Afternoon in Buffalo River State Park

After last weekend's visit to Maplewood, I got the urge to visit another state part this weekend. This time, it was Buffalo River, which also happens to be a 15 minute drive from me (versus the hour it takes to get to Maplewood). Buffalo is smaller and has less trails, and the biggest reason I don't think of it first is because it is flat. Just a whole lot of prairie with a river and trees. I do love it there though, but Maplewood has the advantage of having hills to climb and lakes. You do tend to appreciate a hill or two when all you see is flatness around you day in and day out.

But I digress. We had a great afternoon walking around. Angus jumped into the river for a bit (and also ended up with a tick, which Chad found today, so it was nice and plump...inner shudder over here). I really want to continue taking them with me, so I'm going to have to get Frontline for them. I hate hate hate ticks and don't want them to get sick from them. I'm loving reconnecting with nature and the only downside is that I am craving having land of my own to discover on a daily basis. Or at least live in the country so I can pretend the surrounding land is mine.

Enough chatter. I'm going to mostly let the photos speak for themselves again. I won't be going to the park again for a couple weeks because they are opening them up the rest of October for hunting. I don't own any blaze orange and have no desire to get shot, so I think it's best to stay away from anyone with a gun.

Also, I don't know what most of these plants are (very sad and something I plan to remedy soon).

See, flatness as far as you can see. I do like the color of the prairie grass against the blue sky though.

This is lichen on a large rock that is left from when this area was under the water of the glacial Lake Agassiz. The colors did not translate too well thanks to the bright sun. It's a pale mint green on a light ruby rock.

Why yes, I do like to take self portraits.

Namesake.

In addition to the tick, Angus was also covered in cockle burrs. Pretty in a picture, but a pain to remove from a dog.

I hope you enjoyed my little trip through the woods! I didn't get much done as far as projects go except for a little knitted item. I hope everyone had a great weekend and that it was spent doing something you love!