A Little Trout Fishing!

Pine Creek

Lucky me, for I managed to get out for a few hours to fish for trout. Reality is I needed some time along the streams. Catching anything would be a bonus. Sunday afternoon, April 28, found me heading for Pine Creek. I told Laurie I hope there would not be a lot of fishermen. There were more than I wanted to compete with.

I parked and walked slowly through a sea of Skunk cabbage hoping to find solitude. I did for a little time until fishermen started showing up. I elected to explore and quit fishing.

Dwarf Ginseng

I fished about an hour. I could see a nice Palamino trout under a rock, but I couldn’t lure the beauty to my rig. I walked around taking photos and went to Cowanshannock and a lot of cars were viewed.

The following day after I ran some errands and had a haircut I went to Patterson Run. A much more enjoyable time for me. No fishermen! I caught some beautiful Rainbow Trout. Of course, I practice catch and release, so the beauties were all released.

One of the Rainbow Trout.

To get to the water I had to walk downhill through the woods to the stream. The woods along the trail I walked was colored a beautiful springtime vivid green. I would see a deer, Canada Geese and their goslings, and a snake of an unknown species. I caught a glimpse as it completed the hiding under an old stump. I spotted the snake briefly because I head it moving in the dry leaves.

Yes, I enjoyed my time along Patterson Run.

Patterson Run

Golden Ragwort

Short Walk

Remains of a nice buck.

I took my mother to lower Ford City, Pennsylvania for her semiannual checkup. For ninety-four years of age the medical doctor expressed how well she is doing physically. Dementia issues are sneaking into her thoughts sometimes leading to saying things or seeing things. Oh well, over all it is not yet causing a lot of problems.

During her appointment time I made a short walk along the Allegheny River. I hoped to see a bald eagle flying through for a photo op.

Red-Tailed Hawk Nest

We stopped for breakfast before heading back to her home. I changed my pants to an anti-tick pair and made a short jaunt near the homestead. I hoped with finding some morels. The first sighting of interest was a shadow of a flying bird across the forest floor. I looked up and saw a Red-tailed Hawk landing in a tree close by. I knew by the bird’s actions a nest had to be nearby. I quickly spotted the nest as the hawk flew about screeching at me.

A short distance later I saw a ribcage of a deer followed by a nice rack among the vegetation. I couldn’t help wondering just what may have occurred leading to the deer’s demise…Bad shot, injury from a vehicle… It is doubtful if I could ever know.

The next sighting of interest was a Red Fox. Too quick for focusing but still a joy to see. As I glanced around for a possible den I walked upon a shed.

The walk was short for mowing needed to be completed for some rain is being forecasted.

Finally, Some Sun

Trout Lily

The sun finally came out and I decided to go for a stroll to see what I may find. Rain, in recent days, had been continually falling causing much water and mud. The rain is helping the native wildflowers are beginning to sprout forth. I found two Robin nests both with eggs.

Wild Leeks or Ramps.

I removed around eight to ten ticks from my pants. It is time to wear my sprayed clothing. One of the little bast—- got through and I removed the beast from my side later at home. She didn’t survive!

Spring Beauty

I looked across a log and verbally and excitedly said, “Alright!” What did I see? Morels! I sat down on the ground and took some photos before picking a few. My feelings of joy quickly turned south. The third Morel I picked I notice the stem had that cottony mass inside. These were False Morels. Edible Morels have hollow stems. Morel hunters need to follow this rule. However, one person has said this specie is edible since posting. I am sticking to my rule on the hollow stem only to be safe. No ‘rooms this evening for me.

False Morel

The cottony mass in the stem. Photo isn’t clear to see the details.

Stonewall Resort-West Virginia

Recently, Laurie and I took some time off to visit the great state of West Virginia. To be more specific, we stayed at the Stonewall Resort obviously named after the Confederate General Stonewall Jackson. We visited the Stonewall Jackson dam, too.

The resort is quite a nice place. Some of the features I particularly enjoyed were the over water boardwalk and local trails. Deer would be outside our window feeding and being totally at ease. I heard a gobbler across the lake one morning. Canada Geese and Mallards were on the lake all times.

The Boardwalk

Laurie and I were supplied with those special glasses to observe the solar eclipse. It was about 98% coverage at our area. We were on the terrace at the time enjoying the day during the eclipse.

The view from our window.

The one trail we hiked was a 3.2-mile venture. The Laurel Brooke Trail circled Carrion Bay.

We had a lunch of fire-baked pizza at the Lambert Winery near Weston, West Virginia. The chapel on site was underground.

The Chapel.

Waiting for our pizza!

Boardwalk on lake.

Early morning walk at the resort.

Northern Waterthrush

Female Eastern Bluebird

Chipping Sparrow

I easily saw the stereotype of Appalachia was correct upon seeing the many homes stuck at random along the hillside. Many homes looked in need of some care.

D-Day

A recent read for me was the book entitled, “D-Day, June 6, 1944, The Climatic Battle of World war ll.”

The invasion was a necessary in the second World War, that could not be denied. The leaders of the allied forces planned and planned. The fighting forces to be in this future action against the German army were trained and trained. When the time came to launch the invasion on the beached of Normandy, France, the plans became a nightmare, especially on the beach known in this battle as Omaha. Failures were everywhere. The Germans were in place and the results were destruction, chaos, casualties galore and death.

In my feeble mind, I find imagining what these brave young men faced almost impossible. I would fight tears more than once as I visualized the events and circumstances I was reading about. Humankind should never be required to endure such events but yet mankind has been forced to face the face of evil continuously over the countless centuries.

Of course, I had to think of my father, Allen K. Smail. He was involved on D-Day 13 if my memory is correct. Would he had survived D-day? Such a question is a humbling experience.

As per the training, the book records a number of times where training would eventually come together and counterattack the German wrath once those who survived the beach reached the tops of the cliffs and such.

Thank you, to all those brave young men, sacrificing so much on that day and the days following the invasion. It is a debt that cannot be ever repaid from America.

Kelly Station South!

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.

North of the Bridge

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.

The Hand Surgery

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.

Some Hiking Time

The above photo says much! Locally we received some snow, and I was going to hike on Saturday February 17. Snow has been scarce this winter and I hoped to get out for some photos. I talked Laurie in going on this walk and off we went for some hiking.

The sun was shining earlier but not long after our walk began the clouds rolled in fast along with high winds and snow squalls. These conditions would shorten the time walking. However, we did have three eagle sightings. Also, saw three Killdeers. They are back from their southern migration spots. I saw a male Marsh Hawk, too.

This afternoon after church I elected to hike again for the snow would not be around for long this week. The temperatures are to maybe reach fifty later this week.

I saw plenty of deer tracks of varying ages and would see four deer total. later I came across a flock of turkey evidence. They must have been not long before my approach. Some of the tracks showed evidence of strutting toms. The wing dragging disturbances in the snow told the story.

Wing dragging evidence.

A rare sighting occurred as I was walking. I saw a Grey Fox. I snapped some pics before moving against a spruce tree. I tried calling the mammal in but his interest in food was nil. The fox starred for a time and began walking off. Maybe looking for a mate??

Grey Fox

Deer Photos