A Magical Place

- A mild, misty morning on the Cumberland Plateau.....

- From the standpoint of the local flora, the leaves are past peak now, though areas of color are still evident on the mountains. The weather man has forecast rain for this evening, followed by colder weather and some wind, which will probably mean the end of the autumn foliage for this season. A good time to build a fire.

- From the standpoint of the local fauna, it is an exciting time. I have been receiving e-mails from several residents of sightings within our developments.... from Golden Eagles and Cedar Waxwings to large whitetail bucks roaming about.

- The nomadic Cedar Waxwings are in our area only a couple of times per year, usually once in the fall and once in the spring. A photograph of these beautiful birds, which are quite gregarious, is quite a treat. I am still waiting for the right moment.

- I must say, without a photo, I am quite hesitant to mention the large whitetail buck I spotted this morning. As I was walking on vacant lots near Lake George, he came out of the tall grass in a marshy, wooded area near the head of the lake. Even from a distance, his tall and wide set of antlers provided quite a contrast to the dark backdrop of the deep forest. The deer was in constant motion, head held high, until he disappeared into thick undergrowth. Sadly, he chose not to pose for a photograph! Shortly thereafter, a doe came out of the tall grass, but she was not nearly as wary as the buck had been. She too, seemed to vanish before my eyes. Maybe next time.

- However, the morning was not without a deer photograph. The attached is of three does in the Stone Creek area of our properties. They were much more agreeable and seemed to pose before walking away.

- The work in Mother's Park is nearing completion. Two new observation decks in the deep forest, one with a waterfall in view, have been completed in the park. Also, two new bridges along the new trail, for hikers and those in golf carts, are now accepting traffic, as now this woodland thoroughfare is connected to The Magical Mile hiking trail. In addition, five new single file walking bridges have been constructed in the park, allowing hikers to walk over waterways between islands in the channel. Without a doubt, this new park, which is more than 12 acres, is a magical place.