New York. They have several different sizes of boats, and this photo collage shows just a few of them. The middle photo shows me on the right, joined by Tillie Youngs, Projects Assistant for the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council (www.visit1000islands.com) .

This photo collage illustrates the tour title --- Two Nations. It enabled passengers to enjoy close-up views of the historic and scenic wonders in both the Canadian and American sections of the 1000 Islands. However, since passengers do not actually disembark on Canadian territory, there are no passports or visas necessary for the Two Nations Cruise. The knowledgeable tour guide explained the history of many of the historic homes and structures we saw: For example, she explained that the little footbridge on the left holds the record for being The Shortest International Bridge in the world, because it connects an island located in Canadian waters with an island located in USA waters. The guide jokingly explained that both islands are owned by the same family, so when they have have a disagreement, one party goes to the USA side and one to the Canadian side, until resolution is achieved. The photo on the lower right is the Thousand Islands Bridge that was mentioned in the blog about the Boldt Yacht House.

As an example of the friendliness and congeniality of the folks in this part of the country, everyone who happened to be on board the Uncle Sam Boat Tour that day received an invitation to join members of the Alexandria Bay Rotary Club (lower left photo) who had arranged a delicious buffet luncheon for local senior citizens who were able to take the cruise. Since they had more food than those present could consume, the entire boat benefited from their generosity. I was particularly impressed with the sheet cakes they offered, with photos of 1000 Islands landmarks skillfully painted into the icing (top two photos).

I enjoy taking photographs of churches in different parts of the world, so I was delighted to see the extremely picturesque church perched on a steep bluff overlooking the river (upper left photo). Our guide also made sure we saw the statue of St. Lawrence that also sits on a high bluff above the river (upper right photo). It was French explorer Jacques Cartier who gave the name of St. Lawrence to this---the widest river in the world. If you're like me, you may be curious what the thing is that St. Lawrence is holding (see bottom photo) It is a gridiron. This is because St. Lawrence was martyred on a gridiron as part of Valerian's persecution in the year 258 A.D.; during his torture, Lawrence cried out "This side's done, turn me over and have a bite." This is the legend often quoted explaining why Lawrence is the patron saint of comedians, cooks, and chefs. Some religions set aside a special feast day (August 10) for Saint Lawrence, and accord this special prayer to him on that day: "Father, you called Saint Lawrence to serve you by love and crowned his life with glorious martyrdom. Help us to be like him in loving you and doing your work. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen" I say AMEN to that as well! Miles of smiles!! Tricia