Blueberry Picking

So......I was so inspired by the blueberry picking I did on my Appalachian Trail...with Ponies! adventure that I found a place to go blueberry picking that is close to home. It's only a few (several) miles out east from me but it certainly packs a punch with regards to blueberries. Wow! I'm talking about Voytko Farms. This farm has been around for at least about 60 years and they have blueberries, black raspberries and black currants. It's quite beautiful:

The whole experience made me very happy:

And the full colander made me most happy of all!

Natural Inspiration on the Appalachian Trail -- with Wild Ponies!

This past weekend I had an opportunity to hike on the Appalachian Trail -- and it was fantastic!

I went with a local group of hikers/backpackers and I had an *amazing* time. We left from Cleveland and drove down to Virginia to start the trip. First we hiked in on the Mt. Rogers trail (including the peak of Mt. Rogers - the highest point in Virginia at 5,728 feet) which connects with the Appalachian trail. Overall it was 25 miles over a three and a half day span including a few thousand feet of elevation changes (uggh!).

I carried a thirty-five pound backpack which held all of my essentials (tent, sleeping bag and clothes - as well as food and stove).

I certainly can't say that it wasn't tough, and that at times I didn't think I'd make it (especially since on the first day I was harboring *yet another* lingering headache), but as the turtle knows best: slow and steady persistence wins the race. Another adage that ran through my head was, "The only way out is through."

So, as a reward for the hard work and perseverance I was treated with some awesome and inspiring gorgeous views.

And did I mention the ponies? Ponies! There were wild ponies! Lots of wild ponies!

The ponies came right up to us and our tents. Some were even trying to nose their way into the tents to look for food!

There were lots of little ones too. This one never left his mom's side:

But these baby ponies pranced and played:

On the trail there were wild (organic and non-gmo, that is!) blueberries:  

Parts of the forest were super plush and brimming with green:

Which I found lucky:

 It was a fantastic way to greet the day:

And an even better way to greet the night:

So now I feel refreshed, re-energized and ready to create! This trip into nature has inspired an abundance of of ideas for color blend combinations and jewelry designs that I want to try as soon as I come out from under the influence of the post-trip glow. Until then I am still reveling in the reality that I hiked some of the Appalachian Trail and that it really is all it's cracked up to be (and even more)... :) 

The intrepid backpackers after a well-earned shower:

Earring as Expression

I love working on my torch-fired enamel jewelry (which I have been doing a lot lately in spite of my lack of blogging about it!) because included with it being part craft, part art, part practical, part impractical, part fun and part work it is also *all* expression.

This bright bold beautiful bauble bead (no alliteration intended but I like it!) earring I made is full of colors that express just how I feel today: warm, welcoming, happy, hopeful, positive, eager and ready.