by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Aug 17, 2017 | Appalachian, Hiking, Nature, Writing
If you read Monday’s post, you know why stinging insects are on my mind this week. Late summer and early fall in Appalachia is prime time for running into yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, and bees. First, their hives (hence their populations) have been growing...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Aug 14, 2017 | bears, dogs, Hiking, Miracles, Nature, Thistle
You know it’s a doozy of a hike when the least scary thing to happen is a bear thundering off through the brambles. That’s how my hike with Thistle started one evening last week. And we weren’t much alarmed. After all, the bear was leaving. Then...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jun 19, 2017 | Food, Hiking, Reading, Waiting
I know lots of folks who plan wonderful, far-flung vacations to exotic locales. I’ve never been one of those folks. Vacation for me means time to do whatever I want. Which typically includes eating some really good meals (cooking in and going out), extra dog...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Apr 20, 2017 | Appalachian, Family, Food, Hiking, Nature
Spring is prime foraging time in the woods where we hike. We often see folks out with baskets or net bags and I know they’re looking for tasty tidbits to add to dinner. Personally, I’m more of a catch and release forager. I love finding things I could eat,...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Jan 5, 2017 | Appalachian, Family, Hiking, Memories, Nature
I’m not a fan of looking at the turning of the calendar as any kind of clean slate. I figure most every day is the perfect time to begin doing whatever it is I’m supposed to be doing. But in the spirit of the New Year, I took a moment to look back over...
by Sarah Loudin Thomas | Dec 22, 2016 | Appalachian, Hiking
One of my favorite things about living in the Appalachian Mountains is hiking them. We live near a national forest riddled with trails that offer miles and hours of rambling. And so Thistle and I do just that. A few weeks ago one of the regular trails was blocked when...
