All things bright and beautiful

Sometimes we forget just how blessed with beauty and diversity we are here on planet Earth. All caught up in our moment and in everyday life, we forget about all the other ecosystems and all the other creatures, great and small, that are living out their lives as we are.

I was reminded this week by my uncle who sent me a wonderful slide show. The author is due lots of credit and thanks for sharing it. Please take a moment and enjoy in wonder.



As you go through your day, take a moment to stop and look around. You may be lucky to observe another living creature that brings a smile to your face. Remember too that some of them are suffering and on the verge of extinction. Some may not be around for our children and grand children to enjoy in wonder. Take a look at some statistics.


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We need to do whatever we can in our small circle of impact and influence to respect the diversity of life around us and protect our planet's fauna and flora. Let's protect planet earth!


Blessings.....

Unexpected house guest

This weekend we had the pleasure of the company of a small house guest called Noah. His owners are friends of ours and asked us at short notice if we could keep him for a few hours. Naturally I said yes! This would be my first pet sitting stint. Noah was a dream to keep. Unlike our pack he is friendly with strangers and, well, small ...... but his love of attention far exceeds his size. At nine months and still a puppy he is soooooo sweet!

Noah arrived with his bag all packed with favorite toys, treats, water bowl and left over breakfast, which actually came in handy later when he got a little peckish. He took a little while to settle down in the new surroundings. We kept him safe and sound on the upstairs balcony, away form our big shepherds. I stayed with him for a while after his owners left, to get him acclimatised and acquainted. When I moved to leave he'd start to cry. After a few episodes of this, I finally left him, shut the door and stayed a while at the window so he'd think I wasn't far away. Then I snuck quietly downstairs and listened. Silence ...... he was finally OK.

Our guest for the day was no problem at all. He stayed quietly most of the time by himself while I got on with things I had to do. I had to keep him on a long extended leash because as soon as I opened the door, he would dart inside, as if looking for his masters. Throughout the day I'd check on him occasionally to see if he was alright. A few times I opened the door and was greeted with such enthusiasm you'd think he hadn't seen anyone for weeks! I'd give him a good showing of affection and then reluctantly get back to my activities, but always with a short protest form Noah.
Later on in the evening when he really felt like playing and we got into a long and serious tug of war game with one of his favorite new toys. We played fetch with his chew bone too, after which he spent a good while chewing and eating it with great enthusiasm. That seemed to open up his appetite and he subsequently finished the rest of his breakfast. When our Rebel and Queenie started their routine evening romp, Noah peeped out and quietly observed the dog-on-dog rough play and barking that they usually enjoy. "Hmmmmm ...that looks like fun" , he seemed to be thinking.

Eventually when his owners arrived, he greeted them heartily. He was in his glee! He had a good day it seems but was glad to go home. In departing he was sure to leave his mark all over the yard. His final parting gesture when I sadly waved "bye Noah", was to lift his hind leg and fertilise the gate column.

Hmmm....what gratitude.......no reshpect Noah, no reshpect !!

Jamaica Blue Mountain Hike 2008 - Part II

It was pitch black outside as we started up the mountain slope. Apart from our flashlights and faint starlight from the starry sky, we could just see the glow of lights from the towns far in the distance. Later we were to learn that we were seeing the town of Yallas.

The night air was crisp but clear. I knew it would eventually get quite cold so I made sure to cover my mole with light headgear. With that, 3 layers of shirts a sweat top and sweat pants, I was probably the warmest dressed of the group. PL as usual was comfortable in a tee-shirt and knee-length shorts, with a camp shirt in case he got cold. The rest of the group wore varying degrees of protection between his and mine.

Our first challenge was Jacob's ladder. Now I know the reason for the name....it is an almost vertical, steady climb, twisting and turning past the different "rungs"of the ladder in an "S" like pattern as you ascend the mountain. It was a good thing we walked at night because shortly into the trek, most of us began to remove some layers. We were sweating and you could feel the burn in your hamstrings and butt as you stepped up the high rocks punctuating the trail. After a sweltering 1- 1/2 hrs, we reached Portland Gap.

Portland Gap is a ranger station set up by the forestry department. There are cabins there where you could also camp, it's the last source of running water and restrooms, flanked by a nicely manicured grassy area. None of this could we see in our upward journey as it was still very dark. All we knew was there was a nice piece of dewy grass to sit on, take a break, have a snack, drink something and prepare to move on again. It was also an opportunity to consume some of the load we were carrying in our packs that was by now beginning to feel quite heavy!

After only about 10 minutes, PL, "the General" was moving us along once again.
"No time to stop", he said, "We want to see sunrise at the peak! Saddle up and let's go!"

After Portland Gap, the two youngsters, or should I say young adults, in the group moved ahead of the rest of us a a pace! We lost sight of their flashlights in the distance. The trail is very clear though, so we knew they would not get lost. We would meet them at the peak.

The journey after Portland Gap was a steady walk in the dark. There was not much talking either as the older members of the group were now engaged in breathing heavily and focusing on that one more step! We couldn't even hear a peep from our usually most talkative member!

One step at a time, one step closer to the peak...yes we had to beat the sunrise. As the sky began to lighten, we started to ask that dreaded question...."are we there yet?" Our friend and guide from the area just kept urging us on. We passed what looked like the top of the mountain several times, only to find we had further to go.

Dusk met us about an hour away from the peak...yes, we missed sunrise. But I was certainly happy to see the surrounding mountain scenery and foliage quietly appear and hear the birds awaken with songs I had never heard before. With the sunrise deadline out of the way, we were able to rest more at a few view spots, take some pictures and enjoy the journey a bit more.

Finally, at about 6:50am we arrived at the peak! It was a fantastic feeling of accomplishment. We made it! Yes! While perusing the grassy knoll that is "the peak", we met two other small groups who were just leaving. Some of us climbed the trestle marking the highest spot on the island. We took out our breakfast supplies and got rid of some more load from our packs.

It was a clear morning, cold and breezy with bright morning sun kissing the dewdrops on the shrubs, flowers and grass. We looked up to see the clouds whizzing by. You could see almost 360 degrees around for miles and miles with the mountains and sea in the distance. It was fantastic !!! After about half an hour enjoying the peak, we headed back down. The young adults who had been up there for a while and were freezing their butts off, were anxious to get back down.

And so began descent, a torturous one for me and another member of the group who began to feel the body weight and pressure on our knees, about half way down the mountain. So very gingerly we took our time, sometimes with stick in hand, one step at a time. Despite that and with several stops along the way and again at Portland Gap, I was able to enjoy and take pictures of the beautiful and unique foliage and scenery. Even the painful trek down was great!

After a longer descent due to injuries, we reached back at Whitfield Hall just before 2:00pm in time for a rest, lunch and then to head down the mountain for our drive back to civilization. It was the first and last time for some of us but me, I will definitely do it again!

Blessings........

Jamaica Blue Mountain hike 2008

This week we left the pack to go on a long overdue overnight hiking trip to Blue Mountain Peak. I had been eagerly preparing for my first such hike for weeks by walking in our hilly neighbourhood and exercising along with Gilad DVDs. So well excited, I felt ready for the trip, 7 miles up and 7 miles down the steep mountain trails with a change in elevation of about 3,200 ft.

We set out from about 2:30pm to drive up to the end of the mountain road where you will find Whitfield Hall. We picked up a friend and our nephew along the way and were to meet four more friends up there. For at least half of the 2 hr drive, only a 4 wheel drive vehicle can make it....so you can imagine the country roads we had to drive on.

The scenery on the journey is gorgeous, but at no point in time can you actually see Blue Mountain Peak...the highest point in Jamaica at 7,402 ft or 2,256 m above sea level.

On arriving at the rustic Whitfield Hall hostel, nestled at 4,200ft above sea level, we were greeted by our hosts, Tiger and later Vinney. We also met the friendly farm dogs who we were told just might accompany us on our trip.

We were introduced to our 2 small rooms with bunk beds, bathroom facilities complete with running water like ice, the great room lit by a tilley lamp and the lovely outdoor garden. You could see, smell and feel the history in the old farmhouse.

When the others arrived, we had a lovely dinner cooked by Tiger in the small farmhouse kitchen, equipped with running water, stove and kerosene powered fridge and freezer. We then donned our coats and went outside to enjoy the starlight in the garden. Fireflies, called "peenie wallies", darted around, and cool mountain breeze enveloped us. I had never seen so many stars!!!

By about 9:00pm it was time to get some shut-eye as we were to start the trek at 2:00am in the morning. We eventually left at 2:30am for what we were told was a 3-1/2hr walk to the Peak. With coats and backpacks on our backs and flashlights in hand, our party of 8 headed off to greet the sunrise at the peak.

More later.......

Blessings to you and do come again!