Spidey Sense

Sure, spiders are necessary players in eco-management, but no one wants to find a hairy eight-legged nightmare suspended in the corner of the shower just as she gets shampoo in her eyes, but I digress (yes, it was traumatizing). Spiders belong in barns, spelling words in their webs, or in the garden preying on other nasty horrors. And if they have to do so while perched on a pretty daisy, then they should look pretty as well.

Just don't sniff the flower.....aieeeee!

Mountain Sprite

Lately I've been encountering lilliputian forms of locomotion. The next wee wonder was found in a grocer's parking lot. Had I a bigger shopping tote, I would have stuffed this vintage Austin Sprite into it!

Seriously, how cute is this? I almost expected to find a set of child-sized pedals under the steering wheel to propel it.

Whoever owns this miniature marvel is a trusting soul. Don't think I wasn't tempted to turn that key and take it for a spin! I love the red, white and black color scheme and how the wing design on the steering wheel echoes the insignia found on the hood.

When did cars start to lose their charm? Late 70's...80s? Or is it all a matter of perception influenced by time and nostalgia? Will my grandchildren think my '03 Honda is as dreamy as this little Sprite forty years from now? I doubt it.

...but pickles can be purchased by the paperbacks.

Milling about in the woods

While hiking along the Vernooy Kill Falls in Rochester, I spotted what appeared to be a chimney in the distance. See it up there on the left?

It's quite common to stumble upon lone fireplaces in the forest. It's also common for my eyes to play tricks on me. When I got closer and my angle of vision had changed, I could clearly see that it was a massive wall.

Here it is from the opposite side. It's at least 12 feet high and double that in length.

Could this be the remnant of one of the first handball courts in the Catskills? Not likely, though that wall is just begging to be hit with a pink Spaldeen.  I later found out that Cornelius VerNooy, a Revolutionary War veteran and early settler, was responsible for this structure. About 250 years ago he built the first gristmill in the region. All that remains of it is this enormous (and old!) wall.

River Relic #2

With all the heavy rains lately, plenty of junk has washed up on the muddy banks of the creek. Like car parts, bottles and cutlery and other things I find lying around. I wasn't expecting to see a Manga Boy winking at me...

...from the seat of tiny tricycle. It was the bittiest bike I've ever seen.

I hope the wee owner isn't heartbroken. I'm sure an industrious beaver will find a use for it.