Saturday we went to Lost River State Park, which we hadn’t been to before, as it’s in the eastern part of the state.

It was a pleasant day, and in addition to the timber rattlesnake, I saw some lovely flowers.

Yellow Star Grass Hypoxis hirsuta (?)

Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia

Venus’ Looking Glass Triodanis perfoliata (?)

Four-leaved Milkweed Asclepias quadrifolia

Rough Bedstraw Galium asprellum (?)

I woke up this morning to an interview with Bob Mould–I love Bob Mould. So today’s word is my favorite Bob Mould song: sunspots

The weather finally turned nice, so I’ve been spending much more time outside, than I have lying on the sofa reading, so only nine books this month.

And I’m okay with that.

YA Fantasy

One re-read here, as a reminder of the world of The Talent Chronicles. All of these books are excellent, and I highly recommend them.

Impulse Control (2011) Susan Bischoff (9/10) The Talent Chronicles
Heroes ‘Til Curfew (2011) Susan Bischoff (9.5/10) The Talent Chronicles
Reborn (2014) CC Hunter (8/10) Shadow Falls: After Dark

Supernatural Fantasy

Ups and downs here–some really good stuff and some stuff I didn’t much like. I have got to read more Kelly Armstrong. And ML Brennan has been quite good.

Iron Night (2014) M.L. Brennan (8.5/10) Generation V
Tales of the Otherworld (2010) Kelley Armstrong (8/10) Otherworld Anthology
Gooseberry Bluff Community College of Magic: The Thirteenth Rib (2013) David J. Schwartz (7/10)
Dead Spots (2012) Melissa F. Olson (7/10)
Trail of Dead (2013) Melissa F. Olson (4/10)

Mystery

Only one mystery, and this in a series that I either love the story or can hardly finish the story. This was a love.

The Indian Bride (2001/2005) Karin Fossum translated by Charlotte Barslund (8/10) Inspector Sejer

Everything I read was an eBook. Which I no longer find surprising, although I still have a few paper books on pre-order (primarily comics/graphic novels which I don’t like reading on an eReader).

Mostly fantasy (specifically supernatural fantasy), but some stories dabbled in multiple genres.

Fantasy: 8
Mystery: 2
Romance: 2
YA: 3
Anthology: 1

I read primarily female authors this month, including on female writing under initials.

Male: 1
Female: 7
Initials: 1

Here’s where I am for the year:
Male: 42%
Female: 34%
Joint + Anthology: 11%
Initials: 11%
Male Pseudonym: 3%

That comes out to 47% female authors and 42% male authors, which is more in line with how I usually read–a relatively close split weighted just a bit towards female authors.

Again, if you’re looking for something new to read, I highly recommend YA. And you can always go over to my book blog and browse the categories for 8, 9, & 10 rated books, to see what I really loved.

There is always something blooming at my house, from spring to fall. It took a bit of work initially, but it’s wonderful once I got everything together.

Here’s what’s blooming around my house right now:

Daylily: Hemerocallis flava Lemon Lily

These came from Michael’s grandmother. They only bloom once, but are one of the first daylilies to bloom; I planted them by the driveway so we’d always catch their blooms and think of Grandma.

Daylily: Hemerocallis ‘Stella De Oro’

This is the first Stella De Oro daylily bloom in my garden this year–there will be many more. Stella De Oros will rebloom, so most likely I’ll have a flower or two through September.

Flowering Broom Cytisus Scoparius Burkwoodii

Peony

Lilac: Syringa vulgaris

The lilac at the bottom of the yard bloomed at the start of May–this one starts blooming after the other is dine.

Saturday we were still pretty tired from the previous days’ hikes, so we just went to Valley Falls State Park to take pictures of the water and maybe take a short hike.

We hiked the Rhododendron trail to the Dogwood trail, and then the signage got a little wonky, and we were following signs that simply said “Picnic Area”. We came out on the Rocky Trail, but were only on that for a little bit. So who knows where were actually were.

Location: Valley Falls State Park
Trails: Rhododendron Trail, Dogwood Trail, ??? Trail
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation: 615 feet

Valley Falls hike (gps map)

Valley Falls is really beautiful. As has happened previously, there was a wedding taking place when we arrived, and there were lots of people walking around on the rocks by the river.

If you want to get good pictures of the river, get there early, before the hordes arrive.

Today’s word is: snake

Michael did NOT, in fact, scream when he saw this snake.

We both, however, were highly amused when we got a little closer.

NOTE: This is a Black Snake, and completely harmless.

Michelle:
Geo-cache SU-prize!

Michael:
Geo-cache prize: snake bite kit!

My cousin Ben would have been 34 today.

Just as we did last year, this year we hiked up Seneca Rocks in his memory.

Today’s excursion was biking along the Decker’s Creek Rail Trail.

When I was little, Decker’s Creek was dead. Due to acid mine drainage and other pollutants, nothing lived in the creek, it was an unappealing shade of orange, and it stank.

Today, I still wouldn’t drink from Decker’s Creek on a bet, but it’s a whole lot better, and the community is working to continue to improve it.

Ride details
Location: Mon River & Decker’s Creek Rail Trail
Distance: 22.3 miles
Elevation change: 693 feet

There were, of course, lots of flowers blooming at Dolly Sods. It’s much cooler there, so flowers that bloomed here last month are blooming now at Dolly Sods.

Fringed Polygala / Gaywings Polygala paucifolia

Wild Bleeding Heart Dicentra eximia

Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia

Enkianthus serrulatus

Sweet Cicely (Myrrhis odorata)

Wild blackberry Rubus

At Seneca Rocks is the Jacob Sites Homestead house, which includes a working garden such as would have existed at the time. There were vegetables and herbs, but there were also flowers.

Strawberry Shrub / Sweet Shrub Calycanthus floridus
Grandmom had a Strawberry shrub growing in her yard, and although I tried several times to root a cutting, I was never able to do so.

Bleeding Heart lamprocapnos spectabilis

And to close, some Black Raspberry Hawt Bee-on-Flower action.

Friday we hiked up Seneca Rocks, in memory of my cousin Ben.

We hiked to the top without stopping, because that’s what Ben would have done. One the way down, however, I stopped many times for pictures.

Location: Seneca Rocks
Distance:4.4 miles
Elevation: 1092 feet

Most of the above pictures were taken from the viewing platform (noted with red arrow below), or several feet above. Because of COURSE I went past the STOP HERE DO NOT GO FURTHER sign.

The hike started approximately from where the next two pictures were taken, and then went up to the viewing platform (and just past).

Seneca Rocks at sunset:

Seneca Rocks mid-day:

Seneca Rocks Hike (gps map)

As I said, pretty much as soon as we get back to the car, the sun came out, and the day was beautiful from there on out.

And from these pictures, you can see why we wanted to hike Dolly Sods in the first place.

We took Thursday and Friday off, and traveled south. Thursday, we hiked Dolly Sods, which ended up being far less pleasant that it sounds, because 1) it rained for about 3/4 of the hike 2) it’s been raining for most of May and 3) about 2/3 of the way through our hike, the trail went through a swamp. And it’s been raining a lot.

Location: Dolly Sods National Wilderness Area
Trails: Blackbird Knob Trail, Upper Red Creek Trail, Dobbin Grade Trail (swamp), Beaver Dam Trail, and then Forest Road 75 back to the Blackbird Knob Trailhead)
Distance: 6.7 miles
Elevation: 838 feet

Here is what part of the non-swamp portion of the trail–the Upper Red Creek Trail–looked like:

Here’s another view of the Upper Red Creek Trail area. Yes, it was raining. And raining. And raining.

This is part of the Blackbird Trail, and approximately where we made the mistake of turning onto the Upper Red Creek Trail. Which would eventually lead us into the swamp.

I admit that even in the rain the Blackbird Trail was beautiful.

Here are the remains of the swamp I took out with me.

Dolly Sods Trails Hike (gps map)

After we finished our hike? The rain stopped, the skies cleared, and it was beautiful.