Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for March, 2024

Kelly Station South!

Posted in Hikes, Historical, Wildlife on March 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I went to surgeon’s office to have my hand’s stitches removed this morning. Once home and realizing the day was to be nice a decision to walk. became reality. I thought for a moment before heading to where a small community once existed. That place was Kelly Station.

I hadn’t been in the area for quite some time. the Rails To trails people have been doing a great job preparing the trail for use. One site I hoped to see was an island where a Bald eagle nest exists. I spotted the eagle’s nest two years ago but from the other side of the river. Th e nest was harder to find initially but I eventually spotted it among the limns of a Sycamore tree. An adult Bald eagle was on the nest. I struggled to find a place where I might get a decent photo. Lots of limbs made any clarity difficult.

I continued hiking and estimated around seven miles where walked this day. I know the old knees were feeling some discomfort, but I pushed on.

I saw four deer this day. I saw a small flock of turkeys on a right-a-way. Along the river I would see a lot of Canada Geese, a pair of Hooded Mergansers and a pair of Wood Ducks. I watched a flock of circling Turkey Vultures a few times. I wouldn’t fall over. Tough on them…

I did see some Gray and Fox Squirrels, too.

Old Coke Ovens

I easily saw ancient remains of coke ovens at a couple of locations. These coke ovens were in use back in the elate 1800s. I should research these to obtain other information.

The Allegheny River South of Kelly Sation.

Off and on while hiking I spent some moments working my fingers on my hand. Doc says to work them to keep them from stiffening up and to avoid scar tissue buildup.

I spent about five hours or more while on this excursion.

Read Full Post »

North of the Bridge

Posted in My Art on March 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

North of the Bridge by Larry A. Smail

The acrylic painting above was completed and forgotten in 2008. I recently rediscovered the art in an upstairs closet with others.

The inspiration for this art came about while fishing north of the bridge and near Lock Number 7 on the Allegheny River. The dam is upriver from this site. The site is at Kittanning, Pennsylvania. That day was a low water time of the year.

In this area I have caught many species of fish. The list includes Smallmouth Bass, Muskellunge, Shad, Walleye, Channel, Flathead and Bullhead Catfishes, Rock Bass, Carp, Sauger, Longnose Gars, Sunfish and probably a few more species. The painting sized framed is 29 inches by 18 inches.

Read Full Post »

The Hand Surgery

Posted in Uncategorized on March 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Sometime around summer of 2023, I noticed a hardened lump in the palm of my hand near the base of my pointer finger. The lump quickly became the size of a pea. Reaching for a doorknob, steering wheel and even playing the guitar produced a pain. The cyst seemed to still be pushing, thus the pain. What should I do, became a common thought. The wife told me to have it checked out. That happened on March 3rd.

I decided to see a surgeon and discuss. He believed the lump was a ganglion cyst and a date of March 13th was decided on to do the “cut.” However, they were going to put me under to do the work. I insisted on having the operation under a local and “won out” over the other alternative.

The injection did produce an initial pain, but I never felt the scalpel do the deed. I requested to see the cyst and all that was left was a sack-like tissue, for the jell within leaked out. Surgeon said the hard feeling was due to pressure.

This morning of the 14th has the operation producing pain. The numbness was still an issue when I went to bed. I am not sure how many stitches are at the site. The taped bandage is something new, but it is still holding. A slight swelling is present. I will have the stitches removed in a couple of weeks.

Read Full Post »