Wednesday, October 03, 2007

As promised, a foliage report

This past weekend - as promised - Coffeeboy and I took a hike to check out the foliage at Blue Ridge Parkway elevations (here, about 5,500 feet). Here's what we found (you can visit flickr for bigger pictures, and for more pictures):

The great blaze of autumnal glory isn't quite here yet. Bits of yellow leaves dusting the tops of trees, as if the hillsides were covered in a light coat of autumnal pollen.
View from the Parkway.JPG View from Sam Knob.JPG

(Isn't it interesting how the vegetation on the hill in the left photo there changes as one moves from one side of the ridge to the other?)

Beautiful fall wildflowers attracted even more beautiful butterflies. (Coffeeboy snapped that butterfly closeup; isn't it gorgeous?)

Sam Knob wildflowers.JPG Butterfly closeup.JPG

Shrubs change more quickly than trees, as you might be able to tell from these pictures. This includes the blueberry bushes, which still had a few hardened, only slightly juicy berries left on them. (Believe me, we looked, sampled, and marveled at how many berries remained).

And, oh yes, one hiker saw fit to break out the woolen socks. It was a cold morning, after all, so he thought maybe his feet wanted something a little cozier to wear for this hike. What better than trekking while wearing socks made of Trekking yarn?

Trekking socks.JPG

On the dissertation front: I've finished a really official, penultimate draft of my dissertation proposal! This feels especially great because tomorrow, I'm heading off to somewhere between Boston and Providence to go to a wedding. The proposal has been sent to not just my advisor, but to several professors and a few trusted friends. I'll defend it in approximately a month, after they've had time to critique it, and after the proposal has had lots of time to sit on a shelf in the department, available for public perusal. Yikes. I mean, I know it's a public proposal defense, but thinking about my proposal hanging around in a public place all by itself, makes me very nervous. (How will I feel when I turn the whole thing in, then, I wonder?)

This weekend, we're off to Massachusetts - south of Boston - for a wedding. I'll be on and off the net till we get back, and when I do, I'll have pretty pictures of beads! And socks. Oh yes, more socks.

8 comments:

Zarzuela said...

Beautiful pics! I'm glad you guys are getting out and enjoying your new surroundings.

Have fun at the wedding!

Jessica

Kristi aka Fiber Fool said...

Ooo, have fun at the wedding!

Sheepish Annie said...

Those pictures are amazing!!! Thanks for sharing a little of the scenery with us.

I have a really good feeling about your proposal. I think it's going to be a big hit!!!

The A.D.D. Knitter said...

Congrats!! Have a great time this weekend.

Anonymous said...

What beautiful scenery - I hope the leaves will be perfect when I get there in a few weeks!

CC said...

Congrats on getting your proposal submitted!! I can't believe you have a public viewing shelf in your department. Our proposals are public too, but we don't have one of those. That would freak me out too! Have fun at the wedding and enjoy the freedom of having that thing turned in!!

Anonymous said...

Enjoy the wedding, and no worries about your proposal. Its great. And no worries about the defense- remember that what they do is pile up suggestion upon suggestion, and give you more and more ideas. I found it overwhelming but not scary. Nothing at all like my exam defense which was way more scary in a "we are holding your toes to the fire to watch you squirm" kind of way.

Love the foliage report- I hope there will be some color left when I get to visit you later this month. And love the Coffeeboy socks!!!

schrodinger said...

Hope the wedding was great. Beautiful shots - you're making me jealous.