I usually see Box Turtles in the spring and early summer, but I was surprised to find three while hunting this fall.
Some of my friends have asked me what had happened with my blog entries. I would tell them I can’t edit and publish.
Last fall the problem originally surfaced. I had completed and entry text and placed two photos when a pink ribbon appeared saying: “Update failed: You do not have permission to edit this site”. Of course I became concerned. I began the very difficult process of attempting to determine what the heck was going on.
Eventually, I became quite frustrated and contacted the site controlling my site. I tried seven times sending them my issues. each time I would get a notice that they were on it. I would never hear back. My frustration intensified. On some of the complaints I included my e-mail address and phone number. With time someone on their end contacted me using my new e-mail. Although I had changed my e-mail address with them some time ago, I needed to complete an additional step. They had been replying each time using my old e-mail address. Once that was done the communication became great.
An engineer on the site send me plenty of possible routes to take. Links were included to try. My attempts failed for I am not a computer nerd and the language on the sites frustrated me further.
I contacted them again and further items came on the agenda. The final solution was that Internet Explore is no longer working. The suggestion was to try another browser. Well here are the results. I AM BACK!
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For many years I played in bands as a lead guitar player. I played some rock in a rock band for a time before joining up with a family-based band doing various styles of music from polkas, waltzes, square dances…
My next band to play in was a country band. I followed this band playing county, some rock, top 40 of those times, bluegrass, some polkas and other varied music. Although this band was called a county band we did do a variety of music. Each of these bands supplied interesting facts about music and the various genres and the issues of personalities.
However, there came a time for me to stop playing. I was tired of two and three night weekends traveling about doing music and coming home smelling like smoke. I quit! Many years later I started playing in gospel bands and still play in a free-lancing way.
BUT- many of those songs of country music had melodious tunes I enjoyed. I really didn’t pay a lot of attention to the lyrics, during those days, for I was a lead guitar player.
As I began to organize my thoughts for this fifth CD, I eventually settled in to the title of, “HEARTACHES AND HONKY TONKS (Mostly). Last December, Laurie and I spent some days in the Nashville area. We walked the streets of the famous Music Row in Nashville. Walking those streets filled with old-fashioned honky tonks with live music exploding from many forced the decision for the title indeed. I remember announcing this title on the way home. Bands play in these places hoping to have an agent stop in and sign them up. They play for tips. This has been happening since the forties, at least.
I sat down listening and searching for various songs of the honky tonk era and eventually came up with the list below. I added some of the famous performers of each song, but most have been recorded many times by varied artists. You may have noticed the extra word in the title of “mostly.” A couple of songs do not fit the true honky tonk time. I have, also, included one gospel song.
This CD is different with past recordings for I did all guitar work, bass guitar. five-string banjo, percussion, piano, keyboard and all lead vocals and harmony vocals… A lot of effort. The time recording happens here at my home with a digital recorder. This CD is better than the others, for I began to work with mastering the music. I had failed awhile back and sort of forgotten about it. I studied more on mastering and completed each song with improvements.
The CD can be purchased for $10.00. (Fifteen dollars with shipping and handling.) Send check to myself at 481 Butler Road, Kittanning, PA 16201.
Photos for this CD are from my sister, Ruthie Wolfe.
The song list:
- Good Hearted Woman (Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson)
- Texas Honky Tonk (Justin Trevino and Amber Digby)
- Statue of a Fool (Jack Greene and Ricky Van Shelton)
- Tennessee Whiskey (George Jones)
- You’re Still On My Mind (George Jones and LeeAnn Womack)
- Ain’t You Even Gonna Cry (Jim Ed brown and Merle Haggard)
- Pop A Top (Alan Jackson, and Jim Ed brown)
- Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show and Darius Rucker)
- My Next Broken Heart (Brooks and Dunn)
- Night Life (Ray Price and Willie Nelson)
- Swinging Doors (Merle Haggard)
- Am I That easy To Forget (Marty Robbins and Jim Reeves)
- City Lights (Ray Price and Bill Anderson)
- 14. Walk On By (Leroy van Dyke)
- Lord Send Your Angels (Candy Hemphill Christmas and the Easters)
The time is immense with deciding on songs, the arrangements and then further planning the music, but the time keeps me out of trouble. ..mostly!
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The year was mostly a failure with the covid issue and the mandates damaging America. That subject is another issue. My mother had a mini-stroke in April. I still see some damage from that event, but overall she is doing rather well. My stepfather, Bob Miller is still struggling with his cancer issue. Last weigh-in showed a hundred and forty-four pound man. he eats very little and has grown weaker to the point he can not walk.
The Monday after Thanksgiving, I took him to the hospital for a visiting nurse believed he may have had pneumonia. We discovered, he, also, had Covid-19 and spent sixteen days in the hospital for all the issues and therapy. The following morning I took my mother to the ER under doctor’s recommendation and we found out she had the virus. She was sent home under quarantine for fourteen days. Her 91 st birthday went without a party. We sent flowers an Laurie made he a cake placed n the table. My sister had the virus as well. With all that traveling with infected people I failed to get it.
However, I did find time to enjoy the early muzzleloading season in 2020. I missed a shot on the first day and passed up around ten-twelve shots on small deer. I did see a lot of nice buck. I have included some photos of buck here.
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One can initiate many reasons to go out for a woodland hike. Time afield could be for scouting for a big buck or turkey and bear activity if hunting is on your mind. One could be out searching for mushrooms in season. Some could go for exercise and others simply to take photos of the natural world and wildlife. I have been doing all, but I have been walking for other reasons, also.
Monday I came home from a walk in a familiar hunting area. I didn’t find any Sheepshead mushrooms, but I did see some deer and turkeys and lots of squirrels. the mast-producing trees such as the oaks, dogwoods, wild grapes, crabapples and hickories were abundant with their crops this season.
I saw one spike buck with a doe early into this walk and later saw two additional bucks. The bigger of those two deer produced fuzzy images as he walked through the pines not allowing any time to get fully focused. the second buck above cooperated very well.
Another reason for my hikes is to reflect on issues in my life. This year has been rough on me from a stress-level. The Covid-19 hysteria angers and disgusts me. All the goal-post moving and unconstitutional “mandates'” irritates to me to no end. And all of this for a virus no worse than the yearly flu. The survival rate is over 99%. I refuse to hear of this new normal.
Let us getting back to the reasons for my walking. I am. potentially, facing a health issue for myself and will be seeing a specialist soon. So my time afield, also, has me praying as I walk along.
I have found in times of feeling low something always happens to alter my thoughts. In a recent hike while feeling poorly, I looked to my right and a flock of turkeys were feeding within shotgun range and the birds were not aware of my presence. I was happy to witness this event.
Yesterday morning I went to another site to reflect and think and pray. A frost was upon the woodlands in the early hours, but the rising sun would quickly warm up the air. I saw some doe and two bucks. Again, I was feeling a little low when I heard some clicking sounds. I turned to my right and I saw a buck approximately thirty yards away. A second buck was immediately behind the first.
As I watched them trying to get a photo through the abundant fall foliage they began to spar with their antlers. I thought this is a site you don’t see often.
Both deer were feeding along as well and were moving towards this game land trail. I eased behind a tree hoping to not be spotted and it worked.
The front buck appeared on this open area and I managed several photos before he spotted something amiss. With his focus upon me the sound of the camera alerted him and he soon exited the site.
Later I would see two young deer in a field and they allowed me with some photo ops.
However, this walk had another issue on my mind. I had found the day before my step-father, Bob Miller’s cancer has reemerged. So, I needed to begin planning for the future with this issue.
As you can see how can one be down with seeing bucks sparring and the rays of light emerging through the trees.
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Bottle Gentian
Those three days in the north country went fast. The weather was great, but we needed to begin or thoughts towards returning home this day.
Early in the morning while Laurie was preparing herself for the day, I ventured downslope to the Bennett’s Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek. Most areas of areas I walked showed the distress from the lack of rain. the water was very low, and as the First Fork one could walk across the creek using exposed rocks. A few photos are included here.
Later, in the morning our departure led us through Medix Run. This creek was lower than I had even seen it. I hope holdover trout can survive. We stopped at the Shagger’s water Impoundment hoping to see some Ospreys and bald eagles, but the site was barren of the birds this day. 
Our trip towards home continued with time at Parker Dam State Park. Here we were prepared to do some hiking. Laurie became tired and elected to set on a park swing and read a book while I spent more time hiking. The trail I chose to explore had wetlands created by past Beaver activities. I saw some Brook trout.
I noticed a vivid blue partially hidden among the various wetland grasses. The blue was from a native wildflower known as the Bottle Gentian. (See photo above.)
The three days went fats and I was saddened to head towards home. Wildlife was abundantly viewed during these days. We saw plenty of Elk, Deer and three flocks of turkeys. We saw squirrels including Black squirrels. We saw two Ruffed Grouse, a rarity in these days. We saw a beautiful Bald eagle, Mergansers and Cormorants. I believe I had a glimpse of a Black Bear in the vegetation for I saw black for a moment.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
Parker Dam forest
Shagger’s Impoundment
Wetlands
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The area of the Sinnemahoning has always held a powerful and special feeling with me since I first saw the beauty in my younger days. Since those days of many years ago I have been enthralled by the majesty of the beautiful mountains and deep hollows. My recent time in the area still provoked those same feelings of grandeur.
Technically the area is the watershed of the First Fork of the Sinnemahoning. The name Sinnemahoning came from the Indian word, “Achsinnimahoni.” The word in their language meant “stony lick.”
Tremendous labor occurred on these steep and high mountains during the 188 era. I mentioned to Laurie, as we hiked. in wonderment as to how those men of that time managed to remove huge, virgin timber using non-powered saws and axes. Afterwards, those humongous logs had to be removed! the unfortunate side of those years resulted in mud slides, erosion, and wildfires from the denuding of the timber on the steep slopes.
In 1955, the George Stevenson Dam was constructed to control flooding along the west branch of the Susquehanna River farther down stream. This dam has created a small back-up of water used by boats and fishermen and women, today. 
I have fished various native trout stream tributaries and hunted for bear and small game over the years. A couple of years ago, I slept in a tent in November. The park office people couldn’t believe I was going to be in a tent in very cold weather. There was not any other people in the area at all.
We were blessed to see a Bald eagle just over our heads. The white of he bird glowed in the un as it flew over. I wasn’t prepared with my camera. WE, also, saw a flock of turkeys of about fifteen, or so, birds. Other wildlife included Cormorants and Mergansers.
I walked along the creek for a time amazed at the lack of water flow. I had never seen the Sinnemahoning this low. Many placed offered enough exposed rocks to walk across.
Roseate Skimmer
Long Dash Skipper
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I have hiked the Fred Woods Trail before seeing elk and other wildlife. Since Laurie and I would be staying close to this site, I planned on spending some time hiking the trail and showing her the huge rocks father back across the mountain top. We arrived to hike in the afternoon.
We had walked approximately half a mile when we noticed two others coming towards us. I asked if they had seen anything of interest. The response was they had seen a rattlesnake stretched across the trail closer to the rock formations we were heading to. The man, also, reported the snake wasn’t very ambitious. the cooling temperatures of fall had made it lethargic. From that point on Laurie and I didn’t hold hands. My job was to search out that snake for photos before it moved away if possible. I was now the official “point man.”
I watched the trail and, apparently, the rattlesnake had slithered off among the ricks and ferns. We continued our hiking looking ahead for those big rocks. At one point, I heard something over the edge of the trail and looked to see very dark or black among the leaves. was it a bear? The color indicated a strong possibility, but I can’t say with certainty.
Once we arrived at the rock area I showed Laurie the interesting crevices and tunnel-like exposures among the rocks. The breaks in the rocks are interesting making for narrow trails between rocks with high rocky sides.
The Fred Woods Trail circles around the mountains top for close to five miles in total length. The Camp Quehanna Young Adult Conservation established this trail in 
1980. The trail was named in memory of Frederick Woods who was killed while working on state forest lands. This site is located within the Elk State Forest between Benezette and Driftwood, Pennsylvania. After we returned to the jeep we drove a short distance to an area opened from forests to show the beauty of the distant Pennsylvania slopes and hollows. It is called the Top of the Mountain and it is worth seeing.
Eerie glow from the other end opening.
Top of the Mountain view.
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The three day trip to northern Pennsylvania would not be complete without looking for Elk. I planned for several hours to search out and listen for these beautiful animals during our time near Benezette, Pennsylvania. I had a lot of things I wanted to do so I needed cooperation with the elk as quick as possible.
Laurie and I left our place of stay early and headed to the Winslow area where many elk may be spending their time. We drove to the bottom of a hill and walked upslope in heavy fog to listen for those bugling creatures. We weren’t disappointed. The big males were scattered around within a relative close proximity bugling and threatening each other. One bull had, at least, fifteen cows and calves in his harem. For a time the best we could see were an occasional darkened form.
In my allotted time trying to capture the Elk, I had to deal with dense fog and distances, so I failed to get the quality of photos I would have enjoyed. We saw many elk and a lot of deer, also.
Lifting fog
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Cross on the Hill
Sometime in July, I believe, a friend sent along a notice of her new endeavor. She was working on a lodge to rent to people. the name of the lodge was to be, BULL ELK LODGE. Laurie and I decided a trip north might be a great thing for us and now we had a place to potentially stay. I contacted Marcy Manning and planned a stay-over for the latter half of September. In fact, we were the first to use the lodge. at the beginning of the week of September 21st. See photos of the lodge below and the Bull Elk Lodge website.
We heard coyote yipping and howling two evenings while at the lodge. I heard a gobbler across the hollow on one morning and saw five deer within easy bow range just outside the door.
Freedom Bell at Mount Zion Historic Park
Ours three days to this country was quite enjoyable. I took Laurie to see some various sites of the area. We went to the Cross on the Hill site and visited the nearby Mount Zion Historic Park. The park recognizes local war veterans of the area. After we arrived at the lodge and prepared our “stuff” for our stay, we hiked on the Fred Woods Trail. We met a couple on their way out of the trail when they reported seeing a lethargic rattlesnake was back the trail towards the area of the huge rocks. From that point on Laurie and I didn’t hold hands as I was placed on point! Unfortunately we failed to fins the snake. I heard something over the hill’s rim and saw black moving amid the vegetation. I can’t say with one-hundred percent certainty, but I may had glimpsed a bear. A separate entry will be placed on the Fred Woods Trail.
Top of the Hill view.
Evening was coming rapidly as we went to the Top of the Mountain viewing area to see the view of the Pennsylvania mountains. What a beautiful site to behold.
If Interested with learning more on Bull Elk Lodge check out the link below.
BULLELKLODGE.WIXSITE.COM
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Bull Elk Lodge Interior Images.
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