I’ve spent a couple of Saturdays helping my friend Tom cut wood and split logs for his wood burning furnace. To get through the winter he needs a lot of wood. We couldn’t go back to place where we were cutting wood last week because (of all things) they are using the cleared area besides the woods for helicopter rides. Tom had hoped to get down there today, but we couldn’t do that either because today they are practicing landing and taking off.

Luckily he found someone with a downed tree on a building plot just outside of Springfield, so off we went. The morning was spent cutting up the small stuff, and clearing the brush away. We had quite a few problems with the chainsaws, the chain kept coming off of one and the other kept cutting out, but we managed to get the small stuff cleared and three quarters of a pick-up load. We needed a bigger saw to cut the main trunk, so we took what we had back to Tom’s, picked up his bigger and more reliable saw, and came back for a second load.

We took Alek along to help out, as school was out today. He did a great job clearing away brush, loading the truck and he split a few logs too.  Tom did ask him if he wanted to move the truck, he didn’t want to, and I don’t blame him either.  Neither did I, as it meant reversing it with a trailer attached!

Tom’s been cutting wood for years so I should try not to beat myself up too much when I miss with the axe, or fail to split the logs. Tom has loads of energy, and seems quite happy to show me how to do things right. I ‘m learning a lot thanks to Tom. Despite only going out cutting wood three times,  I’m better with the chainsaw, and I can, on occasion, manage to split logs.

Alek splits a log

Considering it is November, it was hot, up in the seventies, today. I even managed to get a slight sunburn. It was really good to be working outside, and I enjoy Tom’s company. I even enjoy the aches afterwards. I just wish I could follow through with some exercise time at the YMCA gym, so that I really felt some benefit. Anyway, another three or four days cutting wood should get enough wood to see Tom through the winter. Tom says he’s going out again tomorrow. Tomorrow I won’t be able to help as I’m going to be helping close down the Church camp for the winter, and we have Fireworks night in the evening to look forward to.

We’ve been planning to ‘do’ the Glade Top Trail for most of the summer. It is supposed to be especially good once the fall color has started. The weather’s not been co-operating recently, and it looked like this would be our last chance to see the trail before the leaves dropped. Also the trail is near Ginger’s parents, and Carol had asked for some help setting up her new computer, so a visit was required. We packed the girls in the van and set off for the day. Before we left we managed to acquire another kid in the form of Abi, from down the road.

The Glade Top Trail starts just south of Ava, so a lunch halt at the Subway in Ava seemed sensible, and I managed to get a picture of the ‘Ava Blog’ sign I’ve been laughing at for months.

We had a bit of difficulty finding the start of the trail, but that was down to us rather than any instructions or lack there of. The trail itself is around thirty miles of unmettled gravel road running along hill ridges in the Mark Twain National Forest

At the first stop on the trail

The kids had a run around while Ginger and I took pictures. The fall color, reds, browns and yellows seemed very impressive to me, though I’m assured that the color this year is not as good as in previous years.

There are several stopping places along the trail, and each one offered further photo opportunities.

It also seems that Lanie couldn’t resist a dancing session either.

Lanie Struts her stuff

Some views along the trail

Despite appearances this is not the trail of the lonesome pine.

According to the guide, there was a cave at the Caney Picnic Area, so we went off in search of it. A very kind family gave us a torch so that we could explore the cave, which despite a very low opening was high enough to stand up in and about 30 yards deep. At the very end we found a solitary bat.

To my surprise there were warning signs for bears at the picnic area; that should put people off camping. However, as I keep telling Lanie, we’d be alright, as we can run faster than she can.

We then  headed round to Ginger’s parents, where we sorted out the computer and sat and chatted the remainder of the afternoon away. It was well past dark when we’d finally driven the eighty odd miles back to Springfield.

Of course the above idylic scene skips over all the whining, pouting and arguments that took place between siblings, and the point at which I lost my cool and insisted on silence. Or was that another trip? They are all scarily similar in this regard when it comes to transporting kids.

Our Flickr and Facebook friend Jim detoured down to Springfield to say hello on his way home from a wedding shoot. We left the girls to do their choir duty and set Jim up for the drive home with a hearty Ozark breakfast at Aunt Martha’s.

Ginger has known Jim online for over three years, and I’ve known him via Flickr and Facebook for over two and a half years. It is a great honor to be able meet the people we’ve be-friended online in real life.

After breakfast we went back to Church to surprise Lanie and see Jim off on his way home. As old 365 days hands (some of us lapsed), of course we couldn’t turn down the opportunity of a multiple self portrait.

Here’s Gary’s picture:

Here’s Ginger’s picture:

Lanie had a birthday party to go to this afternoon, so we took her to the party and then ‘did’ a couple of Flea Markets to pass the time while she was off enjoying herself.

We arrived back at the party a few minutes early so Ginger got out her knitting, and I listened to a CD and took a quick Self Portrait while we waited.

For some reason my choice in music, TLC – Crazy Sexy Cool, was met with mirth.

Rather than go straight back home we decided to try out a short hike from a book we picked up from a recent garage sale. So off we went to the Sac River trail. It is supposedly primarily for mountain bikes, and so the trail is quite narrow and doesn’t fear crossing small creeks.

We’ve had several inches of rain in the past few days, so our walk was very wet with some slight flooding, and a lot of small creeks running. Fortunately we thought ahead and wore water / wet feet friendly sandals.

The best part of crossing the creeks is that is washes the mud off your sandals.

I waded a short way down the creek to take a couple of pictures. Fortunately the water wasn’t too cold. The second picture (above) was taken from a different vantage point by Ginger.

Ginger constantly spots cool things, and tries to teach me and the kids the names of all the plants. Unfortunately I have the memory of a sieve and promptly forget them.

It really was all very pretty on a cool-ish fall afternoon.

“Gary, can you carry these rocks, leaves, galls, fossils and a nut in your bag?”
Lanie asked Ginger first, but it seems I carry the purse in this family so Ginger told her to ask me.

After a while we started climbing and looping away from the river. It was still very wet and muddy but the landscape and plants changed rapidly.

At the top of the hill were several cedar glades. We got an introduction to way more ecosystem biology than we bargained for.

The last part of the trail; which circumnavigated the entire park, ran down alongside the I-13. While it looks peaceful, with trucks and cars running full speed about 100 yards away it wasn’t very quiet.

Today in the post I received my bright shiny new Green Card and a letter welcoming me into the US.

The process we started on 19 March 2008 is finally over. I can now work in the US and travel freely.

The wedding rehearsal started at four, twenty-four hours before the real thing. Erica, the Photographer asked to come along as she hadn’t had a wedding at Christ Episcopal Church, and anyway we wanted her to meet Jonathan to make sure she heard the ground rules straight from the horses mouth so’s to speak. We’re glad she was there as she took some cracking pictures of the rehearsal. Robert was very enamoured with her too!

Ginger keeps everyone in check while we go through our paces practicing getting married.

Lanie, at least, is enjoying herself

Robert and Jonathan practice their readings.

Tomorrow the smiles will be even brighter