Memorial Day

We went hiking today. I don't remember what state park it was. We hiked up a trail toward a mountain top but turned around after about an hour. Our real destination was the waterfalls. There are three falls in the area, each a different size. There is a nice man made path, mostly decked, following all three with nice observation points. We climbed off the deck at each waterfall to get a closer look. Here are some of the photos...

Starting with my cheesy "Hey, there's a waterfall behind me" shot!


The biggest fall in comparison to people standing below


Laying over the edge of the biggest fall


Here's a couple of artistic shots



See you later. Love

Justin

Dear Grandma

Hi Grams-
This post is for you. I figured it would be the fastest way to reach you. Just wanted to let you know that I have received your letters and I did get the hidden cash :) Thank you very much. Everything is going well here and don't worry about me not taking pictures, it's practically all I do! I'm sure the lung thing is just a phase that will pass sooner or later. I have been a lot better lately with less frequent "air hunger". We are doing a lot of building here and it reminds me of being a kid at the old house and building forts in the back yard next to the horse stable. Never really finished that one! It was sad to hear that the house is gone now. Hopefully will get to see you and Gramps while I am back in the DSM area for summer break. It is going to be a very busy week thats for sure.
Well its bed time and we work 6 days a week here.
Take care of yourself and Gramps.
Its funny saying that because my nickname here is Grandpa...

Love,
Justin Daniel

High Rocks

Ok, I have pictures and time. I better do this now before I feel like not doing it again for a couple days. But first, some talking. I went back to the hospital for a checkup because I was still having a shortness of breath. They did an unimaginable number of tests on my blood and gave me another xray. All tests again confirmed that I am in perfect health. I have no idea what is happening to cause me to sometimes feel like I can not intake enough oxygen. I don't like the medicine they gave me. I began to exercise a little more frequently here though and going on runs more often. Exercise has no effect on my breathing. Actually I think it is going to help in the long run and I am also doing breathing exercises. Any way, I have no idea and I am not prepared to believe that something is wrong that the doctors can not explain. Hopefully it will go away soon. I also want to get back to a bigger city. I'm pretty good on the whole rural thing. It is nice in this part of WV though. Picture time

Me and a few Storm Troopers at the Strawberry Festival Parade


The places we occupy, live, sleep, etc.



My surroundings on a nice day




Droop the dog and the camp horses



Random fun photo of a truck stuck in the mud



All photos can be viewed in larger formats here

Same state, new location

Project 2, v.2
I made it through the Yurt project. It was such a rainy spring here that we did not accomplish our primary objective of re-roofing the entire yurt. We did, however, get a good start on it. Hopefully they can finish with no problems. We arrived today at our next location in Hilsboro, WV. The pictures I saw of High Rocks do not do justice to what we are actually in store for! This place is amazing. Only two hours from Circleville, this area is so much nicer and at a lower altitude. Everything is so green and the weather will hopefully be more mild. We have two brand new cabins to occupy. A full kitchen awaits cooking, a full library, a tv, dvd player, a stereo, a horse pen complete with horses, 15 minutes from town, and 200 acres of land. Internet 24/7 is a plus and enough calling cards from my family to last me forever, thank you. Today was a little rainy so I don't have any pictures yet, but tomorrow is a different story.
For those who do not know, I did visit the hospital last week. I thought I was having lung issues. I was and still am short of breath. I was put under the scrutiny of several tests including an XRAY, CAT SCAN, and EKG. All tests negetive for any complications. Yet, I am still short of breath? I will go in tomorrow for a check up. I found a good site online that deals with breathing and following their breathing exercises feel better. Needless to say, I cannot wait to come back down to a lower altitude. Sea level, I have never loved you more! :) Its not long now before I will be back in Des Moines, just around a month. I cannot wait to see my Amber and all the other smiling faces I miss so much.
It's just past midnight here and I am posting in the dark because everyone has gone to bed and I should do the same.
I will hopefully have pictures online tomorrow. If you need to send me anything my address is listed a couple posts below under the heading of High Rocks. Feel free to comment if you have any questions

Ciao!
Justin D

Bonjour midweek

My first week is half over and I have plenty of pictures to show you already. We are already hard at work reroofing the yurt. The top of the roof is already cleared of old shanks and lined with new tar paper. The secondary roof is about 1/4 of the way finished! We are making good time and the weather has been pretty good thus far. It's much colder here than it was in Bama, pants and hoodie being the usual attire. It is supposed to rain here for the next couple days, but that is ok because we are waiting for the shipment of shingles to arrive. There is plenty of things to do around here despite the seclusion. We work everday from 800am to 500pm. One day out of the week is spent in the kitchen preparing breakfast, lunch, and dinner. After work everyday we have a PT session usually filled with various exercises. There is an observatory just down the road and up a hill which we visited. The guy running it showed us Saturn through a telescope. It was still tiny, but you could make out the rings and everything!- It was amazing. There is a magic hill a few hills over where I can retrieve trace cell phone service and I usually try to get there every morning before breakfast, occasionally during lunch, and after work. I am on eastern time here. The office is about a mile away from the living area and yurts so we hike there over many hills and the view is pretty nice. I have been finding morrel mushrooms around the fields here and frying them up in a flour breading. YUM! I hosted a campfire last night that became a s'more making party. I had a couple...
What's new with me? Not a whole lot. This altitude is pretty fun, I can't walk anywhere without being short of breath, I eat about 5 times a day to comp for all the energy expenditure.

I think it is picture time cuz my mind is wandering. hope you enjoy what I have!

Welcome to West Virginia!




This is where I live




We have piggies...


360° of our amazing kitchen


Panoramic of the countryside


All images can be viewed at original size here @ FLICKR

Well, I have a long hike back in the dark and am desperate for a shower.

Au revior!
-Justin