A few weeks ago, I time traveled. I wasn’t gone very long and I didn’t travel very far, but I definitely went back in time. Back about 36-38 million years ago in fact, if scientists are right. It wasn’t as exciting as I thought it might be but it was interesting none-the-less.
(more…)Posts Tagged ‘trees’
A Trip To the Oligocene Epoch Right Down the Road
Posted in blogging, blooms, driving, flowers, friends, gratitude, history, humor, Jansen Schmidt, Mississippi, travel, Vicksburg, writing, tagged Earth science, erosion, Flora, Flora Mississippi, forest, fossils, lichen, Loblolly pines, National Natural Landmarks, National Park Service, nature, nature walk, petrified forest, petrified wood, pine needles, prehistoric, science, trees on May 16, 2022| 6 Comments »
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining (And Other Cliches)
Posted in Baer House Inn, blogging, innkeeping, Jansen Schmidt, weird facts, writing, tagged air conditioning, broke, catastrophe, chiropractor, cliches, clouds, falling trees, karma, law office, limbs, money, pecan trees, poor, rains it pours, salt, silver lining, tires, trees, unexpected, wood on September 9, 2019| 8 Comments »
I’m having one of those stormy periods folks. You know, one of those times in life when it rains it pours. That’s been me this past week or two. One unexpected thing after another. Nothing horrible or catastrophic (thank goodness) just something to deal with that I wasn’t expecting. Something expensive that I don’t have the money to pay for. (more…)
A Walk In the Woods
Posted in authors, Autumn, blogging, Family, Fiction, friends, humor, Jansen Schmidt, short story, words, writing, tagged bridge, exploring, foot bridge, ghost town, graves, graveyard, headstone, Mississippi, Natchez Trace, old church, path, pathway, pulpit, Rocky Springs, Spanish moss, tombstone, trees, well on September 7, 2015| 10 Comments »
As time allows, I’ve been doing some exploring around my new home state. Not too long ago I took an afternoon road trip on what I thought was the Natchez Trace. Turns out it was just Old Highway 61, but I didn’t find that out until later.
Anyway, I came upon this cute little old church up amongst the trees and decided to check it out up close and personal.
Rocky Springs Church. Photo by P. Rickrode, August 2015.
Rocky Springs church, circa 1700 something. Photo by P. Rickrode, August 2015
Much to my excitement, the door was open. So, of course, I went in.
Inside the church at Rocky Springs. Photo by P. Rickrode, August 2015.
I imagined what life would be like as a preacher.
View from the pulpit – Rocky Springs Church. Photo by P. Rickrode, August 2015.
In the yard was this graveyard, just beckoning to be explored.
Graveyard at Rocky Springs church. Photo by P. Rickrode, August 2015.
So many babies died.
Headstone at Rocky Springs church. Photo by P. Rickrode, August 2015
Tombstone at Rocky Springs church. Photo y P. Rickrode, August 2015.
After exploring the church and adjoining graveyard, I found this curious path admidst the Spanish Moss:
Path in the woods. Photo by P. Rickrode, August 2015.
Spanish moss at Rocky Springs church. Photo by P. Rickrode, August 2015
It seems I had stumbled upon what had once been the rip roaring community of Rocky Springs.
Rocky Springs, Mississippi. Photo by P. Rickrode. August 2015
I continued along the path until I got to this little bridge, which did not look safe to cross.
Bridge at Rocky Springs. Photo by P. Rickrode, August 2015.
Yes, I crossed it anyway and found what remains of Rocky Springs.
Old well at Rocky Springs. Photo by P. Rickrode, August 2015.
Burned out safe at Rocky Springs. Photo by P. Rickrode, August 2015.
So there you have it, my afternoon walk in the woods, found by mistake while innocently thinking I was traveling the famous Natchez Trace.
How about you dear readers, what unexpected adventures have you encountered in your leisure time? Any surprises uncovered on an afternoon road trip? Inquiring minds want to know.
Word of the Day: Casuistry
Fun fact about me: I love exploring in the woods.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, September 2015. Original photos by P. Rickrode.
And A Good Time Was Had By All!
Posted in authors, beach, blogging, friends, grammar, humor, Lake Tahoe, romance, words, writers, writing, tagged conference center, Desolation Wilderness, Fallen Leaf Lake, John Steinbeck, Margie Lawson, nature, Romance Writers of America, Sacramento Valley Rose, Stanford-Sierra, trees, waterfalls, writing retreat on May 13, 2013| 28 Comments »
Photo by P. Rickrode
My local Sacramento chapter of Romance Writers of America hosts a retreat every other year and this year we were so blessed to be able to have our retreat at the Stanford-Sierra Conference Center at Fallen Leaf Lake in Lake Tahoe.
Photo by P. Rickrode
Crystal clear Fallen Leaf Lake is protected on all sides by the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and sits at 6,300 feet in elevation. It is completely surrounded by two indigenous species of conifers; Jeffrey and White pine. Just a short walk from the lodge, civilization ends and desolation begins. Desolation Wilderness offers nearly endless hiking and breathtaking views throughout its 63,960 acres of federally protected land.
Fallen Leaf Lake
Photo by P. Rickrode
The lodge and cabins at The Camp date back to the turn of the century with some staff housing still sitting on original foundations constructed in the 1920’s. One of the famous staffers at Stanford-Sierra was John Steinbeck who worked at the camp in 1925 and helped construct many of the staff cabins. He was a popular figure at The Camp and was known to spend his down time hiking, fishing and writing by the light of his lantern at night.
Sacramento Valley Rose was honored to have Margie Lawson as our guest speaker. Margie filled our Friday night with fun and our Saturday with valuable knowledge, tips and other information to make our manuscripts sparkle and shine in a way that would capture the attention of an agent or editor.
Margie Lawson, SVR Retreat, May 2013
Photo by P. Rickrode
After a long day of learning and a mouth-watering feast Saturday night, it was time to let our hair down and have some fun. We played our own special convoluted version of Wheel of Fortune, minus Vanna White and lovely prizes. Much belly-laughing ensued.
Anna “AJ” Stewart, Janina Henderson and Judy Ashley
Photo by P. Rickrode
We did what writers do best with limited letters.
Kendra DeSantolo
Photo by P. Rickrode
Patricia Rickrode aka Jansen Schmidt
Photo by Anonymous
As the night progressed (and more wine was consumed), things got a little more raunchy.
Anna “AJ” Stewart showing us her extensive vocabulary.
Photo by P. Rickrode
Once the tone had been set, there was no going back and it got easier to guess the words.
Suzanne Pitner aka Suzanne Lilly
Photo by P. Rickrode
Or not. Turns out, the laugh was on us. Suzanne’s a cunning fox that way.
Suzanne Pitner aka Suzanne Lilly (aka The Trickster)
Photo by P. Rickrode
Despite the building-shaking thunder and brilliant flashes of lightning on Saturday night and the lack of cell phone communications, a good time was had by all. The staff at the Stanford-Sierra Camp were simply the best greeting each request with a smile and offering assistance over and above what we expected. The weekend couldn’t have been more perfect.
So tell me readers, where have you experienced a little bit of writing heaven? Where have you attended a retreat that made a lasting impression on you?
Word of the day: Xebec (have fun with this one Colleen)
Fun fact about me: I used to change my own oil and filter in my car.
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