Brandi & Luke

We have been enjoying the splendor that is Huntsville’s autumn from the inside looking out… literally. However, the weekend of November 8, the Luke and Brandi family immersed themselves into the kaleidoscope of color, crispness, and southern charm.

First things first, we prepare ourselves for our early morning trail dozing. Instead of CASA, today we are volunteering with one of the many land trust areas. This particular land trust property boasts a  1,091 acres of graded paths, a stream bed with waterfall, mini-canyon lookout, and the whispering memories and remnants of the “old Huntsville RR.” No, we did not cover all 1,091 acres this morning, just in case you were wondering.

I learned many things in the CASA project the weekend before. One being how to properly plastic/insulate an airconditioning unit and two how to build a wheelchair ramp. Although, I was given a job on the ramp..(hammering bumpers), I have a feeling my biggest contribution was my lively chatter… Our group was an ensemble of Dynetics employees. Well, besides Luke these guys were also retired Army and belonged to a group called the U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association. A google definition of this is: A not for profit military professional association representing Army Warrant Officers, active, guard, reserve, retired and former warrants since 1972.

The camaraderie and results of physical labor were so addicting. I became an instant addict and cannot wait to join in on the project again next month!

The land trust gig was incredible. At first, we chose this project because (a) it would give us first hand knowledge of another set of trails available to us in Huntsville and (b) we had wanted to go hiking anyway. We will show up again for the same reasons as the CASA job plus the opportunity to be a part of the conservation and edification of one of God’s many grand and wonderfully made masterpieces. (as I call any stretch of land, forest, and/or mountain that does not include the human scar that is the subdivision) I learned a whole new language this time and that is: what I refer to as hedge trimmers are now “loppers” (this was my job and they gave me the dignified title of a “lopologist”), a rather atrocious two headed axe thing became a “polasky”, and finally a rather sophisticated metal rake a … something that started with an “m”. (this obviously was not my job)

At noon, Luke and I headed off into downtown Huntsville to explore this thing we had only read about in books and seen on calendar pictures… Autumn.

All in all, a wonderful day, that is until the LSU/Bama game…

This entry was posted on Friday, November 14th, 2008 at 7:13 am and is filed under All. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.