Red River Gorge - Gray's Arch

Instead of Black Friday shopping like millions of American, this was what we did the day after Thanksgiving:


Hiking!

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We went to Red River Gorge again and this time we took a detour at Gray's Arch.

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The hike up to the arch was quite adventurous.
I kept thinking "don't do some crazy jump and get my arm stuck", like that guy 72 hours who ended up cutting his own arm off.

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We climbed over rocks underneath this cave-like structure.
Lola was quite a mountain goat that day.
It was pretty sweet to watch Jake helping Lola up and down the rocks. He would climb down a three feet drop first then turns around and catch Lola.

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 Almost there!

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We had delicious leftover turkey sandwich up at the arch before continuing on our hike.

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It was a beautiful day to spend with my family, it was more than what I am thankful for.



p.s.  I signed up for a half marathon for end of March!

Photo Contest - Results!

Remember I submitted photos back in September for Henry Clay calendar photo contest?

I heard back from them last week....


and they chose two of my three photos!!

Yipee! Woot! Woot!

f/5.6, 1/800, ISO 800

f/18, 1/100, ISO 800

When I told my Dad about this he asked if it was the camera (which he bought for me) or my skills. I would like to think it was a bit of both. Having my photos chosen for a calendar shows that I am improving in my photography skills, that I am getting somewhere. I was told that my photos would be displayed at a art gallery during the calendar revealing event later this month. I am pumped. I knew snapping tons of pictures everywhere I go would help. Practice makes perfect.

Orchard

It is cold today. I mean it's 40 degrees out but feels like 30. It's the strong wind blowing, drizzling rain, and leaves in your face kind of day. Lola does not mind the change in weather at all. Rain or shine, you would see me walking her everyday.

I took these pictures at the orchard where I was pumpkin picking last week. The scenes remind me of "My Antonia" by Willa Cather, one of my favorite books about an Eastern immigrant family living out in Nebraska. The way Cather described the Great Plains and the harsh winter of Nebraska makes you think you were actually there. Although these pictures were taken in Kentucky, I like to think this was where Antonia lived.

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Do you hear the wind whistling and coyote howling?

Red River Gorge

On Saturday we went hiking at Red River Gorge, which was about an hour East of Lexington. It was a beautiful day for hiking. We did a 5 mile loop that took us to top of a gorge halfway through, where we had a picnic. I love the different colors of fall. It makes me want to go pumpkin picking, fill my belly up with treat o' trick candies, and make pies.

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We started on the Double Arch Trail, stopped at Courthouse Rock for lunch, then finished the hike on the Auxier Ridge Trail.

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I spy Lola!

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Perfect spot for a picnic.

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The magnificent gorge.

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After all day of hiking, I treated myself with a generous slice of homemade apple pie. I finally succeeded in making this awesome pie recipe!

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Apples, Apples, Apples

I kicked off the beginning of fall with an annual apple picking trip. Jake and I went to Reed Valley in Paris, Kentucky, just north of Lexington. We just missed the picking time for my favorites McIntosh and Gala since everything here ripens much earlier than up north.

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Within this acres and acres of orchard, we found Golden Delicious, Stayman Winesap, Empire, and some apples with pink flesh.

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It was too good to be true

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I almost felt like they were being wasted.

Apple cider?

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We came home with 25 pounds of apples, which will last us the entire fall season and later.

Apple pie, anyone?

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Nature Walk

This morning we took a nice walk on the Henry Clay Estate Historical Trail.

It was a misty after-rain morning, wet grass, mulch-paved trail, and one too many squirrels for Lola to chase around...

f/25, 1/50, ISO 800

f/5.6, 1/200, ISO 800

f/5.6, 1/125, ISO 800

f/4.5, 1/500, ISO 800

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Until we stumbled upon this secret garden of hydrangeas.

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A sea of hydrangeas.

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And another perfectly manicured secret garden

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The little surprises that brighten up my day.

A Stroll in the Park

After days of non-stop rain, Mr. Sunshine has decided to show his beautiful and warm face. Jake and I visited the University of Kentucky Arboretum for an Arbor Day celebration. Of course I took my beloved camera (and canine) with. I am pretty proud of my pictures today...looks like my photography practices finally paid off a little.

f/5, 1/800, ISO 200

f/5.3, 1/500, ISO 200

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f/7.1, 1/400, ISO 200

f/5, 1/1000, ISO 100

I love taking pictures of flowers because no matter how bad the pictures turn out, the flowers are still beautiful. The pictures capture the short lifespan of these full-bloomed flowers. They are the perfect subjects for photography.

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f/4.8, 1/1000, ISO 100

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