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Beech leaves
I just didn’t feel like pursuing deer with my smoothbore because the weather was warming some. Also, the squirrels were safe too. A lot of items on the agenda this past week. Laurie and I took Susie (my Springer Spaniel) to the vet for a look over. Susie is a few months from becoming 15 years old. She has had diabetes since February 2009. Her sugar reading was 60. That is a long way from 600 when this terrible disease was discovered. The vet said Susie is the exception to the rules. The vast majority of dogs with this ailment never last this amount of time. She is one special little girl to mE!
Other yard keeping chores, a visit and walk at my homestead and a practice with a gospel band in Butler, also used some of my week up. 
Cowanshannock Creek Watershed
October 19th, Friday morning was looking like an exceptional morning for a walk and photos. I elected to walk near to Cowanshannock Creek staying, mostly, on a township road or gas well roads. The fog, always makes for great views. This morning would be no different. The Cowanshannock creek watershed held the heavy fog until after 10:00 A.M. It appeared to be a heavy cloud that fell into the hollow and couldn’t ascend!
As the sun evaporated these clouds the range of leaf colors contrasted nicely. Autumn is a great time to be out and about!
I saw plenty of squirrels and chipmunks gathering acorns. I could have had my limit of six easily, but then I would have to clean them and eat them. Um, maybe that would not have been such a bad thing! Fried squirrel sure is good!
I looked up into a gas line and could see a couple of turkeys backs. they were feeding. I prepared the camera and began a stalk. As the terrain yielded to a slight rise my approach was unviewed until I raised up and began taking photos. The three turkeys weer well into shotgun range and the four quick photos were all the birds allowed as they quickly exited. 
I found some cub bear tracks on a packed area of the road. This cub had to be traveling here recently since we had a lot of rain overnight. 
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Saturday, October 13, 2012, found Laurie and I and friends heading to Clear Creek Park in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.The goal of the four of us was to hike the Beartown Rocks Trail and enjoy the beautiful autumn foliage. We weren’t disappointed with the colored leaves. 
Laurie packed a picnic lunch and the menfolk carried the “grub” in backpacks. This meal was scheduled to be eaten after we reached the top and the huge rocks. The rocks cover a rather small area when one considers the space on the hill’s top. They’re grandiose to see and climb on.
Some of the trail parallels Clear Creek. This is a clear and spring-fed waterways that yields some trout for anglers to enjoy. Many years ago, my sister’s first husband, Bob Hudson and I spent time camping in the area. We arrived at this stream shortly after an in-season stocking. We, probably, caught thirty or so trout each that day, We caught and released all our catch except any trout injured due to swallowing the hooks.These trout became a meal. We actually tired of the action! Bob tragically was killed in a tree-cutting job with a gas company in 1987.
Lichen on a spruce limb
Clear Creek
Ruthann & Laurie
The friends we were with this day were Larry and Ruthann D. The hiking trail we used was around 5 miles in estimate. We saw one buck and two doe. Some turkeys were seen too. We saw two nice trout in the waters.
The forest land consists of white pines, various deciduous tress and, both, mountain laurel and rhododendrens.Many years ago, much of these lands were burnt over with devastating fires. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) 0fthe 1930 era did much work to improve the acres after the burn. 
Larry taking a photo!
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So many things to do! I gathered up all of the recyclable materials to remove to the local recycling center. In order to not waste a trip out, I elected to go north of the, no longer existing, village of Oscar. There are some nice rural roads to venture along with little traffic. 
The walk in total length would be, approximately, 6-7 miles. A stiff breeze was felt all morning. this would be the early signs of a cold front scheduled to move through over the weekend. I would stop and listen occasionally to hear the rustling of the leaves due to the breeze. What a relaxing sound!
Feeding Deer
While walking along a gas well road, I noticed several deer feeding on the road’s surface. They were eating beechnuts. I watched them for 10 minutes or so. the mother doe would chase the one young deer at times. eventually, the trio exited up an embankment. I would see them again, but not well enough for any photos. The leaves were much too heavy yet!
I saw a flock of this year’s turkeys. I was fortunate to get a few photos of them before their nerves became rattled. Later, while driving home a saw several gobblers. I stopped , but couldn’t get nothing but a blur in a photo. The gas well road is, almost entirely a gradual grade to the top of the hill. Towards the top I heard two gobbles. They sounded like a mature gobble with a deep full,resonating sound.
TURKS!
Beechnuts!
Eventually, I reached the top only to turn around and head back. I would exit the road at times and walk the woods. (I killed two ticks only!) I would follow a small stream looking for exceptional photo-taking opportunities. I did, however, find a nice eight-point buck someone had lost.
A groundhog hit with a vehicle was finding out the food chain works in nature. A turkey vulture had found it too and was enjoying a feast. The “buzzards” will soon be drifting off until next March.
Fallen Leaves
Noon time was at hand as I entered the vehicle. I was now sweating from the exertion and rising temperatures. It had been a great morning! 
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Cowanshannock Creek
The morning hours were involved with some art projects. Later on I “messed around”with some yard work when I felt the desire to go for a walk. the leaves are rapidly turning colors and a blink or two and they will be brown and covering the woodland’s floor. Yep, a walk was to be!
Buttermilk Falls
I called a friend, Larry Delaney to see if he would be interested in joining me on a hike along Cowanshannock Creek. We would be walking on a Rails to Trails project along the creek. Armed with cameras, we slowly walked the trail looking over the colors and talking Indians and wildlife. We, also, looked with disgust at the vandalizing and trash thrown about. A long section of “sheep fencing”was removed along one section of the trail. I will never understand people!
Using a rock as a tripod!
Plenty of photos were taken, especially of the locally famous “Buttermilk Falls”. We continued past the end of the trail. I made notice as to how quickly the large stones disappear after we proceeded past the falls. The creek bottom goes abruptly from large, smooth boulders to a flat rock bottom. This stream is a most beautiful section of waters! Hemlocks and rhododenrens border the creek making for a nice contrast with the coloring leaves.
Staghorn Sumac in crimsom!
Along the trail, we noticed many acorns and beechnuts. The big trees were producing much this year. Deer and turkey activity was prevalent as the critters enjoyed easy pickin’s! 
The walk was, somewhere around 3 miles total. Some of the wildlife viewed were two wood ducks and kingfishers.
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Buffalo Creek
I spent the morning hours finishing up details on a couple of paintings. A couple of errands were in need of doing too.
Mom believed me when I told her white caterpillars meant 12-15 feet of snow!
All done with the errands and a hike of a couple of miles would be the ticket on such a glorious morning. This walk would include both road and woodland walking. Some trees, especially the maples, were already coming into full color and others were still holding onto their summer hues. The wild flowers are in various stages. Some have long gone to seed, yet others are in full bloom.
One of the most prevalent flower in blossom now is the New York Aster. This flower has a slight sky-blue color with a golden center. Other white-colored asters are flowering yet. The woodland sunflowers are in seed and the Goldfinches were enjoying filling up on their seeds.
The coolness of the day had bird activity in high gear. Bluejays; finches; woodpeckers… were to be viewed everywhere! Chipmunks and some squirrels were busy gathering acorns.
While on the pavement I noticed a gobbler walking across the road. Shortly, thereafter, I heard him gobble at a loud ATV. I saw one deer feeding in the distance.
This evening, I will be playing lead guitar with the First Methodist’s church staff band at their Saturday night service. Tomorrow, the 30th, I will be playing with a put together band at the Burrell Township’s Annual Fall Festival. I am not sure of who will be playing at that event. 
Yes, the fall season is upon us and expect autumn-colored trees to be included in upcoming posts.
New York Aster
Cocklebur
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I have been walking some. However, I have been lazy in regards to this site. While walking about I have seen deer; turkeys; squirrels and many species of flowers and bird life.
White Snakeroot
Bob and I have walked a couple of miles at my homestead. In fact, we have done this rural road walk twice in recent weeks. As we walked along this road I noticed what appeared to be a turkey wing in the ditch. It was! Apparently, the turkey was a road kill. Upon inspection of the remains I was surprised to see one inch spurs. Immediately, I thought I need to get these legs for my friend, Kip Feroce. He would make back scratchers from them. Unfortunately, when I returned to remove the legs some critter must have relocated the remains far away. 
Another hike I did consisted of walking a rural road that one can easily make a circle instead of backtracking. I am guessing th e entire walk to be , at least, 4 miles around. I did, however, walk off the road to pass through the lower area of a local state game lands. Here I was blessed to see a march hawk flying through the fog. These hawks tend to fly low often hovering in one spot watching for movement of a mouse.
Marsh Hawk
Last evening, while planning to visit the land owner, I first went for a mile long walk to see if any turkeys were in a field searching for grasshoppers. I did see a buck in the field. Later, I would see about 15 turkeys within feet of another of the landowners building. Later, I saw another buck and six does. Another two deer were viewed while traveling home before dark.
Today, I spent working on some art. I haven’t been painting lately and the rainy day helped inspire me to paint. I have been putting lots of hours working with a digital recorder and , I am , pleased to say I have completed the twelve songs. I have actually placed the songs onto a CD! This has been a time-consuming venture, but I have learned a lot. I , literally have hundreds of hours involved with studying the manual; retyping the instructions into a computer and making a guideline to ease my study. Most songs have, at least, seven different tracks of music!
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l-r: Al Mechling; JoAnne Cash and Brad Anthony
The rains began pummeling on the morning of Saturday, September the 8th. More rain fell over the morning to early after noon on this day than we had received during the last two months! The people of the radio station WTYM in Kittanning had been planning a country music event for quite some time and the weather was surely hampering the day. This would cause an hour and half delay in all things!
However, eventually the skies began to open and the weather changed. A wind condition began and some coolness was the norm, but the rain had ceased. Good news for the musicians, the sound people and of course the event organizers.
l-r: Brad Anthony; Al Mechling; Harry Yates; JoAnne Cash Yates; Larry Smail; Walt Marr; Dick vernon; danna vernon
Finally, the band I currently play lead guitar with entered the stage. the band, GOOD NEWS COUNTRY began their part of the show. A number of bands and solo performers entertained the patrons that eventually braved the weather to listen! We were having issues with the monitor system causing difficulty with me hearing myself and the steel guitar was dominate. As time went on the sound people improved this problem some.
This band stayed on the stage once their time was completed and JoAnne Cash entered the stage. JoAnne is Johnny Cash’s younger sister. JoAnne is in her mid-eighties now. This and the weather would be a problem for the singer. JoAnne was having great difficulties with her voice. The damp air, no doubt, had caused some problems and she couldn’t complete many songs. She couldn’t apologize enough, but the crowd was very forgiving and loving towards her issues.
The band GOOD NEWS COUNTRY features the following members: Danna Vernon with vocals; Al Mechling on rhythm guitar and vocals; Brad Anthony on bass guitar and vocals; Dick Vernon on steel guitar; Walt Marr on drums and myself, Larry Smail on lead guitar. An event is being planned for next year. (Photos by Marla Mechling)
Good News Country on stage
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Prairie Dog
The weather was looking good when we decided to go and visit the Living Treasures along U.S. 422 towards New Castle, Pennsylvania. Living Treasures is a zoo-like site where individuals can walk about observing many species of animals and bird life. The site even has a small-scale aviary where one can walk about with the birds. 
Laurie, has always enjoyed visiting such places where feeding and petting many of the animals is permitted. Today was no different. We purchased some animal feed and raw baby carrots and off she went happily feeding!
Many of the animals present are exotic, that is coming from other countries. There are monkeys; Crowned Cranes; African lions; leopards (which we were blessed to see one of the new babies.); camels; tigers; McCaws; tortoises… me, however, I enjoy American species much more. Some of these included flamingoes; alligators (At least 36) lynx; otters; turkeys; some various waterfowl species; painted turtles; caribou…They had , both kangaroos and wallabies present. We saw several mothers with babies in their pouches!
Painted Turtle
One thing that happened while we were there was very laughable to us. It seems a little boy ran ahead of his mother only to stop at a machine where animal feed can be obtained. Some species were only allowed Cherrios. This little lad was busy reaching about the containment area of this machine eating heartedly the Cheerios laying about! The young mother reached him gouging her index finger into his little mouth to remove as much as possible. Hilarious to watch! 
Afterwards, we stopped at my ex-in laws for a brief visit to pick up a gun ticket. Then off for an early supper. Later, my friend Joe Wagner stopped in to collect various flowers from my stock. His church in Chicora, Pennsylvania is needing many flowers for a planting project.
The rest of the evening was spent in rest. This aging body enjoys rest! Hope you enjoy the few photos. 
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I haven’t been feeling my best as of late. I now have Vertigo and tension-style headaches are the norm….subtle but present. Don’t get me wrong, I will take these headaches over the Vertigo attacks anytime. They are terrible to endure! Yesterday, I felt really well and decided to take a trip to a local state game lands. Initially, I was planning to try to catch a carp or two. After 15 minutes, I couldn’t stand trying to catch them for they were ignoring my bait! The desire to walk and take photos took precedence! 
The cool morning was coated with a fog and the beauty of the woods was always at hand. The trees are showing signs of the upcoming autumn season. Colored leaves are all about and in about a month the colors will be peaking. Hard to believe!
Spotted Jewelweed (Touch-Me-Not)
Wildlife was about too. I saw a deer and heard another snorting at me. I saw two gray squirrels bounding and chasing. These two were much surprised when they ran about ten feet from me. I saw a fox squirrel too. I was happy to see a ring-necked pheasant. Apparently, the bird was a holdover from last year.
The fields and woodland flowers are out in force. Kind of a last hurrah for flowers. Some of the species observed were white snakeroot; asters; Queen Anne’s Lace; jewelweed (Both the yellow and orange varieties.); goldenrods; red clover; Bull thistle; smartweed….
Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar
By mid-morning the heat was becoming very pronounced and I headed home. 
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