mr.d

What a little beauty!

love that smile...God bless ya 

Faith was 6 mos on July 15th, that’s a 9-18% survival rate for trisomy 18 babies. Faith will defy the odds and keep proving that there is power in prayer!

Pennsylvania Great Outdoors: Ghost Towns of the Clarion River Corridor: Lily Pond
July 15, 2019 12:30 am· Author: exploreJefferson   Pennsylvania Great Outdoors submitted the following blog on ghost towns along the Clarion River.
This history is the ninth in a series of articles drawn from the writings of John Imhof in his book Elk County: A Journey through Time published in 2003 describing the ghost towns that once existed along the Clarion River from Ridgway to Hallton and adjacent to Ridgway.
Mr. Imhof’s book is very popular, and the first printing was sold out but is available again through Amazon.com.
Lily Pond – 1840’s to 1904, perhaps the least documented site along the Clarion corridor is the small settlement of Lily Pond.
To call this site a town could be considered a misnomer since it was most likely more of a logging and rafting camp that was used only when work was available. What little is known about Lily Pond comes primarily from this writer’s association with a resident of Portland Mills, Mr. Harry Fulmer. Harry grew up in the Lake City area on the plateau above the Clarion River and Lily Pond. His father, Aaron Fulmer, was a well-known lumberman and raft pilot and is believed to have worked at Lily Pond from time-to-time. This conclusion was drawn from Harry’s memories and from a discovery made many years ago by Ron Cleaver, then also a resident of Portland Mills. Ron, while exploring in the Lily Pond area located a large metal log stamp with the initials A. F., or Aaron Fulmer. Harry recalled his relatives speaking of the area, and physical evidence served to confirm the recollections.
Other sources of information on the site come from accounts, albeit brief, in the classic book “True Tales of the Clarion River.”
One account, by the aforementioned Mr. Oliver Meddock, states that “Aaron Fulmer and other parties were located at Lake City.” This again confirms Harry’s recollections. The account comes from a gentleman named L. G. Reynolds who had spent most of his life working on the river.
Reynolds recalled that, “I saw the giant raft of square timber that was put in at Lily Pond by Andy Rhines. It was cork pine timber and contained fourteen thousand five hundred cubic feet. It was run by Andy Rhines in about 1867.” Meddock further states, “Andrew Rhines was the man who built that splendid lumber camp Lake City, situated two miles above the river in Spring Creek Township. He lost nearly all the timber he had piled along the river.”
(Click on image for a larger version.)
Based on topography, this seems to point to Lily Pond as a shipping point for the Rhines operation. It follows that others would have used this area since it is the most convenient to the Lake City area.
A final account from March 1904 states: “At Lily Pond, between Arroyo and old Beech Bottom and Hallton, David Moore of Summerville put in 25,000 cubic feet of hemlock timber the past winter David Moore has one winter more on his lot.”
One other possibility exists for Lily Pond, but it provides little in the way of additional information. It seems possible that Lily Pond was also known as Middletown, at least to the people in the Lake City area. To this day, the road that once led to Lily Pond from Lake City is still marked as Middletown Road. Since Middletown was such a common name, perhaps Lily Pond was adopted to distinguish the site from the numerous other Middletowns. The name would have made sense, since Lily Pond was located midway between Arroyo and Irwintown or between Hallton and Portland Mills.
A similar naming was applied to a town in Northern Elk County.
That Middletown sat midway between the towns of Sackett and Corduroy. However, this is only a theory and not without alternative explanation. One very good source, Curt Olson of Lake City, has stated that it is his belief that the road was named simply because it was located in “the middle of the town” of Lake City. Lily Pond today is a scenic gem at any season of the year.
The Clarion is particularly beautiful near the site and the hills are steep and covered with large hemlock, laurel, and rhododendron. The grade of the Clarion River Railway makes for easy access, particularly from the canoe launch at Irwintown. It is another site worth visiting.                                                                                                                                                                                                                           https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/pago-ghost-towns-of-the-clarion-river-corridor-lily-pond/

Thanks for the update Bon.  I'm beyond words and wiping tears away.  Keeping the FAITH.

Here is the article that was about Faith and the Daisy Award winner Nikole Kessler. This was when Faith Marie was 3 months old. Yes, I’m late with it.
**********************************************************************
We are truly privileged to congratulate our most recent DAISY Foundation winner: Nikole Kessler, RN, of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at PH DuBois. Nikole helped to care for infant Faith Marie Spicher, who was born with Trisomy 18. Many babies born with this chromosomal condition do not live beyond their first few days or weeks of life. Faith, however, grew strong enough in the NICU that she was able to be discharged and go home with her parents. This week, Faith turned 3 months old. We are honored to share the beautiful words of Faith’s mother, Brandi, who describes the experience and how Nikole went above and beyond in caring for Faith during her time in the NICU: 
“Faith Marie Spicher was born on Jan. 15, 2019. She was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, incompatible with life. We knew that Faith would be cared for at the NICU after she was born due to her diagnosis. What we didn’t know was how much she would be loved and cared for by the staff.
Faith was placed on a ventilator by Jan. 17, 2019, due to episodes of apnea, and had more wires, tubes and monitors than could be imagined. It was hard to deal with; it was difficult to see our baby going through so much. But what wasn’t difficult to see was the compassion and love she received from the nurses and also the huge impact that this small life had on them as well as us. We will never forget the NICU nurses and all the memories we had with them. They will always be a part of our family and we are forever grateful for them. 
Nikole Kessler cared for Faith through the best times and hardest times. She laughed with us, celebrated with us and even cried with us. She was able to look past all the wires and tubes and only saw Faith. You could see a connection growing between the two. She not only took care of Faith as a nurse, she cared for Faith as if she were her own. She wasn’t afraid of Faith’s condition, as a matter of fact she took it on as a challenge; Faith would beat the odds and be her “feisty spice.” She made sure that Faith received the best care and all the snuggles she could give. 
Nikole walked with us hand in hand through Faith’s entire journey in the NICU. On Jan. 19, 2019, Deryk and I had to make a heartbreaking decision to discontinue the ventilator. We couldn’t have our baby live on a vent for the rest of her days. Nikole stayed with us, even off duty, through that difficult time. She took a turn holding her and cried right with us as we thought Faith’s time here on Earth was over. Nikole even handmade a wooden plaque for this day, “Too Beautiful for Earth, Faith.” As the minutes turned to hours and Faith amazed us all with desire to live, breathing on her own, Nikole shared in our tears as they turned from heartache to tears of joy and hope. 
The following day, Nikole checked on Faith as soon as she came into the NICU to make sure she made it through the night. She kept us updated through her entire shift and shared in our joy and relief as she continued to report that Faith’s vitals were stable and she was not having any episodes of apnea. 
Nikole made sure we didn’t miss any special moments. She carried the camera in her pocket and was quick to capture every significant second – the first time we fed our baby through her og tube, her first outfit, first bath. She filled two photo books and ran the printer out of paper just so we had every memory of the beginning and, what we thought, would be the end of Faith’s life. 
Nikole continued to be there for Faith even on her days off of work. She made the trip into the hospital and spent hours with Faith just to hold her.
Finally, the day came when Deryk and I were able to take Faith home and Nikole was there to do her discharge. There wasn’t a dry eye in the NICU, especially Nikole’s. She even escorted Faith out of the hospital just so she could soak up every last moment with her. 
To this day, Nikole continues to be a part of Faith’s life, keeping up with her and all of her firsts and celebrating with us every time Faith defies the odds. Nikole is more than the NICU nurse that cared for our baby, she is part of our family and we know Nikole will forever be a part of her life as long as Faith is with us on this earth.”
Please join us in thanking Nikole. We are so proud of her heartfelt dedication to caring for our littlest patients! Follow the link to read the very touching words Brandi wrote about the other members of Faith’s NICU nursing team as she said she wanted to recognize each person that was there fighting for Faith, caring for her and, most of all, loving her! http://bit.ly/Baby-Faiths-Story
 

Odd News
June 21, 2019 / 11:38 AM Veterinarians remove 19 pacifiers from bulldog's stomach
By Ben Hooper (0) June 21 (UPI) -- A Boston animal hospital said veterinarians used X-rays to discover the cause of a bulldog's nausea and vomiting: 19 pacifiers in his stomach.
The MSPCA's Angell Animal Medical Center said Emily Shanahan, the owner of Mortimer, a 3-year-old bulldog, brought the canine into the facility in the spring to investigate the cause of his nausea and vomiting.
   
Mortimer was initially diagnosed with an acid reflux-related vomiting syndrome, but Shanahan brought him back to the hospital when his symptoms worsened.
Veterinarians at Angell performed an X-ray on Mortimer's stomach and discovered the dog had ingested 19 pacifiers.
"I was shocked because even though I have two small children at home I'd never imagined he was eating their pacifiers," Shanahan said.
Dr. Erika De Papp performed an endoscopy on Mortimer to remove the pacifiers.
"It's likely that Mortimer started nabbing these pacifiers in April, perhaps one at a time, and that started a cycle of nausea and vomiting, which are symptoms that can be caused by so many other health issues," said Dr. Doug Brum, Mortimer's primary veterinarian at Angell. "If not for the urgency with which his family pursued veterinary care, things would have gotten much worse for him."
Shanahan said Mortimer is fully recovered from his ordeal and is back to his normal self.
"We absolutely love this dog and would do anything for him -- and I'm relieved that this was a problem that could be solved, as opposed to a chronic illness that would cause him long-term suffering," she said.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        SEE VIDEO REPORT  ;     https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2019/06/21/Veterinarians-remove-19-pacifiers-from-bulldogs-stomach/3721561130713/

That's some of Mother Nature's best artwork. 

'Fire rainbows' appear across Pa. skies; here's what causes them
by Meteorologist Drew Anderson
Wednesday, June 12th 2019 AA   4 VIEW ALL PHOTOS circumhorizontal arc (Laurie Makie)   JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — Folks across Pennsylvania caught a glimpse of a rare colorful spectacle in the sky Wednesday – a "fire rainbow."
The textbook name for a "fire rainbow" is circumhorizontal arc, the colors in the sky have nothing to do with fire.
This rare view happens when sunlight hits thin, wispy white clouds at just the right angle.
In order for this to happen, the sun has to be high in the sky, which happens midday.
Sunlight enters ice crystals, which are tiny pieces of ice that make up a cloud, and then gets bent.
The bending of the sunlight causes the colors of a rainbow to show up.
Technically speaking, the fire rainbow is not a rainbow because no rain was involved in making it.
Many viewers in Jefferson and Clearfield Counties share their photos of this on our the WJAC Facebook.                                                                                                                                                                            https://wjactv.com/news/local/fire-rainbows-appear-across-pa-skies-heres-what-causes-them                                                                                                                  
 
 

How is a rainbow formed?
    Julissa Treviño 5 days ago  
© Deposit Photos rainbow in a field If you’ve ever seen one, consider yourself lucky. For a rainbow to appear, the conditions must be just right.
Because of their colorful and unique display, rainbows have generated countless legends and myths throughout history. Among the most popular is the Irish folklore that leprechauns store their pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. But the truth is, rainbows can be seen only if you are in the right place at the right time.
If you’ve ever seen one, consider yourself lucky. For a rainbow to appear, the conditions must be just right.
Rainbows can be seen when light passes through raindrops, says Kristin Calhoun, a research scientist at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the scientific agency focusing in part on the conditions of weather.
When a person sees a rainbow, it’s really an optical illusion created by the refraction and reflection of light. An optical illusion is when you see something that appears to be something other than what is really there.
When sunlight passes through raindrops, the light bends, or refracts, as it enters the droplet, and then reflects off the inside of the raindrop. This happens because the water is more dense than the air that surrounds it. As it exits the droplet, the light separates into wavelengths. Visible light is made up of various wavelengths, and each wavelength appears as a different color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Red light, for example, bends at a different angle than violet light.
This is why “the person on the ground sees each color at a different location,” Calhoun says, and why rainbows look like a bow or an arc. Sometimes, however, rainbows can actually form an entire circle that you can see in a plane with the right conditions.
Because rainbows are created by light via raindrops, the best time to catch a rainbow is when it’s sunny and raining. “There is an even better chance when the sun is at a lower angle, so early or later in the day,” Calhoun says.
If you’re trying to spot one, the key is to face the rain and have your back to the sun.
With the conditions just right, Hawaii gets lots of rainbows. “Small showers and storms often form in late afternoon due to the combined effects of topography and daytime heating of the land,” Calhoun says. “These types [of] showers often produce heavy rain, but remain isolated over the center of the island.”
Because rainbows are optical illusions, they’re not located at a specific distance. The location is relative to the person. That means there’s no chance you’ll ever find that pot of gold.                                   See PICTURE ;   http://www.msn.com/en-us/kids/science/how-is-a-rainbow-formed/ar-BBS23g3?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=HPCDHP

How is a rainbow formed?
    Julissa Treviño 5 days ago  
© Deposit Photos rainbow in a field If you’ve ever seen one, consider yourself lucky. For a rainbow to appear, the conditions must be just right.
Because of their colorful and unique display, rainbows have generated countless legends and myths throughout history. Among the most popular is the Irish folklore that leprechauns store their pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. But the truth is, rainbows can be seen only if you are in the right place at the right time.
If you’ve ever seen one, consider yourself lucky. For a rainbow to appear, the conditions must be just right.
Rainbows can be seen when light passes through raindrops, says Kristin Calhoun, a research scientist at the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the scientific agency focusing in part on the conditions of weather.
When a person sees a rainbow, it’s really an optical illusion created by the refraction and reflection of light. An optical illusion is when you see something that appears to be something other than what is really there.
When sunlight passes through raindrops, the light bends, or refracts, as it enters the droplet, and then reflects off the inside of the raindrop. This happens because the water is more dense than the air that surrounds it. As it exits the droplet, the light separates into wavelengths. Visible light is made up of various wavelengths, and each wavelength appears as a different color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Red light, for example, bends at a different angle than violet light.
This is why “the person on the ground sees each color at a different location,” Calhoun says, and why rainbows look like a bow or an arc. Sometimes, however, rainbows can actually form an entire circle that you can see in a plane with the right conditions.
Because rainbows are created by light via raindrops, the best time to catch a rainbow is when it’s sunny and raining. “There is an even better chance when the sun is at a lower angle, so early or later in the day,” Calhoun says.
If you’re trying to spot one, the key is to face the rain and have your back to the sun.
With the conditions just right, Hawaii gets lots of rainbows. “Small showers and storms often form in late afternoon due to the combined effects of topography and daytime heating of the land,” Calhoun says. “These types [of] showers often produce heavy rain, but remain isolated over the center of the island.”
Because rainbows are optical illusions, they’re not located at a specific distance. The location is relative to the person. That means there’s no chance you’ll ever find that pot of gold.                                   See PICTURE ;   http://www.msn.com/en-us/kids/science/how-is-a-rainbow-formed/ar-BBS23g3?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=HPCDHP

Rising Temperatures Pose Danger to Pets Left in Cars
June 1, 2019 12:35 am· Author: Aly Delp   JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) – With the days of warmer weather slowly edging closer, the inside of a vehicle can quickly become an oven, posing a serious risk to pets left inside.
“Research has shown that the internal vehicle temperature can rise thirty-five degrees in as little as a half hour when outside temperatures approach one hundred degrees,” according to Christian D. Malesic, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association.
“Rising temperatures, humidity, and stagnant air flow cause a greenhouse effect quickly placing the lives of animals in danger if not removed from the adverse conditions.”
According to Samantha Peace, a Certified Veterinary Technician at the Animal Hospital of Punxsy, even in the shade, animals in cars are at risk, as the temperature in the car can quickly rise up to 20 degrees or more above the outside temperature.
“Signs of distress start with panting,” Peace noted. “Further into the process, a pet will get lethargic and weak and probably lay down. Labored breathing is another sign of trouble.”
While she noted that an animal showing initial signs of overheating can be treated with cool water and cold cloths, an animal that has spent too long in a hot vehicle requires immediate veterinary attention, and still may not have much of a chance.
“If it is too late, there isn’t much you can do. We always work our best based on the symptoms with things like oxygen therapy.”
While she said she hasn’t seen any serious cases of pets left in cars herself, she has heard horror stories from colleagues and things that more recent awareness campaigns may be helping prevent these incidents.
“With so much more awareness, I think it’s been helping, but there are still people who just don’t understand.”
The good news is that animals in Pennsylvania will have an extra level of protection from the extreme heat of cars this year with a new law that has been put in place. While owners are always encouraged to keep their animals safe and away from hot cars while unattended, this will be the first summer that the new law empowers law enforcement agencies to save animals in cars if owners fall short of their care responsibilities.
In October of last year, Governor Wolf signed into law The Motor Vehicle Extreme Heat Protection Act, which allows law enforcement officers to break into an unattended vehicle to rescue an animal left alone, if they believe the animal to be in imminent danger, after a reasonable search for the car owner.
Act 104 of 2018, formerly known as “The Hot Car Bill,” provides legal authority with civil immunity to animal control and humane officers, emergency responders, and law enforcement officers who remove unattended animals from vehicles when they’re in danger from heat or cold.
“The law protects animals in the heat of the summer, but also in the cold of the winter,” Christian Malesic explained. “In fact, any animal in distress can be rescued under the protection of this law during any season, even for issues such as being tangled in their leash or having their head stuck in a cracked-open window.”
In addition to making a reasonable effort to find the vehicle owner prior to entering the vehicle, the person who performed the rescue must leave a note with contact information and the location at which the animal can be retrieved.
If you see an animal that may need help, call 9-1-1 and stay with the vehicle until they arrive.
“Do not attempt to free the animal yourself,” cautions Malesic. “Although Act 104 gives immunity to law enforcement officers, it does not give immunity to you. So, the vehicle owner could take civil action against you for your actions.
“It is very important to note this is not a Good Samaritan law.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/feature-dead-pets-in-hot-cars/

Continued prayers for sweet Faith Marie. 

Many prayers. 

Many prayers for this precious baby.

She is 9# now. I forget how long she is, but she is getting longer by the week.
All the prayers have been working. The holes in her heart (3) have closed up, the apnea has gone away, & there was one other thing but I cannot think of it right now.
Faith Marie still needs prayers as she needs to build up neck muscles & other problems. 🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

Wonders of the Wilds: Discussions with the Stone People of Rockton Mountain
Posted on Saturday, May 25, 2019 by Gant Team in Features, Local News By Scott A. Yeager, M.A., special to GANT News
Springtime in the Pennsylvania Wilds is an idyllic time of year, not unlike October in many respects – simply a warmer counterpart in the annual cycle of life.
In Clearfield County, the waters and the birds are both singing again, days begin crisp and end with a chorus of Northern Peepers, easing folks into a comfortable peace that’s like no other.  It’s a good time for contemplation and for seeking advice from the Stone People.
Pennsylvania Route 153 is one of Clearfield County’s most scenic highways.  From one end to the next, there are wonderful sights to behold, special places and unique communities.
The ancient Celts believed in thin places.  These thin places were special because they represented a location where the veil between the world of the living and the spiritual world were at their thinnest.
These were places where people seeking answers found them.  For the Celts, the potency of these thin places was at its height – or at its thinnest – during spring and autumn.
As you drive through the Moshannon State Forest on state Route 153, you’ll come to a thin place as you begin your descent into Clearfield.
Whether you’re heading north or south on SR 153, the section between Clearfield and the Parker Dam State Park is a very special place.
If you’re headed south into Clearfield, you’re in a prime spot to see not only Clearfield, but also the curve of the Earth itself.
Heading north, you’re entering the Moshannon State Forest, one of Pennsylvania’s most beautiful state forests, covering three counties – Clearfield, Elk and Centre (with small bits in Cameron and Clinton, as well).
Toward the crest of Rockton Mountain, where SR 153 and U.S. Route 322 fork, you may encounter one of Clearfield County’s most intriguing populations – the Stone People.
The Stone People aren’t exclusively native to Rockton Mountain or Clearfield County for that matter; however, we do have a thriving population in these parts.  What is special about the Stone People is that they welcome all strangers as old friends.
They occupy a special place in the natural world, and you can consider them guides and advocates of a sort.  The Stone People are just like us – some are young, some are tall and some ornament themselves in seasonal fashions.
The Stone People beckon us and invite us to step beyond our normal pace of life into a special realm where things slow down, life takes on a familiar meaning and where greater questions can be contemplated.
The Stone People enjoy listening to folks like us.  Oddly enough, if you encounter one in the Pennsylvania Wilds, don’t be shy.
Respectfully introduce yourself, grab a seat beside them and do as they do – listen.  As your mind begins to clear and important questions arise, you can strike up a conversation with your new friend.
They will do their best to do what good people often do for their friends and those they care about in this world. How wonderful it is to be heard by someone; how healing it can be to hear yourself, your true self, unfettered and unencumbered by the judgements and opinions of others.
This is the greatest gift that the Stone People bestow upon those who visit them.  They help people reconnect with their better self.

https://gantdaily.com/2019/05/25/wonders-of-the-wilds-discussions-with-the-stone-people-of-rockton-mountain/

I wouldn't worry about some. Keep them coming. 

Keep the pictures coming.  If someone doesn't like it they don't have to look.  She is adorable.

You could never post too much.  Anyone who complains can just skip that post.

IMO, if 'some' don't like it, they don't need to click on the thread. I'll never understand people who complain about a topic when clicking/reading/looking/replying is completely optional.  
That said, what's not to like here? 

Her Papa taught her that, ☺️

I don’t want to post to much because some complain.

Why are you taking my picture grandma?
 

Pretty sure I've killed a couple of them though... 😢