An assembly of August moments, recollected in tranquility….
My current focus is on river evenings, with its spinner falls…
Having missed the rains of recent weeks, the streams of north-central PA are getting very low…
The nymphal shucks of Isonychia bicolor presage the appearance of a favorite mayfly, the “Slate Drake.”
Enjoyed a weekend visit with Brent & Catherine & her family… Brent’s remark about the summer wildflowers (here, the Vervain) reminded me that they are colorful and various but often overlooked in taller grasses…
Our Aaron Dolecki sculpture in the “rec room”…
A mayfly spinner on the surface of Dyke Creek reminds me of the vast fragility found in much of nature…
We like “visitors” here at Rivertop Rambles…
Cedar waxwings perch above a stonefly hatch…
Double beaver dams near the house…
Years ago we made “pink lemonade” (w/ vitamin C) from staghorn sumac…
2 bamboo. My E.W. Edwards “Deluxe” and the Heddon 35 Peerless (a.k.a. the Founders’ Rod)…
Pine Creek, low water at Slate Run village. North-central PA has missed the rains of late…
I caught a wild brown & a brook on lower Slate Run but retreated quickly due to low water. Better to drink a cold one near the “sculpture garden”…
Straub Beer is a big supporter of Slate Run’s “Brown Trout Club,” supplying German browns to the Delayed Harvest waters of Pine Creek at Slate Run…
Leighanne & Alyssa enjoying cold ones at the mouth of Slate Run, former mill site of Jacob Tome, ca. 1791….
Rivertop Rambles 
Looks like a good ending for a too-short weekend. It would have been fun to sit at the hotel and drink a cold beer as well, but sadly the rat race was calling.
On another note, those beavers are either getting ambitious or they’re learning that two dams stay intact in a flood better than one alone.
Those beavers are on the cutting edge of the construction business in the rodent world. Double dams have got to be sturdier than their single one that got washed out earlier this year. And yes, the weekend was short but sweet. Glad that all you guys could make it here!
I was just thinking about trying some sumac lemonade, since I’ve got a fridge full of lemons. How is it?
Bob, it’s been a long time since I’ve tried it, but I seem to remember it as fairly tasty. You collect fresh heads, cover with water, mash, strain with cloths, and sweeten to taste. You don’t need the lemons, but maybe a mix would be real good.
P. S. Will try to send off books tomorrow!
Fine photos Walt.
Love the rock art.
Thanks Alan. Yeah the rock art shown is just one of several in the area of the run. I thought it complementary to the spirit of the valley.
Don’t drink anymore, but still appreciate a good beer sign. Have one for me.
Will do, Les. I’m not a huge fan of its taste, but the company is a great financial supporter of catch-and-release fishing in the area, so I don’t mind swillin’ a Straub every now and then.
Everything about this post spells fish, one way or another, even the beer sign has that fishy look to it. Nice post, thanks for sharing
Bill, I guess I’m just an old trout bum. With fish (and birds and all of nature) at the hub of my wheel, I keep rollin’ through these times, enjoying it while I can. I’m sure you can relate, and thanks for noticing!
Great photos. Love the cedar waxwings. When they start getting active I know the fish will follow soon!
Thank you, Mark. Those waxwings look like feathered tough guys, pretty though. When we see them over the stream, it’s like they’re giving us a whistle and sayin’, Go get ’em!
Beautiful photos Walt. I’m sure that spinner didn’t make it far before it was slurped up.
Thanks Long. Right, the spinners have been bringing trout to the surface quite a bit these evenings, with their cool water and cloudy sky conditions. Locally the fishing has been pretty good from late evening until dark.
Beautiful shots and an interesting mix. Summertime looks like a lot of fun up there.
Glad you like the end result, Jim. Usually when one has a moment to reflect on recent happenings, there’s a mix of images in the head, and if there’s a common theme or themes to it, all the better.
Great pictures! This a relaxing get away for weekends. Fly fishing will be top on my list this next summer.
Thanks Jill! There’s nothing like a good fly-fishing weekend in fine weather. Hope that you enjoy, and please stop by often.