Char and I took advantage of yet another spectacular (almost) fall day and hiked the 1.7-mile Bog Trail at the Clear Shade Wild Area. It’s part of the Gallitzin State Forest, and is located in Ogle Township, Somerset County.
Many of the ferns have started to change color, and are very pretty.
It was another beautiful early fall day in southwestern Pennsylvania. I took advantage of it by attending a Saturday afternoon game at PNC Park – “The Most Beautiful Ballpark in America.”
Saturday afternoon games used to be a staple of the Pirates schedule, but not in recent years. The new management team decided to include two on the schedule this year, and I attended both of them. 
Beyond the rightfield stands at PNC Park is an area known as the Riverwalk. From there you can watch the Allegheny River traffic and get a nice view of the Pittsburgh skyline. The bridge is the Roberto Clemente Bridge, named in honor of the late Pirates Hall of Famer.
Well, now I can cross kayaking off my Bucket List. Today, my friend, Sue Povich, took me out to the Quemahoning Reservoir in Somerset County, and gave me a lesson in Kayaking 101.
Being a person who doesn’t know how to swim, I was a bit nervous at first. Of course I was wearing a PFD, but still, it’s a bit unsettling being in a body of water the size of the Que, and not being a swimmer.
Sue gave me a short demonstration of how to get into the kayak, the different paddle strokes (going forward, turning, backing up, etc.), and how to disembark.
It what we took to be a good omen, as soon as I sat in the kayak, a Ruby Meadowhawk dragonfly landed on my hand! I was still on the shore, and hadn’t even settled in. “Ruby” must have known that I am a dragonfly lover and came over to greet me.
After a short “get acquainted to the feel” of being in the water in the kayak with Sue holding on to it, she gave me a push out into the water. The area was just loaded with dragonflies and damselflies in a variety of species! A number of them landed on me at various times, and they were flying around me all throughout my time on the water.
Sue walked along the shore, keeping an eye on me, while I got used to using the paddles and working on getting my paddle strokes down. After watching me from the shore for a while, Sue asked if I wanted to try to paddle across the cove to the other side. Did I hear her right? That’s open water! And there was a bit of a breeze. But I went for it. As I started across, both Sue and I heard the distinctive chattering of a Belted Kingfisher in the area. After arriving at the “far side” (so to speak), Sue asked if I wanted to continue down that shoreline. When I asked if she felt I would then be able to cross back over the much wider expanse of open water from a certain point in the distance, Sue replied in the affirmative. Off I went!
The goal was to go to an area that had been improved with campsites and a boat launch. Sue was there waiting for me – I discovered that she can walk faster than I can paddle. What I found out, though, was that the way the water was moving in that area, combined with the wind, I wasn’t making a lot of progress. I told Sue that I felt it best if I just headed back across the reservoir.
I then paddled back across and did another short “tour” of the shore where we started. Next, I went effortlessly back down to our “put in” spot and, somehow, disembarked without falling in the water.
It was a beautiful day to be on the water. With the leaves beginning to change color, crisp blue skies, and the temperature in the low 70s, it couldn’t have been better. Well, there was a bit of a breeze, but it wasn’t bad.
Thanks, Sue! Now we’ll see how my arms feel tomorrow. 
Sue shows me how it's done with a short demonstration.
Here are a few more photos of Northern Pitcher Plants that I took during yesterday's outing at a bog near Ogletown. Some of the leaves on these plants remind me of human organs, with the blood-red veins running through them.
Several weeks ago, my niece, Rhonda, and I had walked through the Cranberry Glades, near her home in Marlinton, West Virginia. In the Cranberry Glades were a number of interpretive panels describing the flora and fauna there. Pitcher Plants were supposed to be there, and we both were interested in seeing them, but neither of us noticed them.
A day or so ago, one of my Flickr (the web-site where I post many of my photos) “contacts” posted several photos of Pitcher Plants that were taken at a sphagnum bog near Ogletown, Somerset County. That’s only fifteen miles from my home – and I here I was looking for them in West Virginia!
I e-mailed John, who now lives in Altoona, and he was kind enough to give me turn-by-turn directions to the bog. He was originally from Windber, and his father still lives there. In fact, his father went so far as to take a drive out to the bog, just to check on the street signs for me. The thing is, up on the mountain roads, there were no street signs. But, the directions he gave me were perfect, and I easily found the bog. Thanks again, John!
Not only were there tons of Pitcher Plants there, there were all kinds of other neat things, too. As I squatted down beside a tiny stream in the bog to take a photo of a flower, I noticed a quick movement beside me. As I turned to look, a small snake slithered up onto, and over, a log. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a photo of it. The multi-colored sphagnum moss was just beautiful, too. The trees on the mountain top were starting to show tinges of orange and red, and with the temperature at sixty degrees, it felt a bit like fall. Just as I was leaving the bog, I noticed a beautiful spider in its web. This is another place to which I’ll definitely return, especially in other seasons. After all, you’d think there would be some dragonflies out here for me to chase. 
This is one small patch of Northern Pitcher Plants. They are insectivorous (insect-eating) plants, that collect small pools of water in their pitcher-shaped leaves. Insects are attracted to the pitchers, and are forced into the water by a lining of stiff, downward-pointing hairs. There a narcotic kills them, bacteria begin to decompose them, and enzymes convert them into usable nitrogen. I'll post a few more photos of these in my next post.
This is the flower (a bit past its prime, I believe) of a Northern Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea). The "pitchers" are the leaves of the plant, and the flowers grow up from amongst the leaves on stalks that are one- to two-feet tall.
This is some of the sphagnum moss in the bog. This species of moss likes acidic soil and is found in wet and boggy areas. It is generally found growing in thick, dense clumps. Often, as is the case in this bog, it grows so close that it forms a cushiony "bog mat" that floats on top of the water. In this small area the color ranged from almost white, to gold, to green, to pink, to rose. It was very pretty! (If you click on the above picture, you can see the detail a bit better.)
Speaking of very pretty, how about this guy? It's a Black-and-yellow Argiope spider (Argiope aurantia). The zig-zag pattern is always a part of their web design.
I had mentioned in my posts of July 30 and August 4 that the birds in our front yard were careless about throwing seeds to the ground and that, as a result we now had a little patch of sunflowers growing. My last report stated that two had bloomed. We ultimately had about 25 sunflowers of various sizes bloom in our little patch! The biggest was about 5” in diameter, while some were in the 2” - 3” range.
At various times we’d notice the birds using the stalks of the sunflowers as a resting place. And today, I guess because I didn’t put out any sunflower seeds in the feeder, an American Goldfinch decided he’d just get his right from the source! 
A male American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) gets his sunflower seeds from a sunflower in our front yard. The sunflower was one that grew, ironically, from sunflower seeds dropped by birds from a feeder. This photo was taken from our living room, through a bay window. I also had to shoot in between two of the posts on the banister -- not an easy shot -- but worth the effort, I think.
This is a photo of our little sunflower patch that I took back on August 21, when there were a lot more sunflowers than there are now. I've had to thin the the patch out, as some have died, fallen over, or had their heads chewed off by predators -- probably deer.
My professor friend, Dennis McNair, and I spent about three hours at Dunnings Creek Wetlands, a private reserve in Bedford County, this afternoon. And, it was another great biology lesson for me! In addition to a good variety of dragonflies and damselflies, we saw two whitetail deer, a Northern Harrier, a Great Blue Heron, a Lesser Yellowlegs, adult Stink Bugs, a baby Stink Bug, a Coneheaded Katydid, a Praying Mantis, a Toe-Biter, butterflies, and too much more to mention. It was a perfect day, too – sunny, with temperatures in the mid-70s.
A Praying Mantis poses for the camera at Dunnings Creek Wetlands today.
Matthew and Gina came over to our house today to join Char and me for a cookout. Unfortunately, it was a bit cool to eat outdoors, so although we cooked on the grill, we ate indoors.
We had locally grown corn that Char cooked on the grill in the husks. Matthew made small stuffed bell peppers that were done on the grill, too. We also had grilled hamburgers.
For dessert, it was Butterfinger ice cream on top of fudge brownies. And, yes, the brownies were done on the grill, too! Due to a technical malfunction with the oven when the brownies were ready to be baked, a last minute decision was made to try baking them on the grill. And, they were delicious!
It seems as though I’ll be shopping for a new oven in the very near future.
Matthew's stuffed bell peppers were very tasty!
I spent a few hours outside today. The first spot I visited was a new spot for me. It was a little cove at the Quemahoning Dam where Char has been going with some friends recently to kayak. I’ve been around the “Que” many times over the years, but I’ve never been back into the area where this cove is.
At the Que cove, I spotted a few varieties of dragonflies and damselfies, including Widow Skimmers, Eastern Amberwings, and Violet Dancers. While in some bushes trailing a Ruby Meadowhawk, I spotted a Green Stink Bug. That distracted me long enough that I lost sight of the Ruby Meadowhawk.
I then stopped at the Orenda Park, home of the Boswell National Historic District. I’ve driven by here many times, but have never stopped. Today seemed like a good day to do so. It was an interesting little park, very well maintained, with informative plaques. In 1920, the largest coal tipple and viaduct in the world were located in Boswell! The Merchants Coal Company there employed 507 workers at that time, which I find amazing for what is now such a small town. The remains of some of the old buildings from those days are in the park. The park also has a beautiful modern gazebo and strategically placed benches for the benefit of visitors.
It was then off to one of my favorite nearby spots, Mallards Rest. This is a reclaimed Acid Mine Drainage site and boasts a variety of birds, wildflowers, and bugs. Today I even heard – and saw the resultant splash – of either a beaver or muskrat. I also flushed out a Great Blue Heron twice; I was apparently too close for his liking.
Compared to my earlier visits to Mallards Rest this summer, the variety and number of dragonflies and damselflies was down, however I still saw quite a few. Included were Ebony Jewelwings, Common Green Darners, Ruby Meadowhawks, and Blue Dashers.
Today’s visit, as always, found a great selection of wildflowers in bloom. Goldenrod, Joe-Pye Weed, Spotted Jewelweed, Wild Basil, Pokeberry, and a number of species of asters were some of the species that I noticed. I also enjoy being able to identify a species (of anything) for the first time, and today that species was Sneezeweed.
It was a great day to be outside, with the temperature in the low 70s, and low humidity. Summer is fading fast.
A Green Stink Bug (Acrosternum hilare) climbs up a plant at the Quemahoning Dam.
Two fishermen enjoy the afternoon at Mallards Rest in Somerset County.
Sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale) is a member of the Aster family. It gets its common name from the fact that the dried leaves of the plant were used to make snuff. When inhaled, the sneezing would rid the body of evil spirits. Photographed at Mallards Rest.
A Ruby Meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum rubicundulum) looks down the barrel of my camera lens at Mallards Rest. Isn't he cute?
Char and I observed our 37th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. We had lunch at Harrigan’s in Johnstown, then went to the Altoona Curve game. It was their next-to-last home game of the season…where did the summer go? It was a nice night for a game, although it cooled off a bit – so much that we put the top up on the Miata for the drive home.
Last night was another beautiful evening, so we decided to take a “top down” drive to an Italian restaurant we had never been to before. We went to Luigi’s in Clymer, Indiana County. It’s about an hour drive from home, but through very pretty farmland and small towns on winding roads – a great Miata drive.
Luigi’s was a wonderful dining experience. The food was very good, the service was excellent, and the prices were reasonable. When the staff found out it was our first time there, they really seemed to take an extra interest making sure everything was perfect for us. To top it off, when we mentioned that we were celebrating our anniversary, we ended up with a free piece of tiramisu!
Hopefully our next 37 years will be as great as the first 37!
Char and I began our two day anniversary celebration with lunch at Harrigan's in Johnstown on Wednesday.
We then had dinner at Luigi's in Clymer on Thursday evening. It was our first time here, but we'll definitely be back!
I had my ducks, I mean pigeons, all in a row this morning. They were on the wire outside our house.
Today was my first class for the Fall Term at the University of Pittsburgh – Johnstown. I’ve been taking advantage of UPJ’s LearningPLUS program, for students 55 and older, since my retirement almost three years ago. Classes are free; students pay only for the cost of books.
Students in this program audit the course, so no credits are earned. An advantage is we are not required to take the tests or do the homework – within reason. Of course, if one takes a literature course, for example, reading the assignments is something you’d obviously want to do, too.
I take classes each Fall and Spring term, watching the schedule for classes that interest me. To date, I’ve taken classes such as Ornithology, African American Literature, American Indian Literature, North American Indian Cultures, and Literature and the Environment. This term I’m taking another literature course, Short Story in Context.
I’ve found this program to be an enjoyable, stress-free way to “keep on learning.” The professors have all been very open to having a “mature” student in the classroom. 
Fall Term, 2009, at the University of Pittsburgh - Johnstown campus opened with beautiful, late summer weather. 
The Pitt Panther stands guard at the center of the UPJ campus.
Many of the ferns have started to change color, and are very pretty.
A view of the bog, with lots of Tawny Cottongrass. If you click on this photo to enlarge it, you can see the detail of the Tawny Cottongrass -- especially the large patch further out in the bog.
Char on the path at the bog. At a few areas in the bog, there is a boardwalk constructed to help keep shoes dry and protect the bog. The rest of the trail is mostly through forest, using blaze markings on trees as guides.
Char pauses to see where I am. I use the opportunity to take her photo.
