One of my friends and I went hiking yesterday. Throwing aside all responsibilities to gardens full of weeds, and flying in the face of conservation and respectful use of resources, we drove clear into Arkansas to the Buffalo River National Wilderness Area and visited Lost Valley. It is a truly magical place, with caves, waterfalls, waterfalls falling out of caves, ferns, moss, rocks and water.
We arrived home to a sumptuous repast of chicken in a roasted tomato sauce, fresh garden salad, pasta or rice, and flourless chocolate cake. Jim was consoling himself for the dismal loss of his team, the SF 49ers. After dinner, Jim and I enjoyed a nice hot sauna.
All in all, a wonderful day.
Now I have a choice. I can dust the living room or I can weed the day lily bed. I’m sure you all can guess what I’ll be doing on this beautiful sunny fall day. But first I have to do something with the figs that ripened while my back was turned.
the havens 
Lost Valley looks like a beautiful area. Any place with all those features must be magical indeed! No dusting here today, I’m cleaning up the greenhouse and enjoying the sunshine while the Queen is out scoring some free pine needles. Better get back to it.
What completely gorgeous photos. I especially love the second one, the view from the cave. Beautifully framed.
And how nice to think that we were both out enjoying the rocks and the water and the sunshine and the plants on opposite sides of the planet on Sunday!
yeah, I love the second one too, it’s a stand out
Oh to be young again.Barney gave me a potted fig last year and have enjoyed a few fresh ones this summer and still a few to come if they ripen this late.
Never turn your back on a fig. They are tricky buggers.
Yeah. I would have thought they stopped ripening after the hard freeze, but that just encouraged them to get busy and do some heavy ripening.
Wow.
And that meal sounds amazing.
It was. We call that flourless chocolate cake by several names, among which are “Death by Chocolate” and “Chocolate Orgasm Cake.” Not for people who don’t like chocolate.