Balsam Swamp is a sprawling state forest that stretches almost 5.5 miles east-west across 4 towns. The area is very rural, and the landscape surrounding the State Forest is predominantly forested. Balsam Swamp State Forest is comprised of a mix of native hardwood forests, hemlock swamps, and conifer plantations. There are no designated recreational trails on the forest, but there is ample opportunity for self-guided day hikes to explore the diversity of habitats represented on this State Forest. Additionally, the western section of Balsam Swamp State Forest is adjacent to Five Streams State Forest to the south.
The main attraction of this forest is Balsam Pond. The impoundment is approximately 152 acres and is a popular destination for fishing and paddle boat sports. Balsam Pond is a warm water fishery that contains a mix of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead and sunfish. Tiger muskellunge have been stocked in the past with the last stocking occurring in 1995. However, there have been very few reports of anglers catching any of the adult tiger muskies. A shallow gravel boat launch is suitable for launching small fishing boats.
A small rustic camp ground is also located at Balsam Pond. Camping spaces are available at no cost on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is no running water or electricity. A fire ring, outhouse, and picnic table are provided for each camping space. A sign on Balsam-Tyler Road in Pharsalia designates the entrance to the boat launch and camping facility. This is a carry-in carry-out facility. Please do not litter.
I don’t really celebrate Christmas these days. Sure I will go out to my parents house for Christmas dinner, but I don’t decorate or do much special for the holiday season. I don’t have any decorations in my apartment and I don’t hang up lights. I’m not really all that much into Christmas music or the hustle bustle of the stores. It’s just not a holiday that does much for me, especially not being a particularly religious person.
I think I would rather just spend Christmas in the wilderness, looking at the trees glimmering in the snow, enjoying a long night by the campfire. With the snow I usually can’t camp with the power from my truck to run the colorful Christmas lights, but I can have lots of candlelights, and the lantern works well. The Big Buddy heater will help to keep my chair warm and my tent toasty. Listen to some Christmas music and maybe some podcasts, enjoy the stars and God’s beauty, then retire to the tent for a nice warm night in cozy sleeping bags.
It seems remarkable that Christmas is upon us again, so quickly. Where did the year go? It just seems like time fades away so quickly with another Christmas upon us.
Today you should wish people Happy Winter. 🌨️ The next three days are an appropriate time to wish people a Merry Christmas.🎄 Next week, it’s an appropriate time to wish people a Happy New Year. 🎇 Previously, it was an appropriate time to wish people Happy Holidays.☃️
The story of how the Endangered Species Act went from unanimous passage under a Republican president to becoming a deeply partisan wedge. The act was passed to protect big, beloved animals like bald eagles and blue whales; no one thought it would apply to a motley, reclusive owl. In this episode from Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Timber Wars, a story about saving the last of America’s old growth forests and the push to roll back environmental protections.
As they say, we already know what the next recession will look like. Flooding the market with crappy junk people don’t need and can’t afford but are deceived by the easy-payments of Buy Now, Pay Later. Stuff that people will later on have to pay for get rid later on. Things often with little value, often with most of the value used up shortly after the product is delivered, and before it’s paid off. Stuff folks can’t afford and won’t be able to pay back. It just makes me sick.
I have never liked consumer credit for any purpose. If you can’t afford it now, then you shouldn’t go out and buy it. Instead, you should save money, put it away until you have the money to buy it. Don’t take advantage of zero percent financing, but instead take advantage of the interest you can get from FDIC-insured savings accounts, especially the higher-interest online accounts. And when you take your time, you can reconsider how essential the purpose really is.
There are a lot of people out there who are legitimately poor. I get it, I grew up that way too. But I also have always rejected credit — if I can’t afford something, I won’t buy it. If there is something I really want, then I will wait until I have enough money saved up to buy it. Time to consider the product more carefully before purchasing. And I have always learned to live with less, even if at times it’s less comfortable.
Page 375, Foxfire Book 1, interviewing Hillard Green.
People nowadays don’t live right. It’s just how long they’re goin’ live, and how soon they’re goin’ die. Just what they can get in their hands now. Always wantin’. They just reach an’take ever’thing they can seems like. Ain’t got no mercy on no one else. If I didn’t depend on Him, I wouldn’t have anybody t’depend on. You can’t depend on a neighbor these days. Ever’body is for themselves. Ever’body’s looking out for money. They’re not lookin’ out for th’ humans. We’ve got t’look out for ourselves. If we don’t look out for ourselves, what are we goin’t’do?
We had freedom back then. We was free. We went out anywhere and did kinda as we pleased. But now we can’t do it. Money is th’ root of all evil, and it rules th’ world right now. Ever’thing goin’ for money. They’ll do anything. They’ll kill, rob, steal, and ever’thing else all over th’ world now. You hear tell of it anywhere y’go now. It’s fast time now, y’know. Ever’thing’s flyin’. These automobiles runnin’ to and from ever’ corner of th’ world. Well, ain’t they goin’ from ever’ corner? You can’t hardly travel fer’em. You can’t walk along th’ highways’r’nothin’. You ain’t got no freedom’r’nothin’. You’ve got t’be in under some kind of control. If we didn’t have no highway patrolmen, what would it be? Most folks sort’a dread’em, but some of ’em get so far along they don’t dread’em. They just go along ’til they get killed. Look like they want t’kill themselves. And while they’re killin’ themselves, they want t’kill somebody else.
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