Rainforest In The Mountains

When up in the mountains of Pennsylvania, you don't expect to stumble into a climate more commonly found in the rain forests of the Caribbean or Central America. But, as soon as we hit the hiking trails at Bushkill Falls, the pleasant 75 degree August day turned tropical, fed by the moisture from a series of 8 waterfalls. I'd hate to be there when the temps are in the 80s or higher.

The "trails" at Bushkill are a series of wooden walkways that line the sides of the waterfalls and bridges that cross them. The stairs that take you from the upper to lower falls are very steep. But, the close up views of the falls make it worth it. Well, until you have to climb back up them on the other side. Then, it's helpful to be part mountain goat--particularly when you have to climb over slippery exposed roots in the few areas where there are dirt paths.

I hope to go back this fall. I suspect that the falls will be really gorgeous once the leaves start to change. But, I leave you with one more picture of the stream that eventually because the roaring falls above.

One More Watcher

One more Amur tiger kept a close eye on us at the zoo Monday.

The Watcher Becomes The Watched

Monday, my sister Sara and I took a trip to the zoo on one of her last days before leaving for the Peace Corps. Despite being a fairly warm and humid day, the animals didn't disappoint. While some slumbered away in the summer heat, others let their personalities out on display. At times you wondered who was really watching who.

This orangatan stared at me with a bored insouciance as he sat in a shady spot next to the wall.

This Amur Tiger was barely contained violence as he prowled through one of the water holes. I couldn't help but think the tiger was mentally licking its lips while it tried to decide which one of us to eat first.

Then, of course, there were the ones that were just over it all. Even the King of the Jungle needs a nap sometimes.

This gorilla is the zoo's "thinker".


This golden lion tamarind held on tightly as he surveyed the gathering crowd in front of him.

When the giraffes weren't eating leaves, they were strolling around their paddock posing for us.

For the most part, the penguins were trying to get relief from the heat by swimming through the water; but, periodically, they would pop up on the bank.

This penguin liked to sit next to the glass so the little kids could get right up next to him.

Finally, this red panda looked so cute and cuddly, I wanted to take it home.

Butterfly Sancturary

Sara and I went up to the Bear Mountain Sanctuary in the Poconos yesterday.

Echoes of Furies Past

Most of us will never step onto a battlefield. We won't know what it sounds like when artillery whines over head so close you can feel the wake ruffle your hair as it sails by. We'll never know what it's like peer across the confusion of a smoke enshrouded field to hunt for the enemy, only to find him at your back.


But on Independence Day, just outside Gettysburg, you could imagine what it might have been like. Hooves thundered across the field. Canons roared and spewed enough smoke to dim the sunlight on one of the brightest Saturdays in more than a month.

The report of a pistol echoed across a field as a soldier dropped to march no more.

Sabers clanged as Blue and Grey clashed in an echo of a 146 year old fury.

No the South hadn't risen again, but this year's crop of Civil War reenacters had. For an hour they stormed across the field--first on horseback and later on foot as they reenacted one of the key turning points in the Civil War. The 1st Virginia Calvary of Fitz Lee's Brigade under General J.E.B Stuart's command led a charge against Brigadier-General Custards 1st and 7th Michigan units in an attempt to split them.


As the canons boomed, the Generals themselves clashed in whir of swords and a swirl of horses.


As the sounds of the final battle died away, the Union Cavalry defeated the Confederates, seizing the advantage for the first time in the war and never relinquished it again. The Confederates, beaten, but not vanquished, rallied again for another battle later in the afternoon, bringing echoes of the past to life one more time.

Monet's Giverny

I was fortunate enough to have an extra day in Paris before I had to fly home from a work trip last month. So, I took a tour out to Giverny where Monet painted his water lily paintings. It was a holiday weekend in France and the highways leading out of Paris were clogged with Parisians heading out to the Normandy beaches, compounded by the masses heading out to the French Open at Roland Garros. Watching the slow moving mass exodus was not unlike watching the natives flee Philly to the Jersey shore on the weekends and the traffic was just as bad.

After a bit our guide gave up on the highways and we headed off on to the back roads of Normandy which were much more picturesque than the highways. We drove through quaint villages built into limestone cliffs. if you look closely behind the chateau, directly below the castle, you can see the windows peering out from the limestone cliff.

Finally, we arrived in Giverny. To get to the water lily ponds, you have to cross under the main road through a tunnel. The ponds aren't huge; you can probably walk around the entire area in about half an hour. But, they are truly beautiful.



After spending some time wandering around the gardens, it's back through the tunnel to tour Monet's farm house. Before you get to the house you pass through a large garden that is a riot of color. The garden was filled with Iris (one of my favorite flowers). Every where you looked was a splash of color. It was almost overwhelming; your eyes didn't quite know where to look next.


No photos are allowed in the farmhouse, but it is filled with Japanese prints from top to bottom, many of which were originally used to wrap around dishes which Monet bought. There are also reproductions of a number of Monet's most famous works which you can find in museums all over the world.

Summer Lilies

Still working on my London and Paris pictures. But, in the mean time, some really pretty lilies started blooming in my garden today.

Views of Big Ben

Big Ben is one of the iconic institutions identified with London. It can be seen from many locations leading into Parliamentary Square. So, during my time here I tried to find some less common views of Big Ben on a couple of cloudy and hazy days in May.

More MJ Pictures

For those of you looking for more Michael Johns pictures, check back after June 1. I'll be out of the country for the rest of the month.

Graduation Day

My baby sister, Sara, graduated from KU last weekend. Now, she's off to the Uganda with the Peace Corps in early August. And I couldn't be prouder of her.

Michael Johns at the America's Polo Cup

Below are some of the first pictures from the America's Polo Cup concert on Saturday night featuring Michael Johns, one of last season's American Idol contestants. I'd forgotten just how good this guy is. His new single, "Heart On My Sleeve" is now available on iTunes and his new album drops in June. It may take a few days to finish wading through the pictures I have, so check back periodically.

Click for larger versions of the pictures.

Flower Gardens

This past November I moved into a two story townhouse with a patio and backyard. A first for me. So, this afternoon, in the near 90 degree heat, I spent my first afternoon gardening after picking out some flower baskets and some other plants for the backyard. I picked out colorful snapdragons, petunias, lobelia, nemesia and geraniums.


I also planted some some cinnamon and sweet basil. My plan is to add some tomatoes, a zucchini plant and peppers in mid-May once the risk of frosts is finally gone.

Malaria No More

Every 30 seconds in Africa a child dies from Malaria. By simply donating a $10 mosquito net, you can save an entire family.

Make a donation today:

http://www.malarianomore.org/

Views From Underwater

Last weekend I took a trip down I-95 to for lunch with a friend and a trip to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. I hadn't been in ages--not since the Sea Horse exhibition years ago. Despite being over run by ankle biters, it was still a lot of fun. Here are my favorite pictures from the afternoon below: