The Most Incredible, Terrible, Wonderfully Fantastic Trip Ever

It has now been twenty years since our family hiked the River To River Trail. It was one hundred seventy-five miles of pure exhilarating torture! Let me explain. . .

We planned for weeks what to take, what supplies we needed, the best way to pack fourteen days’ worth of trail food, how we would sleep. I had created T-shirts for everyone. With our family of five and my brother, Mark, and his son Evan, there would be seven of us in all.

We had our hiking boots, our tents and sleeping gear, our cooking supplies and other necessary items all divided between the seven of us, keeping in mind that the youngest member of our troop was only eleven. The men carried the heaviest packs.

We parked our van at the west end of the trail along the Mississippi River and with the transportation aid of Lincoln Wheeler, started off one hundred seventy-five miles east on the other side of Illinois along the Ohio River. He awaited us as we filled our vials with Ohio water, intending to carry it to the Mississippi and pour it out to continue its way to the ocean. We said goodbye to Lincoln as he headed back home. Then, we were left alone in the wilderness.

Along the trail I came across an arrowhead! This was starting out to be a marvelous trip. Little did I know that the next several days would include two severe storms, torrential flooded creeks and rivers, blisters upon blisters, and the pervasive ticks!

The footpaths were horrendously mucky and made for exceedingly difficult hiking.  Horses and ATVs had rutted up the sloshy muddy trails.

Our supplies got wet, our socks were soaked, we had to discover appropriate river crossings for concern of being washed away.

We froze to death at night and sweltered during the day.

Nevertheless, there were gorgeous vistas, momentous accomplishments, and yet a birthday we celebrated, as Amanda turned thirteen on the trail. We carefully fashioned a rock oven and baked her a cake! So many delightfully good memories.

Although towns dotted our official River To River Trail maps, upon arrival, most had either rolled up their streets for the day, or they were non-existent. We were unable to replenish our resources as we had supposed, via these ghost towns.

We had arranged for our preacher, Herb Buche, to pick us up a week into the trip, at a certain location where the trail crossed the highway.  He would transport us to church with him, as well as bring our prepacked supplies for the next leg of our journey.  The drive in his van felt so fast!  We had been walking a mile per hour for a week and now we were traveling at what seemed lightning speed!  I recall him preaching about laying our burdens at the foot of the cross.  A tear glistened in my eye, sitting in those soft pews, as we had been carrying forty to fifty pound packs nonstop for a week now.  The symbolism hit home.

The second leg of the trip was more pleasant in numerous ways, but we still had to contend with flooding.  Add to this the fact that Evan and Mark both got a stomach virus which slowed us down through Panther Den.  There was a dog that took to following us that we dubbed, “Timber.” Where exactly he came from, no one knew.  He was faithful to the end of the trip.

When we at last descended the beautiful bluffs to follow the levy to the Mississippi River, the roadway was flooded.  Dead fish caused the area to smell repulsive.  Impressed with the notion that we might not finish our quest, we shinnied our way alongside the base of the bluffs until we reached the levy.  

Round the corner, we were obliged to sidestep a cottonmouth.  He aggressively challenged us to pass.  The levy stretched on farther than we could see.  The late May sun hammered down on us.  We wondered if we would be forced to spend another night along these flooded, snake infested byways.  We trudged on.

We ultimately made it to the park where our vehicle awaited.  The Mississippi was raging out of its banks, filling the lower sections of the park.  The entrance gate was locked, as the recreational area was closed due to flooding!  Yet a further obstacle!  After speaking to a gentleman there, he believed that the lock was not closed, and we ought to be able to get our van out.  Thankfully, we had parked on high ground and there was a roadway out.

We slept beautifully after long hot showers in a hotel in West Frankfort.  It was incredible how wonderful a few creature comforts could be!  We called the number on Timber’s collar and his owner met us to pick him up.  

It was an extraordinary trip that lacks words to properly convey how splendidly, terribly, fantastic it truly was.  While parts of it sound like what should have been a terrible experience,  it was just those particular times that also made it the wonderfully memorable trip that it was. It is difficult to imagine that our trip was twenty years ago this year.  We often reminisce about this unbelievable journey that we shared together.  No one can take away that experience.  We survived.  But we did more than that, together we thrived.

~Rhonda

A Stroll To the Mulberry Tree

As I was walking down the driveway with Galilee, Moriah, Justus, we went past their mulberry tree. I asked them if they had eaten any of the berries yet. They said they had eaten a lot of them.

We strolled up to the tree, which was covered with berries, and reached up and pinched a few berries and popped them in our mouths. The few turned into a bunch and soon we were stuffing mulberries into our mouths.

All the good juicy berries were mostly at the top of the tree. So, we began the climb up the tree.

The branches of the mulberry tree were scratchy, and my legs got all scraped up, but it was worth the climb. The yummy, delicious, tasty, fruit was fantastic!

~Unique

Snakes Alive!!!

Snakes are one of my favorite reptiles we keep on Critter Corner, because they can move quickly without legs, and because they can smell with their tongue. I also love snakes because they are scaly and because they have more ribs than any other animal on the earth.

Some of my favorite snakes are, rat snakes, green snakes, hognose snakes, king snakes, and garter snakes. Hognose snakes are not usually found on Providence Prairie, but when they are, they are enjoyed greatly.

Just recently I caught a common garter snake out by our wood pile! I took it to Critter Corner and put it in a glass aquarium. I was excited to catch the snake, because we have not caught very many snakes this year, and this kind of snake was fun to watch up close.

I made the snake a home and left him there for a day. Then I went out and caught a small toad. When I put the toad in with the snake, the snake quickly grabbed it and began swallowing it! Garter snakes are not constrictors, so they swallow their prey alive. I watched as the toad slowly disappeared into the mouth of the snake, and as the toad disappeared, a lump appeared in the snake’s belly! Soon the toad was gone.

Garter snakes are one of the few snakes that give live birth, which is one of the reasons why I like them and think they're special. I also like Garter snakes because they sometimes hibernate together. Snakes are amazing reptiles, I am glad God put them on the earth for us to enjoy.

~Samuel

Ruminating On New Ruminates

Our family has been in the possession of Jacob sheep for several years. This primitive breed, full of history, and very resilient to disease, also wears a thick coat of wool which needs to be sheared every spring. Even with only ten sheep, our modest experience of shearing causes it to take a lot of time, work and effort. Therefore, Dad decided to get a few new ruminates that come from the hair sheep family.

Khatadins are a hardy, adaptable, efficient breed, originating from the Caribbean and British Isles. Though not as disease tolerant as our Jacobs, this breed is significantly more resistant than other varieties of wool sheep. With a minimal amount of parasite treatment, it was the perfect choice for our farm. Thankfully, we found an establishment that sells this strain of sheep only forty-five minutes away from us.

The two ewes and ram that we purchased were a bit wary of us at first. After a few days of sitting in the pen with them and feeding them grain from our hands, they showed their normal docile natures. This new addition to our flock has allowed us to gain new experiences. As these animals do not don horns, we have learned to use a shepherd’s hook for catching purposes.

Female Katahdin sheep generally produce twins, and sometimes deliver triplets or quadruplets. First time mamas though, usually have a single lamb, which was the case with our ewes, Scarlet and Esmeralda. 

Leo, our ram has been fairly gentle. He is not one you have to be afraid to turn your back on, unlike some of our other rams in the past.

It will be interesting to see what our small flock merges into in the years to come. This low maintenance grazer will be much more efficient for our family. Now, with hairless sheep, our flock can increase without the workload expanding as much. Katahdin sheep have been the perfect fit for Providence Prairie.

~Halayah

A Rainbow of a Different Sort

In life, what is sometimes normal to one person may be completely new or intriguing to another. Having worked in health care for more than thirty-five years as a hospital lab tech, the different color tubes being draw seem common place and ordinary. However, to someone getting blood work performed due to sickness or a wellness checkup, the rainbow of tubes being drawn may arouse questions and curiosity.

Vacuum tubes for collecting blood samples were invented in 1947 by Joseph Kleiner. It was revolutionary in that it allowed blood to be collected directly into the tubes, thus preventing the blood from being exposed to air or other contaminates. This groundbreaking innovation changed the future of blood testing dramatically, spawning new tests, and enhanced healthcare.

 

So, why all the colors? Each tube contains a different additive that allows testing of different analytes.

The familiar purple or lavender tube is one of the most common. It contains EDTA which acts as an anticoagulant, binding the calcium ions and interrupting the clotting of the blood sample. It is used for most hematology procedures, assessing the CBC (complete blood count). It allows for the measurement of the number of red and white blood cells along with platelets, and also the total quantity of blood, shown as hemoglobin and hematocrit. If you have a fever, malaise, fatigue or potential blood loss, expect a lavender tube to be drawn.

The green top tube is also a common collection choice as it contains lithium heparin and a gel separator used for the collection of heparinized plasma for routine chemistry tests.  Heparin works by preventing certain cofactors, namely thrombin and fibrin, from working correctly thus preventing clotting.  The tube is spun down with a centrifuge and the liquid part of the blood (plasma) is used for testing.  If you are having issues with thyroid, heart, liver, pancreas, kidneys or diabetes, the green tube will most likely be drawn.  

The blue tube is utilized for clotting factors. The sodium citrate in the tube prevents coagulation by binding ionized calcium, which is required in clot formation. During testing, these factors are added back in and measured to determine how quickly the blood clots. Patients on blood thinners will have the blue tube drawn to determine what level of medication they need to be on.

    

The red, marbled orange and yellow tubes are all similar in that they do not have additives in the tube. When the blood is drawn in these tubes it is allowed to clot. It is then spun down and the resulting liquid portion called serum is used for testing. Many specialized tests such as antibody testing, hormones, and some medications can only be done on serum. If your doctor has ordered these tests, the red tube may be in order.

The indigo tube is used to measure trace metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic.  It, along with a few other color tubes such a grey and tan are rarely used yet could be on the draw list if certain tests were ordered by the physician.  

Getting blood work performed is often not a desired procedure, and all the color tubes can be confusing.  Therefore, a little information about a rainbow of another sort may make your experience a little better and aid in understanding the reason for the multicolored array of receptacles used in the procurement of your blood.    

~Mark

April Aviary

A couple of weeks ago, Jayla saw a hummingbird, so she made some sugar water. The hummingbirds tend to come toward the beginning of April. The hummingbirds started coming to it. They are pretty.

One day Mom said to move the feeder to the back porch, so that we could watch them from the kitchen window. I like looking out the window and seeing the hummingbirds come and go, getting nectar.

Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards. Sometimes the tiny birds hit the window, but they are fine.

I can get remarkably close to them. Did you now that the word hummingbird comes from the humming noise their wings make while they are flying? They can flap their wings 50 to 200 times per second. The male hummingbird has a red patch on its neck, which is why they call it the Ruby Throated Hummingbird. He also has green and black, but the female hummingbird has only green and black coloring.

Hummingbirds are one of my favorite birds. Although little in size they are amazingly fast. They can fly from 20 to 30 miles in hour. We have had lots of fun seeing, hearing, and feeding the hummingbirds. They are so cool.

~Isaac