Introduction to Pennsylvania

Here we are in sunny Pennsylvania! I know it's been awhile since I updated this blasted blog but there's no time like the present. This entry will include introductory pictures of the area in our immediate neighborhood but I'll start another entry very soon that will include some photos of Clinton and Centre counties, which are to the south of Lycoming county, complete with Amish and Mennonite farms, buggies and draft horses hauling carts loaded with corn. But I digress...

This is the view of the valley in which our cabin is located. It is an offshoot of Steam Valley and runs north toward New York state.


The little stream down the hill from our house backs up and collects into a small swimming hole. When the weather was a little warmer we took the dogs down to swim. Although it was warm outside - in the 8O's - the water was still pretty cold. Atticus worked up from walking through the stream on the rocky walkway...


To swimming out into the swimming hole when Gary called to him. He looked pretty frightened at first but when he realized that we thought he was doing a great job he too to it like a ... dog to water.


He has to have someone out in the water to be able to build up the gumption to take the plunge, though. I happily nominated Gary for this special honor. His shrieks and complaints about shrinkage fell on deaf ears. Get in that water, Montgomery!


Gypsy turns out to be the real chicken of the two dogs. You really have to trick her into getting in the water. The best way to do it is to have her fetch sticks from the water and slowly increase the distance that you throw them. Pretty soon she is almost swimming to get her precious stick. However, if you throw them too far she will not swim out to get them. She just looks at you with a puzzled expression and then starts chewing on some grass.



She does like to sit on this rock in the water, though. It serves as Atticus' launching point for swimming. Gypsy gets jealous of all the attention heaped on Atticus and will hog the rock to keep Atticus off of it. He is waiting patiently on the other bank to the left of Gypo.


There are other little creatures in our stream. Lots of fishes - mostly trout - of small , extra small and extra-extra small sizes. There are also a couple of frogs hanging around. I think this is a green frog. It's a cute little guy/girl.


Shoebootie, our adopted WA old lady cat, is happy to stay inside and sleep all day with an occasional meal. She gets along with all of the pets with the exception of Clovis (surprise, surprise).


Little Diego relaxes out on the railing looking downhill toward the stream. He's a lazy little bugger.


Aurora has lived up to her moniker "Pee Girl" and has managed to pee on articles of clothing when my back is turned so she is officially an outside cat. She seems happy enough and has several hidey-holes to escape any bears or other creatures that may prowl around the house (none seen yet but we have been warned!).

Finally, here's a pic of our beloved Lucius. I can't believe that he is gone and that a stupid accident resulted in his death. It goes to show that cats are not as sure-footed as people suppose. All it took was a fall off of a railing with a poor landing to do him in. We will miss him terribly.