tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88585981062950570822024-02-19T01:47:39.165-05:00Jake & Susan's Wild Indiana“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” ~John Muirsmnietenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14774830229202508249noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858598106295057082.post-43953827384979625592013-12-21T00:00:00.001-05:002013-12-21T06:02:32.835-05:00Indiana Nature Is Calling Jake & Susan<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jake & Susan's 2014 New Year's Resolution:</span></b> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over the next year, we plan to visit 55 of Indiana's Nature Preserves </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and blog about each trek within our beloved Hoosier state.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Read on to discover the catalyst of our goal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While Christmas shopping this season, Jake & I stumbled upon a treasure we deemed as a "must have" present for ourselves. We purchased the find with the intent that it would be wrapped and swore off use until after Christmas. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, our self-purchased gift never saw ribbons or bows or paper; it simply proved too good to tuck away under the tree. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Just what did you buy?</i> you ask. The answer? This book: </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-yaH9GLMHhg095KWp7klPDu2KnoaIZ9WL4bALNS_RN6HuBJWUESrUPYbgTPTqsJa1d19cO0btDxx4LlucUzEP_urNq_Vr9VLEJH7yp6Ae1ar2jCbgH2UkbQJzz3nw1zM88VaIIntXc6f/s1600/The+Nature+Conservancy's+Guide+to+Indiana+Preserves.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-yaH9GLMHhg095KWp7klPDu2KnoaIZ9WL4bALNS_RN6HuBJWUESrUPYbgTPTqsJa1d19cO0btDxx4LlucUzEP_urNq_Vr9VLEJH7yp6Ae1ar2jCbgH2UkbQJzz3nw1zM88VaIIntXc6f/s400/The+Nature+Conservancy's+Guide+to+Indiana+Preserves.png" width="307" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Nature Conservancy's Guide to Indiana Preserves</i> is superbly organized with in-depth content of 55 of Indiana's Preserves, most of which are "owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy and other land trusts." The book is alphabetized by preserve name and color-coded by region. Each featured preserve includes a fact list, a conservation profile, directions, and a detailed history & description of the preserve. Multiple photos by Christopher Jordan and Ron Leonetti enhance each entry to further entice a visit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Conservancys-Indiana-Preserves-Quarry/dp/0253218594" target="_blank">Amazon</a> has the book for a purchase price of $24.99. In our opinion, the book is worth every penny (& much, much more) because of the breadth of knowledge that is packed into this comprehensive source.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://yukonrivertrip.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Check out our Yukon River Trip blog!</a></span></div>
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smnietenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14774830229202508249noreply@blogger.com0Indiana, USA40.2671941 -86.13490189999998834.0219326 -96.462050399999981 46.512455599999996 -75.8077534tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858598106295057082.post-11028952535469416402013-08-21T13:32:00.000-04:002013-12-21T06:04:18.785-05:00A Praying Mantis in Jake & Susan's Yard<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What's that praying in my lavender bush? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently, I've been keeping my eye on this praying mantis that's been hanging around our house. Jake & I spotted at least one more smaller mantis on our back porch this season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://yukonrivertrip.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Check out my Yukon River Trip blog!</a></span></div>
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smnietenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14774830229202508249noreply@blogger.com0Madison County, IN, USA39.995604958570709 -85.79169469921873839.898314958570708 -85.953056199218736 40.09289495857071 -85.63033319921874tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858598106295057082.post-35528512743748251632013-06-22T09:28:00.000-04:002013-12-21T03:10:05.823-05:00Hemlock Cliffs in Hoosier National Forest<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We hiked the two-mile trail at Hemlock Cliffs in Hoosier National Forest. </span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A tall canopy of trees surrounds the beginning of this hiking trail. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At times, the trail is narrow and steep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While venturing to the falls at Hemlock Cliffs, I spotted a cougar track just off the trail. The photo on the left is the original, and the one on the right has an overlay of a cougar track. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Farther down the trail we came upon stairs to take us deeper into the valley and closer to the cliffs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The landscape drastically changed, and the temperature cooled while climbing down into the valley.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hemlock Cliffs is the largest vertical drop in topography in Indiana.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The diversity of the trail and scenery from the beginning of the hike to the Hemlock Cliffs was delightful and worth every step. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">USDA Forest Service. "Hemlock Cliffs." <i>Hoosier National Forest</i>. N.p.: USDA Forest Service, 2000. Print.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://yukonrivertrip.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Check out our Yukon River Trip blog!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>smnietenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14774830229202508249noreply@blogger.com0Hemlock Cliffs, Hoosier National Forest, Union, IN 47118, USA38.276394499999988 -86.53913490000002212.754359999999988 -127.84772890000002 63.798428999999985 -45.230540900000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858598106295057082.post-43698700466260582422013-03-23T14:26:00.000-04:002013-12-21T09:12:59.482-05:00Indiana Pine Needle Tea<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jake & I made pine needle tea while camping in Hoosier National Forest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, gather pine needles. Avoid dry needles if possible; they lack flavor & nutrients. Try to harvest ones that appear to be young and healthy. Pick out & discard the driest ones. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wash the needles if necessary.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVnrzTAGt7uM8L9zc2CX2Rl-PSB9JhWi2v_KbbBe16Digt5oZenDNgc8dwNGNfBiGflJbKb_4dby4RpxYS1cJoYPb-zgjHHlTelpQ7C11WPqP6R5XxJtuwZGe-sYC1Tr7BobWEIecowhb/s1600/Indiana+Pine+Needle+Tea+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVnrzTAGt7uM8L9zc2CX2Rl-PSB9JhWi2v_KbbBe16Digt5oZenDNgc8dwNGNfBiGflJbKb_4dby4RpxYS1cJoYPb-zgjHHlTelpQ7C11WPqP6R5XxJtuwZGe-sYC1Tr7BobWEIecowhb/s640/Indiana+Pine+Needle+Tea+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next, put the pine needles into the water to soak for a few minutes before turning on the heat source. Boil the water and needles for at least 3 minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then,</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> cover the and allow the needles to continue steeping for another 3-5 minutes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7xqgFYdHTRz1TqbuD7IE3PBxtvIN6C-46zwz1yAU37oJw-McATM2ccQrkkJ_PuYFLlJZuuRQn3htEmr4w0iHRNV1tscxDMGyu_gLHmURFQSZfsBgS9otIdntBoaaGlrBoY7aubno53EM/s1600/Indiana+Pine+Needle+Tea+2.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7xqgFYdHTRz1TqbuD7IE3PBxtvIN6C-46zwz1yAU37oJw-McATM2ccQrkkJ_PuYFLlJZuuRQn3htEmr4w0iHRNV1tscxDMGyu_gLHmURFQSZfsBgS9otIdntBoaaGlrBoY7aubno53EM/s320/Indiana+Pine+Needle+Tea+2.5.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once ready, the pine needles will be softened from their original state. A slight change in color might also be noticeable. Allow the tea to cool to the desired temperature and drink. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFet-723F2rWpq5yUWUhUB2OYbJYry1CHRPKWOP80ywxTyP9wOkcXU8yidTswYXHWMyt5dyxg-yR8028oESuh8SS1RYQAS_6w8UrldC6IsocrX52iYRxjeflCqc3UrsOrTAxHx_pkRT22y/s1600/Indiana+Pine+Needle+Tea+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFet-723F2rWpq5yUWUhUB2OYbJYry1CHRPKWOP80ywxTyP9wOkcXU8yidTswYXHWMyt5dyxg-yR8028oESuh8SS1RYQAS_6w8UrldC6IsocrX52iYRxjeflCqc3UrsOrTAxHx_pkRT22y/s400/Indiana+Pine+Needle+Tea+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's not a necessity to transfer the tea to a new mug or to remove the pine needles before drinking; it's merely a preference. I do not usually remove mine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://yukonrivertrip.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Check out my Yukon River Trip blog!</a></span><br />
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smnietenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14774830229202508249noreply@blogger.com0Hoosier National Forest39.018051488425819 -86.37527247812538.820627988425819 -86.697995978125 39.215474988425818 -86.052548978125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858598106295057082.post-17569336097724963302012-06-01T14:51:00.000-04:002013-12-21T12:55:21.511-05:00Mild Sassafras Tea in Indiana<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jake & I decided to try two experiments while camping in Hoosier National Forest this time: making sassafras tea & boiling water in a plastic water bottle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first time we made sassafras tea, we weren't exactly sure what we were doing, and we only steeped stems and thin stalks; we didn't use the root at all. The outcome was a milder flavored tea. I now make it both ways--with stems & stalks or with roots--depending on my preference at the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>To Make Mild Sassafras Tea:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First, locate a sassafras tree; I prefer a root shoot like the one pictured below. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TP3UIQcrS6qt9og8WPnT7cTYmlOMM7sV6ywjUopJtZhm28vyeMzzP7jVYJ81eBWX7114YEleo17ZnGCgcHvTVdxI-_m2wZvIn13kKPXMWQsswekrILhYAvioGBw1yxiwrmypwfOKpqph/s1600/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1TP3UIQcrS6qt9og8WPnT7cTYmlOMM7sV6ywjUopJtZhm28vyeMzzP7jVYJ81eBWX7114YEleo17ZnGCgcHvTVdxI-_m2wZvIn13kKPXMWQsswekrILhYAvioGBw1yxiwrmypwfOKpqph/s640/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+1.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then, strip the leaves from the the stalks & stems.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6A0xeF0DXeXtA-DISuH_g6R_M3e9VdmBNvxWHggFXgFDxNsS0ZZGNKNlMfsGPnsPhM8Kt6tQbgGL36Lb3JsSw9BrIK8fxd0QkNDCNFRNVYXJbcUdvWP0OcHoQQS1Ga7YiuT3jiE-D1tN/s1600/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6A0xeF0DXeXtA-DISuH_g6R_M3e9VdmBNvxWHggFXgFDxNsS0ZZGNKNlMfsGPnsPhM8Kt6tQbgGL36Lb3JsSw9BrIK8fxd0QkNDCNFRNVYXJbcUdvWP0OcHoQQS1Ga7YiuT3jiE-D1tN/s320/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+2.jpg" width="238" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2J-OntQL1LhvzkD9cJV5_Lr_ZI2SJyY7eIizek3Q77WPWrIDbRrLtpo7CUW6SbfUpCA-kA_qr9SwP8DPElNi5hLmGk_8TjlNdhp6ANoaP0K9nz4rQ03aiGDuUoRP3aVtk13hWPfTSVBU/s1600/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2J-OntQL1LhvzkD9cJV5_Lr_ZI2SJyY7eIizek3Q77WPWrIDbRrLtpo7CUW6SbfUpCA-kA_qr9SwP8DPElNi5hLmGk_8TjlNdhp6ANoaP0K9nz4rQ03aiGDuUoRP3aVtk13hWPfTSVBU/s320/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+3.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmff7h27AY3VT81R68vWRGMUsdhm-ENUG-VArQg7xBSI6Mv7Cy4v6WmFYvkgcfIeL-in5XsYpj3oWKUazZOi-a2voMu3eBPsYX9jdF04bCWSLsDeHw99gMbHG1_l7m_JEqsN6BqNKDxI8v/s1600/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmff7h27AY3VT81R68vWRGMUsdhm-ENUG-VArQg7xBSI6Mv7Cy4v6WmFYvkgcfIeL-in5XsYpj3oWKUazZOi-a2voMu3eBPsYX9jdF04bCWSLsDeHw99gMbHG1_l7m_JEqsN6BqNKDxI8v/s400/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Place the stems & stalks into your pot of water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Because we are also experimenting with boiling water in a plastic water bottle, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the bottle served as our pot.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0J0FotEEH25u4SS_1sZVo_QZnRh6RvchJs2_RZ-wANRIlN4H6IOq8YCupO9ZMWifRyN7gTAJ_AN4ZhTgOpqXWEsYbWEHtkFVhXTuy3f_0afgFkGzFFb_FyxC1OXYRCzpUcV0hFmywAXUT/s1600/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0J0FotEEH25u4SS_1sZVo_QZnRh6RvchJs2_RZ-wANRIlN4H6IOq8YCupO9ZMWifRyN7gTAJ_AN4ZhTgOpqXWEsYbWEHtkFVhXTuy3f_0afgFkGzFFb_FyxC1OXYRCzpUcV0hFmywAXUT/s400/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+5.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allow the stems & stalks to soak for 15-20 minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doing this helps reduce the boiling time. If you are using a gas stove, this would save fuel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can, however, begin boiling the tea immediately. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ83s1yhj3B_z-62Z5Mi_H5sqbuWpl3aJLL5bnCyBMps3BcOoUy0OgbTYDj-WKCRudgxs8xQgELaHkei-upn38pQOne_p4c0nnMLPKLhwlhNHVmXUoAT7tuJHyhq6L5RwWVUA_r7kEFXE6/s1600/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ83s1yhj3B_z-62Z5Mi_H5sqbuWpl3aJLL5bnCyBMps3BcOoUy0OgbTYDj-WKCRudgxs8xQgELaHkei-upn38pQOne_p4c0nnMLPKLhwlhNHVmXUoAT7tuJHyhq6L5RwWVUA_r7kEFXE6/s400/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+6.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jake used paracord & tied our bottle to a stick so that we could boil our tea over the open fire.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9h9lX9M1E1qTkcVDYVs16fSuE_OE3jTfhjbRde6ojphD2roY0ID3dtVArfg5OJEDe9pOHddD9rrAXYziWRZva5jkT-6q7uOvhNNFQSkf3lnNvAbMBMteq7jmZ4rKn9rNbVnS4M0dI8Yt/s1600/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9h9lX9M1E1qTkcVDYVs16fSuE_OE3jTfhjbRde6ojphD2roY0ID3dtVArfg5OJEDe9pOHddD9rrAXYziWRZva5jkT-6q7uOvhNNFQSkf3lnNvAbMBMteq7jmZ4rKn9rNbVnS4M0dI8Yt/s320/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+7.jpg" width="258" /></a></span></div>
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After presoaking, bring the tea to a boil for around 3-5 minutes. </div>
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If presoaking was skipped, bring the tea to a boil for around 5-7 minutes. </div>
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The exact time will depend on the thickness of your stalks & stems as well as your preference.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt1R2F6CgzHmVYyFz_syY0vwSEA924ybrNas-RN4G1KpFHGsi0WN5wYJB9hsDW2f00Alzbq2eQQ5CuXJAJEGhY2Bkx_esNx0CJxOBjIZFz16AEW4T1aKqgCbSkp7co8N8uI_lW20K01jC/s1600/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt1R2F6CgzHmVYyFz_syY0vwSEA924ybrNas-RN4G1KpFHGsi0WN5wYJB9hsDW2f00Alzbq2eQQ5CuXJAJEGhY2Bkx_esNx0CJxOBjIZFz16AEW4T1aKqgCbSkp7co8N8uI_lW20K01jC/s640/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+8.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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A change in the tea's color should be noticeable when it nears being ready.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwG0ll0mGgfZ8wnWhyphenhyphenjNcxZeN4nhmZTsHXlY1GbLzgh2m5v3jD37notfY2dHCxil0cpwPTVYRlZiXeIbfJGtxPOcoOWhHlx9rOklqzzi8qLwjgS70oICSB0M45aCvrVgZ7bZv8FKRZFnb/s1600/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwG0ll0mGgfZ8wnWhyphenhyphenjNcxZeN4nhmZTsHXlY1GbLzgh2m5v3jD37notfY2dHCxil0cpwPTVYRlZiXeIbfJGtxPOcoOWhHlx9rOklqzzi8qLwjgS70oICSB0M45aCvrVgZ7bZv8FKRZFnb/s400/Wild+Indiana+Sassafras+Tea+9.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Allow the tea to steep & cool to your desire. </div>
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Removing the stalks & stems before drinking is not a necessity, just a preference.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a first for both tasks--boiling water in a plastic bottle and making sassafras tea. Both experiments proved successful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Tea Suggestions:</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If a stronger flavor is desired, also use (or only use) the root of sassafras. I've found that using the stalks & stems is sometimes preferred if my water source is limited; they require less pre-washing than the roots. With a stronger tea flavor, I enjoy adding a bit of honey if it's available. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Boiling Water in a Plastic Bottle Suggestions:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make sure to leave a bit of air at the top of your bottle, and boil the water with the lid off. Flames can touch the bottle without the plastic melting; however, disfiguration & discoloring will occur from the flames. Do not allow flames to rise up past your water level. The part of the bottle above the water will melt if touched by fire or severe heat. Rig up a tripod or stick & string to make holding the bottle in place easier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://yukonrivertrip.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Check out my Yukon River Trip blog!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>smnietenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14774830229202508249noreply@blogger.com0Hoosier National Forest39.021317574376809 -86.3772583007812538.823983574376811 -86.699981800781245 39.218651574376807 -86.054534800781255tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858598106295057082.post-52583962241770405082011-11-25T20:00:00.000-05:002011-11-26T08:43:32.498-05:00A Hoosier Sunset Evokes Awe<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I often grumble and wish myself miles away from my home in the Midwest--if I could just walk out my back door and stand in the shadows of a magnificent mountain range...or if I could only be lulled to sleep every night by a lazy river twisting itself through a dense, rolling forest of evergreens...if only....</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI0iKxRShkMgSR29Wp47MtmV_Wni44G2W0rrUDF872LflZiOwjZIC6xeEvS0UG55vj5mpl4xqDpmDNZXcvMTjSkdTX5iD5Xgzk-J1bG1p5ZLaA1JsADqvE9p6GHOi0Y7XO5WUdFE-Terl/s1600/IndianaSunSet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioI0iKxRShkMgSR29Wp47MtmV_Wni44G2W0rrUDF872LflZiOwjZIC6xeEvS0UG55vj5mpl4xqDpmDNZXcvMTjSkdTX5iD5Xgzk-J1bG1p5ZLaA1JsADqvE9p6GHOi0Y7XO5WUdFE-Terl/s400/IndianaSunSet.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tonight's Indiana Autumn Sunset</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's in those too frequent internal (and sometimes external) griping moments when I fool myself into thinking that I could leave this state without missing the alluring beauty Indiana has surrounded me with since birth. The truth is...I know I would miss the sights, sounds, and smells of an Indiana fall. Her exquisite autumn sunsets still amaze me and pacify my soul. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's moments like this when an unexpected treasure reminds me that I need to slow down, stop, and absorb more of the <i>nows</i> instead of the <i>if onlys</i>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In honor of my home state, here's a few more glimpses of some Indiana blessings Jake & I have come to cherish over the years. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbS2Z5FEGGiMbGo3quO1Qk6Rm7C7hJ9oburZ11CUoFps4vHQN_1vhK8dSR_BjqRI1ZvV1EzFwYVgTEfKc6Nf1QQYCS44kh1JD0d1nhTSP4V4dg858sPEqkwumDtZyNZXuQkBAK-NT1qE3K/s1600/Southern+Indiana+Lake+Summer+2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbS2Z5FEGGiMbGo3quO1Qk6Rm7C7hJ9oburZ11CUoFps4vHQN_1vhK8dSR_BjqRI1ZvV1EzFwYVgTEfKc6Nf1QQYCS44kh1JD0d1nhTSP4V4dg858sPEqkwumDtZyNZXuQkBAK-NT1qE3K/s400/Southern+Indiana+Lake+Summer+2003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Stunning Indiana Sunset, Summer 2003</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uEZ2ibXmWYdmCQJL12aXhEd3QuUmxrDvFUtsMFmzIny5IanvlqdJf8lsSX2F3GG8HDN-edauXlGNvjcM4gjTfFNooOT8Ryomj-9u1uzwtgvYxuko_c4JVStU-qz80PCq5kdIOT8nv8JZ/s1600/Turkey+Run2_jan_%252706+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uEZ2ibXmWYdmCQJL12aXhEd3QuUmxrDvFUtsMFmzIny5IanvlqdJf8lsSX2F3GG8HDN-edauXlGNvjcM4gjTfFNooOT8Ryomj-9u1uzwtgvYxuko_c4JVStU-qz80PCq5kdIOT8nv8JZ/s400/Turkey+Run2_jan_%252706+017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey Run State Park, January 2006</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSypnjiQ-OqcbNkvWh8sLkJor3qqIgxejJIHADjshD8SCYbeR-QebnTtH1pt4SHghbFY71gqOQhqdlD2r7-WMx3mh_C3OCMzktugw2kxbKQPXIS2ng1AIjPwEb2v_7m01HW-xV-pYKWz-9/s1600/Hickory+Ridge+Fire+Tower+in+HNF+Spring+2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSypnjiQ-OqcbNkvWh8sLkJor3qqIgxejJIHADjshD8SCYbeR-QebnTtH1pt4SHghbFY71gqOQhqdlD2r7-WMx3mh_C3OCMzktugw2kxbKQPXIS2ng1AIjPwEb2v_7m01HW-xV-pYKWz-9/s400/Hickory+Ridge+Fire+Tower+in+HNF+Spring+2003.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hickory Ridge Fire Tire in Hoosier National Forest, Spring 2003</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52fsC2NXHohKOu7bAPq3cS5ZiIhdLF9VwBADGFgZWfCPU-aZChawml1sJzQY8WhbG-GmNLtBetq0pzn1EXH5APLeqkH2_R7_dC-Vdy5PezjloHisTxpFryJNx2MmstlwhErS74wXl3m4t/s1600/Indiana+Field+Falll+2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52fsC2NXHohKOu7bAPq3cS5ZiIhdLF9VwBADGFgZWfCPU-aZChawml1sJzQY8WhbG-GmNLtBetq0pzn1EXH5APLeqkH2_R7_dC-Vdy5PezjloHisTxpFryJNx2MmstlwhErS74wXl3m4t/s400/Indiana+Field+Falll+2000.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Fall 2000</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDgQkgOoTwFjnHwaE9t23dg8bofTNB41-r565mipfkkqIMlBFu69FryZSG0MmvVE6AyKEkOe9_rDV_Z5JjLh1QfFTRRR0OlKow5gagXaxgDTdG6LDjhSE_S3cQFV7C2QsSiUXaTwDVRL_/s1600/Southern+Indiana+May+1999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDDgQkgOoTwFjnHwaE9t23dg8bofTNB41-r565mipfkkqIMlBFu69FryZSG0MmvVE6AyKEkOe9_rDV_Z5JjLh1QfFTRRR0OlKow5gagXaxgDTdG6LDjhSE_S3cQFV7C2QsSiUXaTwDVRL_/s400/Southern+Indiana+May+1999.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Indiana, May 1999</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbE7vFzo1nX1kAUQtokDdr3AkBV31YHE9VE5wfuKJ61PuhXFrTnruPJsfhDiWEGYKL6dzox48TFHvIAc3QudUMDf1d-opBBLJgRizJQXyKaGhQBtDGmJOCgJ-vbDROajdLnhx6_B5iTt_Q/s1600/McCormick%2527s+Creek+Jan2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbE7vFzo1nX1kAUQtokDdr3AkBV31YHE9VE5wfuKJ61PuhXFrTnruPJsfhDiWEGYKL6dzox48TFHvIAc3QudUMDf1d-opBBLJgRizJQXyKaGhQBtDGmJOCgJ-vbDROajdLnhx6_B5iTt_Q/s400/McCormick%2527s+Creek+Jan2010.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McCormick's Creek State Park, January 2010</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kH9Xy94HbsZk9P4iDywiFQZj03gHxnWVTUTh4DHFPGyfvR_SFceeRrGansjTDceUI82v24ZVIJ198G5QQsZ0LNAlLEMqRhvwgCvgOgSpOcC90qaOsOSEtlm-47hoC0ivRrTUmf2SU5iT/s1600/Spring+Mill+98_0053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kH9Xy94HbsZk9P4iDywiFQZj03gHxnWVTUTh4DHFPGyfvR_SFceeRrGansjTDceUI82v24ZVIJ198G5QQsZ0LNAlLEMqRhvwgCvgOgSpOcC90qaOsOSEtlm-47hoC0ivRrTUmf2SU5iT/s400/Spring+Mill+98_0053.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring Mill State Park, 1998</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zXiUkiQnsyTfUoKCLTPwh3qW5CGWkcJA3E3nkcoCZ2HzYGXfd8-CyKS6JmKtMszXSgJrVCAULn32HviQH9gz-87ZHKTgPCbUpwgs8a7HCw2M1LnDm8wqN_6VdYLvGWsTreDaGH8KOR1m/s1600/mariian+Indiana2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zXiUkiQnsyTfUoKCLTPwh3qW5CGWkcJA3E3nkcoCZ2HzYGXfd8-CyKS6JmKtMszXSgJrVCAULn32HviQH9gz-87ZHKTgPCbUpwgs8a7HCw2M1LnDm8wqN_6VdYLvGWsTreDaGH8KOR1m/s400/mariian+Indiana2011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking in Wilbur Wright State Recreational Area, Fall 2011 </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4evst2s4uKb9c6ogzawlVICt4ednRJFbo9OQi_XOQmvteRpLaBi7nWO8O3OdZ140rWme_odj-puTLlAZDjQu0xCmU832t6mjNhhi4nhb4VcTuIgZZ-yO34qZtjyggPjS8SX3A0AbReVt/s1600/nature+preserve+hike+07+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY4evst2s4uKb9c6ogzawlVICt4ednRJFbo9OQi_XOQmvteRpLaBi7nWO8O3OdZ140rWme_odj-puTLlAZDjQu0xCmU832t6mjNhhi4nhb4VcTuIgZZ-yO34qZtjyggPjS8SX3A0AbReVt/s400/nature+preserve+hike+07+005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking in a Nature Preserve Near Summit Lake State Park, 2007</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirAhXewtJ6ihm7HPbgVc8md3WPCDSDsjnGOuaQykgEi9FjKCRuqQreZfjSVVb9pxtQKMY7Ni8URfB6rhDvyEvA99_F4bS3wXbSomam0BLHgu3rjZ4nuJLwpZ8yY2nyR2sF0i6QSYFDRzA/s1600/McCormick%2527s+Creek+SP+Indiana+Summer+2000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirAhXewtJ6ihm7HPbgVc8md3WPCDSDsjnGOuaQykgEi9FjKCRuqQreZfjSVVb9pxtQKMY7Ni8URfB6rhDvyEvA99_F4bS3wXbSomam0BLHgu3rjZ4nuJLwpZ8yY2nyR2sF0i6QSYFDRzA/s400/McCormick%2527s+Creek+SP+Indiana+Summer+2000.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">McCormick's Creek State Park, Summer 2000</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dX1rjSHvmyKL6iuJybsgFzqFItwOEPRy_j7fWZTu7t_21AxC0zxHaT7z62oj1Q_5dhYFQSYi76oaEePz4hYcwaPpvBPmf85j8I9XeW7rpoeRwz5yv4ogvJjb6hyQFUAWHztHV72jugSh/s1600/Summit+Lake+State+Park+IN+Fall+2001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dX1rjSHvmyKL6iuJybsgFzqFItwOEPRy_j7fWZTu7t_21AxC0zxHaT7z62oj1Q_5dhYFQSYi76oaEePz4hYcwaPpvBPmf85j8I9XeW7rpoeRwz5yv4ogvJjb6hyQFUAWHztHV72jugSh/s400/Summit+Lake+State+Park+IN+Fall+2001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summit Lake State Park, 2001</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSZ7a9Yz3qDDZErLn1hIrexKaOaBfWdtKARay-PDw0UJW_PFCRlfB9xtLwq-MPh9lYLOsFHPGqbgV4_BUVGD-ii_r4HmTtMzQiZfes-cuY8OyjFy2Q0LFyo1C1YLIDHWJdsKZqyIDS5VI/s1600/Yellowwood+Hike+Jan.+07+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSZ7a9Yz3qDDZErLn1hIrexKaOaBfWdtKARay-PDw0UJW_PFCRlfB9xtLwq-MPh9lYLOsFHPGqbgV4_BUVGD-ii_r4HmTtMzQiZfes-cuY8OyjFy2Q0LFyo1C1YLIDHWJdsKZqyIDS5VI/s400/Yellowwood+Hike+Jan.+07+017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellowwood State Forest Hike, 2007</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoRaNQoNBlPBRtW4mpxizsYItUd-zHgVHkcxFmLzGjG9K7xmzqyOPwQUv843l6NN1DodHVn7HHyguyeuqTpLcOB_b8YGR4Sr-JHPg9AWHwnJVgq14zshO4_qe9P-cEKUJvF1rZYlaTCy7/s1600/Southern+IN+May+%252799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoRaNQoNBlPBRtW4mpxizsYItUd-zHgVHkcxFmLzGjG9K7xmzqyOPwQUv843l6NN1DodHVn7HHyguyeuqTpLcOB_b8YGR4Sr-JHPg9AWHwnJVgq14zshO4_qe9P-cEKUJvF1rZYlaTCy7/s400/Southern+IN+May+%252799.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Indiana, 1999</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Visit my <a href="http://yukonrivertrip.blogspot.com/">Yukon River Trip blog</a>!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>smnietenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14774830229202508249noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8858598106295057082.post-41479103266330656592011-11-10T21:30:00.000-05:002013-12-21T03:10:20.128-05:00Silver Fox Spotted in Noblesville, Indiana<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokZbaG9Bd7ULvwiNc37deBtLpgeb8BgdNTda-sl65KeLlcyVKKDbeXpZ8Bv6I0nFgfun20sLUdC0Jln7At6vM_9gcnb4oIKNw9aLcD6bXMm2LNeYY3KyeszViWRFCV0l_pYbEK_ROT3qu/s1600/Silver+Fox+Zefram+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokZbaG9Bd7ULvwiNc37deBtLpgeb8BgdNTda-sl65KeLlcyVKKDbeXpZ8Bv6I0nFgfun20sLUdC0Jln7At6vM_9gcnb4oIKNw9aLcD6bXMm2LNeYY3KyeszViWRFCV0l_pYbEK_ROT3qu/s400/Silver+Fox+Zefram+Wikimedia+Commons.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver Fox Photo by Zefram, <i>Wikimedia Commons</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">With the recent time change</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">, Jake & I found ourselves heading home from one of my annual fall musical rehearsals in total blackness, making 6:30 feel more like 11:30 to our unadjusted internal clocks. As we slithered our way through some of Hamilton County's newest round-abouts, the familiar flashes of farmland and neighborhoods with mammoth homes took turns erasing the undone To-Do's from my rigorous day at work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Eye sheen of a small four-legged figure near the road snatched my attention on 166th Street near the Stonycreek Golf Club in Noblesville, Indiana. My mind tried to make sense of the solo creature by the side of the road. This dog-like animal was...definitely <i>not</i> a dog. "A fox, Jake...do you see the fox?" By the time the words left my mouth, the fox was far behind us, but not before that white triangular tipped tail seared its image in my mind. "Wait. What was that? I've never seen a tail like that." I wasn't so sure what I had seen...not until my Google search later that night.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82DGWjLq1ikXt3FM2ATqMhHKr9sAov4lc3l_84itpopKacH090eo84f55xNcDyLGyh4vzBYx2Km5Vbtn0r29prTa8jgFCy5WqxkAudkpApBo21qqtnQ6xFyM7AYSWmS0nMyqC8unLsTLw/s1600/Silver+Fox+by+Paul+Burwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82DGWjLq1ikXt3FM2ATqMhHKr9sAov4lc3l_84itpopKacH090eo84f55xNcDyLGyh4vzBYx2Km5Vbtn0r29prTa8jgFCy5WqxkAudkpApBo21qqtnQ6xFyM7AYSWmS0nMyqC8unLsTLw/s400/Silver+Fox+by+Paul+Burwell.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver Fox photo by Paul Burwell*</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">According to Wikipedia, "the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_fox_%28animal%29">silver fox</a> is a melanistic form of red fox." Silver fox don their coats in a variety of colors, ranging from ash-colored to bluish-grey to entirely black with the exception of the white-tipped tail, and their pelts "were among the most valued furbearers." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanism">Melanism</a> is the occurrence of an increased amount of dark pigmentation of skin...or hair in an organism...and [is] the opposite of albinism." Panthers, squirrels, and even the coral snake are examples of other animals that can display this dominant gene.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">*<a href="http://www.paulburwell.com/about/">Paul Burwell</a> is an award-winning wildlife photographer; </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I highly suggest visiting his website <a href="http://www.paulburwell.com/">Paul Burwell Photography</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">to marvel at Burwell's talent with his wild subjects.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Visit my <a href="http://yukonrivertrip.blogspot.com/">Yukon River Trip blog</a>!</span></div>
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