Keep Warm!

That's what we are trying to do here at Clay and Limestone!

Sunday morning we woke up to blue skies and chilly temps!

Leaves golden bronze in the trees and

even more browning on the ground and beds!

Given that the leaves aren't going anywhere and

there are more to come
from all the trees still
in fall color.

We assessed our options.

We could stay home and mulch the leaves, or
we could head out for an afternoon adventure
to see what was left of fall in Nashville!

Being folks with a well developed play ethic;
we bundled up, grabbed a snack and the camera
and headed to Radnor Lake!

Radner Lake is a favorite destination of many
Nashvillians. We love this park!
It is home to snapping turtles, beavers, otters,
herons, ducks...and many other critters!

It is also a class II protected natural area...


with the most restrictive
rules of our state park system!

That means there will be no dogs
on the trails, no jogging, no picnics~~
just hiking and enjoying the beauty.
(I ate my snack before we
set out on the trails! I know
how to be a good girl!)

The park has wonderfully kept trails
that wind around the lake through a
deciduous forest of native tall oaks, maples, paw paws,
serviceberry, dog woods and other
plants and wildflowers.


Each January they are mulched
with shredded Christmas trees.
It smells heavenly of balsam and pine!

The trails are springy to walk
on and aging hips and knees
don't mind the 3 or so miles
around the lake!

I can't help it. Each fall I fall in love
with these trees and this sky! I never
look down... it is so lovely
to look up and ahead on the trail.

You can certainly see why birds
would
flock to Radnor Lake!

It's home to
240 species of birds; including
26 different water fowl....and all the bird watchers
you can imagine! Early mornings are
very quiet on the trails; we
don't want to scare off the birds!
Generous birders like to point out
the beauties they've spotted to
a novice like me!
I don't mind being quiet and I love
having them share their sightings!


We dream of snowy times when we can
strap our cross country skis (Mr I Don't )
and snow shoes (me) on and
have a great adventure
on these trails!

The road the runs along the side of the lake
has been closed to car traffic for years.

It was once a romantic drive on a
full moon night for many young couples!

Mr. I Don't (Short for Mr I Don't Garden or Blog)

We love to walk the lower trail. It's a time of reflection and
conversation. It invites reverence and laughter.
Neither strangers to each other.

Thank you for joining us on
our walk around the lake.
I hope you all have favorite places
to walk in nature.


We're going home to sit by the fire
and read the paper!


Keep warm!
Have a delicious day!
Gail



If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive. ~Eleonora Duse