HUNTINGTON BEACH STATE PARK

WORKING HARD

And I bet you thought that camping was all fun

and games and just relaxing around the campfire.

Well just look at this photo of me working hard

on a poem for my next collection of poetry called

"Beach Dogs."

Actually you really need a lot of mental space
to allow the words to swim around and settle
somewhere pleasant . . .

. . . which is what camping is truly all about!

FRANCES CAMPER CAT

After many months of indecision

I decided to take Frances with us

on a 2 1/2 hour trip to a campsite

on Lake Wateree.

Frances fussed and cried for the first 2 hours.
Once inside the camper, 
she hid in a ball behind bed pillows.

The second day she emerged with
her best friend pig.

From there on all was good and she
was queen of all she saw
and enjoyed a pleasant 
uneventful ride home.

KIPERS FAMILY REUNION

Kipers' Family Reunion
October 6, 2012
Anna Marie Island, Florida
"Phil - Karen - Tom - Debbie"

Missing from event and photo: Chris, Shawn, Gina, Justin, Erin, Benjamin, Matthew, Rebekah, Rachel, Jacob, Isaiah

TOM the pool man

My brother Tom: the inventor, designer, and distributor of

"floating swimming pools" seen here by

one of his many creations in Tampa, Florida.

TRAVELING SOUTH

St. Augustine, Florida

Hilton Resort in Orlando

Thanks to Tom and Debbie

GATORLAND

LUCCI FAMILY REUNION

Penfield, NY
September 16th, 2012

MIDTOWN SCHOLAR BOOKSTORE

This is for all my friends that read or write or just love books. Located in Harrisburg, PA The Midtown Scholar Bookstore is the largest independent bookstore in the country.  The thousands of books outside on shelves are $1 or $2 each. The inside has untold volumes of various prices, immense spaces for reading or writing, an art gallery, stage and wondrous coffee shop.  Located in a reemerging part of town I was touched to see a ?homeless man browse the outside books and carry several in to purchase.  We only stayed an hour, but I could see this as a great place for a day or weekend field trip!

ADIRONDACKS

What a treat to return to the Adirondacks in New York State after

?? at least 30 years. The weather was crisp and the leaves were turning briskly. We stayed in a cabin by the water with a stone fireplace and lots of firewood. Good times and good memories!

Wild Mushrooms - Lake Jocassee

Lake level was still down about 25 feet which just made it look

like the tide was out giving us wonderfully wide beaches.

We were surprised to see more and varied mushrooms

as the forest appeared a lot drier than at Lake Hartwell.

And as you can see from the last photo . . . fall 

and its myriad of colors is moving in.

Camping Twin Lakes

The first night camping gave us a lovely sunset

transforming the entire sky into something

wild and alive and simmering.

...and then it all just faded away......

Enjoying the campfire even before dark.

Wild Mushrooms of Lake Hartwell

I've never seen so many mushrooms in my life

 as I did on a recent camping trip to

 Twin Lakes Campground at Lake Hartwell.

Though in a technical drought, we've received abundant rain

and mixed with high humidity these beauties 

just exploded, appearing everywhere.

The squirrels seemed to enjoy munching the

colorful delicacies, but we did not touch them.