Kay and I drove east Monday some 300 miles to visit family in eastern Virginia, arriving about 1:30 pm. The first couple of hours were spent catching up, and then we sort of unpacked, visited some more, and “crashed and burned” for a decent night’s sleep.
We all ventured out Tuesday to see their community pickleball courts, hike a James River trail. And visit their Master Gardener’s pollinator garden. A few butterflies were observed, including a new lifer, a Cabbage White.
Cabbage White
Also, several damselflies were bouncing from place to place.
And then, even a few dragonflies were spotted.We all enjoyed a homemade shrimp and egg noodle alfredo dish for dinner, before watching a bit of television and retiring for the evening.
On our final day, Wednesday, we had coffee at a large church’s coffee shop, and visited their off-site thrift shop, where brother-in-law George volunteers. Afterwards, we went shopping. One of the neat things about high population areas, such as the greater Richmond, VA, area, is the variety of shopping available, and many “big name” outdoor stores are available such as REI and Sierra Trading Post. None of us bought much, though I did buy a pair of cheap sunglasses for the trip back home. And then we stopped at a pollinator garden created and maintained by master gardeners; both Nan and George are master gardeners. And then, it was off to their public pickleball courts which were really nice, including the two individually covered courts. Both Kay and I found groups with which to play, and we had a good time.
We visited with Geoff and in the afternoon, and again that evening. He is an outstanding young man (though maybe not so young anymore), and we enjoyed his recap of a recent work trip to India.
All in all our family visit with Nan and George was really good, perhaps the best we’ve experienced, and we thank them much for hosting us.
After a night of good rest, Kay explored the breakfast area (i.e. kitchen), seeing what was offered for the “breakfast” portion of the B&B. To our dismay breakfast was a serve yourself minimal continental breakfast: for us that was coffee for the both of us, juice for me, and raisins and bananas for the road. Nevertheless the accommodations were clean and comfortable.
The first stop of the day was French Camp at MP 180.7. French Camp. The town dates back to circa 1810, when a Frenchman, Louis Lefleur, established a stand or trading post and inn.
House at French Camp
Another Old Trace stop at MP 221.4 preserves a portion of a nearly 200 year old postal road, the Old Natchez Trace.
Bynum Mounds, at MP 232.4, is the oldest mound site along Natchez Trace Parkway. These mounds were created by American Indians in what was known as the Middle Woodland Period between 100 BCE-100 CE.
Bynum MoundsBynum Mounds
Around 2,000 to 1,800 years ago native people built Pharr Mounds (MP 282.7), a complex of eight dome-shaped mounds, spread over 90 acres.
Pharr Mounds
A stop at Sunken Trace, MP 350.5, provides a view three different detours made to avoid mud.
When the trail became so water logged that wagons could not be pulled through, travelers cut new paths through the nearby woods as a detour.
One of three detours One of three detoursOne of three detours
Meriwether Lewis Death and Burial Site, MP 385.9 features a Daughters of the American Revolution marker commemorating the historic Natchez Trace, a section of the Old Trace, and the Meriwether Lewis Burial Monument. The Daughters of the American Revolution, D.A.R, began a program in 1903 to place markers along the old Natchez Trace to prevent losing all traces of the one-famous military road in Mississippi. This is one such example. Similar programs were later adopted in Alabama and in Tennessee.
DAR commemorative marker
This trail is a section of the Old Natchez Trace, evolved from bison and American Indian trails, into a mail route and government road is the old southwest, cut and opened under authority of the US government, after treaties negotiated with the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations in 1801.
Lastly, The Meriwether Lewis monument marks the burial site of famed explorer Meriwether Lewis on the Natchez Trace Parkway near present day Hohenwald, Tennessee. The Meriwether Lewis Monument was built in 1848 with funding provided by the Tennessee legislature. The legislation provided $500 “to preserve the place of internment, where the remains of General Meriwether Lewis were deposited.”
Meriwether Lewis burial site
After viewing the above sites, Kay and I enjoyed a picnic lunch under the shade of old, old trees.
From this stop we drove to near the northern terminus at MP 444, before heading north and east to our overnight accommodations in Abington, Virginia (we were delayed 45 minutes on I40 near Bristol, Tennessee, because of traffic.
About midnight, I arose from a “nap” and shaped the sourdough bread dough into a “ball” and shifted it to a parchment paper lined Dutch oven for its final rise. After a few more hours of sleep, Kay and I got up (4 am) and I put the bread into a preheated oven to bake. And then I mixed dough for sourdough Lemony Blueberry Muffins which went into the oven after the bread finished baking. Kitchen cleanup followed, and we prepped for departure.
We left the house at 7:45 am, driving east then south some five and a half hours to the Southern Terminus, Milepost (MP) “0” of the Natchez Trace Parkway (NTP).
Milepost 0, NTP
Traveling the Natchez Trace Parkway has been a bucket list item for several years. The following describes some of the sights along the way.
From 1818-1845, Elizabeth Female Academy stood on the southern end of the Old Trace. It was the first female institution of higher learning charted by the state of Mississippi. It was one of the first institutions to offer college degrees to women in Mississippi and one of the first female colleges in the country. The ruins, at MP 5.1, are shown here.
Elizabeth Female Academy, MP 5.1
The Mount Locust Historic House (c. 1784) at MP 15.5 is one of the oldest structures in Mississippi. The house sits atop a tract of land just off the Natchez Trace that was originally used for farming by the home’s original owners William and Paulina Ferguson. The grounds of Mount Locust include an enslaved person cemetery, the Ferguson-Chamberlain cemetery, and a brick kiln site, where slaves made the bricks to build parts of the Ferguson-Chamberlain home.
Mount Locust Historic HouseMount Locus Historic House
Constructed from a natural hill nearly 1,000 years ago, Mangum Mound, MP 45.7 is still a sacred site for today’s American Indian tribes.
Mangum Mound
We arrived at Kosciusko, Mississippi (MP 160) for overnighting at Maple Terrace Inn B&B. Restaurants were far and few between, “forcing” us to eat at McDonald’s. The B&B was a stately old house, and we stayed in the Bombay room. We were tired and absent enough sleep the last couple of nights, sleep came early (before 8:30 pm for me). Breakfast consisted of a DIY continental breakfast featuring frozen breakfast sandwiches and a bit of fruit—oh, of course coffee. Not what we expected.
Kay and I are in full swing with golf and pickleball; she plays golf a couple times a week and pickleball three or four times a week, and I play golf three times a week and pickleball four times a week. In as much as it doesn’t occupy all of our time, we’re usually too sore and tired to do much of anything else.
Our Memorial Day weekend consisted of pickleball on Friday and Saturday, followed by a visit of the Maumelle kids (Karyn, Ridge, and Aker) on Sunday. Of course the kids had to play pickleball and take a trip to the beach.
Tuesday evening was “Hand and Foot” night at the Starr’s as seven couples played after heavy hors d’oeuvres, Both our teams won a little bit of money.
Wednesday, May 28, was a busy day for the both of us. Kay played golf in the morning, while I photographed at home, Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area, home again, and then I played pickleball followed by having the car serviced in the late afternoon. The first photo session at home proved to be a good one as several “first of season” (FOS) butterflies visited the garden: Common Buckeye, Horace’s Duskywing, Little Glassywing, and Fiery Skipper.
Common BuckeyeFiery SkipperLittle GlassywingHorace’s Duskywing
Even dragonfly appeared long enough for a photograph
And then, my FOS Diana Fritillaries were observed at Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area.
Not many other species of butterflies were observed, but Common Buckeyes, Eastern Tailed-blues, Little Wood-Satyr, and Hoary Edge Skipper.
Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area is still producing nice wildflower blooms.
Indian PinkCarolina RoseLarkspurHorse NettleBee BalmPrickly Pear Cactus
And then, back at the house, an Orange Sulphur was observed.
Orange Sulphur
Also, an Eastern Amberwing dragonfly was seen near the lakeshore.
Eastern Amberwing
On Thursday, a few dragonfly and damselfly species were observed near the lakeshore at home: Common Green Darner Dragonfly, Eastern Amberwing Dragonfly and Slender Bluet Damselflies sharing a stick-up, a Variable Dancer Damselfly, and a Black-shouldered Spinyleg Dragonfly.
Common Green DarnerBlack-shouldered SpinylegCommon Green DarnerVariable DancerEastern Amberwing Dragonfly and Slender Bluet Damselflies
And the pollinator garden was quite active. Below are photographs of a Dun Skipper, Hoary Edge Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper, and Southern Brokendash Skipper.
Dun SkipperSouthern BrokendashTawny Edged SkipperHoary Edge
And then on Friday, more FOS butterfly species showed up at the garden including first time visitors Diana Fritillary and Hackberry Emperor.
Diana FritillaryHackberry Emperor
Not to be outdone, a Tufted Titmouse took advantage of the bird bath for a good soaking.
Tufted Titmouse
After pickleball Saturday morning, Kay and I drove to the Memphis area to attend Sutton and Harper’s dance recital. They were both beautiful and amazing, and growing up entirely too fast!
Harper in centerDD, KK, and LincDD and HarperHarper in centerSutton on rightSutton
We returned home on Sunday, tired but playing a few holes of golf to end the month.
It was all about pickleball Friday and Saturday morning as Kay and I played in our respective groups—competitive and fun. And then on Sunday, we observed four games of AAU basketball. Ridge played well, and he brought home a runner-up championship ring.
Despite wet conditions, pickleball was the activity of the day on Monday and it proved quite competitive and FUN.
It was too wet for golf on Tuesday (cart path only) so I drove to Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area for the first time in several weeks. Some decent wildflower blooms were photographed.
Also, a few butterflies flitted from bloom to bloom despite the wind.
Little Wood-SatyrMourning CloakAmerican LadyLittle Wood-SatyrLittle Wood-SatyrEastern Tailed-bluePearl CrescentMonarch
Even a couple dragonflies were spotted.
Kay had a dental appointment Wednesday morning in lieu of Lady Duffer golf, and then we both played pickleball in the Diamante ladder in the afternoon. I played pretty awful, getting in too big of a hurry, and trying to make shots I’m not capable of making.
Thursday was a day of celebration as the first two butterflies of the year were observed in the butterfly garden.
American LadyNorthern Brokendash
And a few dragonflies and damselflies were zooming about the shoreline.
Calico PennantEastern AmberwingSlender Bluet
A not-so-good game of golf was played in the afternoon—decent ball striking, poor scoring.
The first couple weeks of May have been beset with wind and rain, and generally mild temperatures, making gardening and photography difficult.
On April Fools’ Day, Thursday, our Green Heron hung out by the dock for a while, and allowed a few portraits to be made. The bird looks so funny with its crest sticking up. It was intent on catching small fish for breakfast.
Kay spent most of the day assisting with preparations for the United Women of Faith (UWF, formerly United Methodist Women) from our church prepare for the annual garage sale. It’s a BIG deal, and over $20,000 is raised each year for deserving charities. I played a pretty decent game of golf at Magellan golf course. Also on Thursday, a gardener removed leaves from the from beds, trimmed all the shrubs in the yard, and planted four azaleas.
Kay worked as one of the cashiers for the UWF garage sale on Friday, and I played pickleball at Diamante. Pickleball was a blast with a number of really good games.
The gardener returned on Saturday and placed mulch on the front beds, and removed gravel to expand the butterfly garden. Removing the gravel really saved my back! Six bags of top soil were dumped in the newly cleared garden. Last year’s garden, though smaller, attracted 41 species.
After a trip to Home Depot Sunday morning, more top soil was added to the butterfly garden, and butterfly and hummingbird friendly flowers were planted. While it looks good, it is till relatively bare until even more flowers are planted and all the flowers mature. That will also help control weeds.
Kay and I both played pickleball on Monday morning; she played at Diamante and I played at the POA courts on the west side.
A few bird photos were made on Tuesday morning, and our Tuesday golf game was held to nine holes because of rain; and, it did rain the entire nine holes.
Kay played golf on Wednesday morning, and had a good round. Meanwhile, I observed a lone Great Blue Heron pausing on a neighbor’s dock, offering a “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” photograph.
Without any planned golf or pickleball I began a new project, a dust collection cart for the workshop. Anytime woodworking power tools are used, sawdust envelopes just about every surface in the garage. I acquired the components to build a dust collection system, and it worked well. However, it was not very mobile. Consequently a dust collection cart was designed and built using limited lumber and various available items. The cart was designed to be mobile and hold the vacuum cleaner and the dust collector and bucket. Parts of the next few days (when temperatures were cool in the garage) were devoted to building the cart. Rather than go into a lengthy and verbose description of the process, here’s a photo of the end result. There are still a couple of items to be added such as a “box” on the bottom shelf to hold vacuum cleaner parts.
The Book Club May meeting rolled around on Thursday, May 8, and I played a poor game of golf.
A competitive round of pickleball was played on Friday morning. I’m almost too old to be competing with the “youngsters” playing in the group. Kay celebrated Mother’s Day having dinner with her kids and their families Friday evening (I had a queazy tummy and remained home).
Kay and I both played pickleball Saturday morning, and enjoyed a quiet Mother’s Day Sunday.
Pickleball was again the activity of the day on Monday with Kay and I both playing in the morning with our respective groups. And then our resident Green Heron posed for photographs on the shoreline while “fishing”.
A successful visit to the cardiologist on Tuesday morning was followed by yet another poor game of golf in the afternoon. For some reason, I seem to be topping the ball with all the clubs—it’s got to be caused by lifting the body up on the front swing! Kay is correct when calling golf the devil’s game.
Kay played golf on Wednesday morning and took the opportunity to capture a few birds in the back yard. I played the pickleball ladder at Diamante in the afternoon. Kay played bridge Wednesday evening.
Even a damselfly was photographed.
On Thursday, I finally broke out of the weeklong golf slump, and shot bogey golf on the back nine of Desoto golf course. Of course, luck had a lot to do with it!
And that wraps up our mundane first couple weeks of May 2025.
Though we didn’t do anything unusual or extravagant, this reporting period saw us really busy. Gardening was a high priority. We worked lots of hours trimming shrubs, and neatening up various be in front, chipping shrub trimmings for mulch, and adding plants to the butterfly garden.
A couple of “first of year” bird species made an appearance. “Our” Green Heron arrived on Wednesday, April 24, and should remain here for the rest of the season. This will be the tenth year that this bird and/or members of its family have been here almost daily during the season. Here’s a photo.
Green Heron on our shoreline
And then early Thursday morning, April 25, a couple of Baltimore Orioles came by to check out the hummingbird feeder. We immediately put out an orange half and they decimated it; so, we put out another. And then, after they ate all of its pulp, we bought a bag, but the ensuing orange halves were never touched. They left our place on Sunday morning, April 27. I was never able to get a good photograph, but here’s one from April 28, 2018, when a number of Baltimore Orioles were visiting enmass for about a week.
Baltimore Oriole hanging out in a nearby tree
In addition to gardening and picture taking, most of the days during this reporting period were filled with golf and pickleball.
Kay golfed Wednesday morning, though she did not have a great round, and I played the Diamante Pickleball Ladder in the afternoon, playing better than previously.
She then played pickleball with the Peaches at Diamante on Thursday morning, and I played golf with the guys on Thursday afternoon. Golf with these guys is always lots of fun. In fact, our Tuesday and Thursday golf games and Hole 19s are my favorite activities of the week!
Carolina Chickadees are one of the most popular subjects I photograph, and on Friday, April 18, one posed just long enough for a couple of portraits. (If you want to see more detail, just click on each photo.)
Saturday was without any planned activities, and after a couple of Ruby-throated Hummingbird photos,
a short excursion to Middle Fork Barrens was in order. Many of the target wildflowers were in the final days of their bloom, a few butterflies flitted about, and even a dragonfly landed on a nearby stone.
Easter Sunday was uneventful, and then on Monday, it was back to our regular routines of pickleball—Kay at Diamante while I played at Desoto HSV courts.
A group of Spotted Sandpipers flew though across the lake on Tuesday morning, landing on a neighbor’s rocked bank. These are the first we’ve observed in the neighborhood.
Around lunch, we drove to Bald Knob to watch Ridge compete in a junior high track meet (he’s only in the 7th grade). Prior to the meet, Kay and I had footlong chili cheese slaw dogs at the Bulldog Cafe and Kay topped her’s off with their famous strawberry shortcake. The food was okay, but not near as good as we remember. At the track meet, Ridge did well and had good times, and we were delighted to visit with BIL Gerald and niece Lisa, who met us at the meet.
Kay played golf on Wednesday morning with the Duffers, and shot a really good game with great drives and putts. While she played golf, I took a few photos and then played in a couple of pickleball ladders at Diamante. We were both pretty tired Wednesday evening.
After bunches of rain, it began to dry on Sunday afternoon, allowing play on most golf courses and on the outdoor pickleball courts. Our “Old Men” group reformed and we played some challenging pickleball Monday morning at the DeSoto courts in the Village. It was obvious that a number of us were rusty, but got better as the morning progressed. After pickleball, we drove to Vilonia to watch Ridge participate in a track meet. That kid has a huge heart and outran the closest competitors in both the 4X100 and 4X400 relays despite being significantly behind when he received the baton running the last leg of both relays. While he didn’t win any of the dashes or hurdles, he made a good showing.
The golf courses were too wet—cart path only—resulting in most of our group cancelling Tuesday afternoon golf. On Wednesday morning, Kay played on a wet Coronado golf course; play was slow and tough. And at home, a few birds fed at the seed feeders, yielding photographs of mostly American Goldfinches with a Carolina Chickadee thrown in.
The Diamante Pickleball Ladder welcomed a full house on Wednesday afternoon with two times: 12 noon and 1 PM; I played both, some 7 or 8 games and while loads of fun, it wore me out. Kay also played after the grueling 9 holes of golf, and said she would never do the two on the same day again. And then on Wednesday evening we hosted a Hand and Foot tournament; Gary and Jolene, Janice and Harlan, Helen and Don, Bev and Ron, Marcia and Norm, and Kay and I played. No one was allowed to partner with their spouse. Janice and I came in 6th, but we’ll do better next time.
Kay did The Book Club on Thursday and I played golf. She followed up with pickleball on Friday afternoon while I played Saturday morning with some of my favorite people—Stephanie, Sue, and Gayle; it was like old times when the “Chicks” played everyday. Kay and I sure packed in a lot of activities this week. And then temperatures in the low 80s prompted a visit to Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area to chase butterflies and dragonflies. A few butterflies paused long enough for photos, but the wind kept most in the air.
No dragonflies were observed clinging to shrubs or limbs, or on the ground for that matter. A few wildflowers were evident, though the Fire Pink I was hunting could not be found.
We were both sore and tired from the week’s activities, but we wanted to play golf Sunday afternoon. Helen and Don Baggett joined us for a very windy nine holes at Grenada followed by dinner at the Granada Grill. Golf was painful, i.e. we both played poorly, food was good, and company was great!
Pickleball Monday was with the old men’s group at DeSoto. Don, Tom, Ed, and I played and had a great time. Kay played pickleball with her “Peaches” group at Diamante. Upon returning home, I took a few photos of birds in the back “yard”, and was happy to get two species that do not frequent the feeders: a Pine Siskin and a House Finch.
American GoldfinchPine SiskinHouse Finch
While Kay played pickleball Tuesday with the “Peaches” group at Diamante, I played golf at Magellan. It was not my best game, though the G&T afterwards was great.
As temperatures rose on Sunday, afternoon brought on a few butterfliesce. Though most would not settle to nectar on the few blooming wildflowers, a few paused long enough for capturing a photo or two. In addition to the ones pictured below, I saw a Zebra Swallowtail and an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
Collection of trails and greenway quotes, terms, acronyms, tools as well as trail publications and presentations and 100s of photos from my bicycle and hiking adventures. .
This journal was begun several years ago, and reflects an accurate record of each day fished. Please enjoy it, and remember that fish are too valuable to be caught just once, and the places they live are too valuable to be mistreated.
Dunngone's Photos and Blog 