Medoc Mountain

Over the weekend the sun was shining, the sky was blue, the air was cool, and we five just needed to breathe some crisp autumn air and kick-up some leaves. So we took a little jaunt up to Medoc Mountain for an afternoon, which is about half an hour from our home.

 Let me clarify that Medoc Mountain is not actually a mountain.  Those of us born in The Mountain State cannot help but giggle at this bump in the ground being named a mountain. But for the record, Medoc Mountain is the highest elevation between Raleigh and the coast.

 The scenery was picturesque enough to make a fine backdrop for a few pictures.  One thing about homeschooling is that you don't get those built-in school pics once a year, so I'm always on the look-out for a good place to snag one.

Christopher and John proved to be good subjects for a portrait, but Anna was a bit more interested in her tasty Ring Pop than in Mom's photography.  :)

And since we are ever-searching for something to learn, the Lord graciously provided....beavers!  Traces of beavers can be found all over the state park.  The trees near the water (above) are almost all devoid of bark at the bottom, because the beavers have torn it off to use for their dams (below).  This was the first real beaver dam most of us had seen in the wild.

 Just after the death of the flowers,

And before they are buried in snow,

There comes a festival season,

When nature is all aglow—

Aglow with a mystical splendour

That rivals the brightness of spring,

Aglow with a beauty more tender

Than aught which fair summer could bring....

~Emeline B. Smith, "Indian Summer"