Getting Out!

Photo captured of trail map by M. Hickman

    Some days you just gotta get out of the house, ...get some fresh air, ...take a hike, ...get some 'D'....
    We are blessed in that our home is not far from a National Forest, ...among other blessings.
    So, one day not too long ago, the youngest daughter (Knotwork by Kay) and I decided to take a hike. Rule #1, no flip flops! Rule #2, take the camera. You never know what you will find.
    Our walk lasted an hour and sixteen minutes at a pace of about twenty minutes per mile doing a grand total of 3.71
miles. (MapMyWalk- phone app)  :)
    Okay, not a lot, I know. Refer back to rule number one... and number two.
    We both like to shoot pics and only had one camera between us... next time she can take her own (HA!). So, the going was slow and yet eventful.
    Have you ever wondered how Amber was made. I kinda knew, but this really put it into perspective for us. God was working this day while we were out there... and not just to burn my hide. It was hot, well up into the hundred mark. As will do when the earth heats, the tree saps flows easily within... and without. Today we got some pics of the sap forming outside of the bark on some pine tree roots dipping in and out of the dirt along the path. Amber is a translucent fossilized resin produced by extinct coniferous trees. Of course, what we saw was just the beginning, however, it was a neat find and an interesting subject to start our blog with.

Photo captured of naturally occurring pine resin by K. Hickman

    Pine resin wasn't the only thing we saw that day. We caught this pair of robberflies and thought it was cool. It took a few shots before we were able to get a close enough hit without spooking the one on top, Promachus bastardii (?), who was apparently in charge. Not sure if the one on bottom, Efferia pogonias (?), was alive or dead. Either way, that's nature and how life in the wild can be. Right?

Photo captured of robberflies by M. Hickman

Photo captured of the 'Y' tree by M. Hickman

... "Y" you might ask?
'Cause we could!
...besides, Nature put it there for us to find. :)

Photo captured of a cut tree that seems to go on forever with fungus growing at the cut, by K. Hickman

    Where life dies, life grows.
    And, lets not forget the smallest treasures. This last image is of a pair flowers that were just over and just under a quarter of an inch each. :)

Photo captured of tiny flowers by M. Hickman

Hope y'all enjoyed our first blog. Hugs to you! :)