A Good Thing

I was astounded to find this lovely etching on a rich
granite stone found at the grave site where my
mother-in-law (Barbara) was recently entombed
(just on the 29th.) What lovely grays and blues elicited
from a stone. I have seen this as a painting but it
looked hauntingly beautiful etched on granite.
It was a wonderful focal point and a nice surprise
for a somber occasion.
lg

Waterfall Video; Come on along!!

The Man on the Moon?

I found...
the man on the moon!
(Just kidding, obviously...!)
But it is...a man on a rock.
And a B-I-G rock!
Again, this is from our travels last weekend. W-a-y
out on a gravel road (in the Appalachian mountains)
I spied this graffiti around a corner bend in the road
drawn out on a series of rocky ledges very high up.
I thought the colors were extraordinary against
the iron stained brown and the gray rock. I don't know
who the author(s) are, but it provided some fun
viewing and does make for an unusual photograph.
There is no way for you to appreciate the massive size
of these rocky ledges and subsequent drawings
(but I thought I would try to communicate it to you!)
What can you find??!
For you.
:-)
lg
(As always, click to enlarge for detail and effect.)

Ahhh. The World Looks Brighter.

Lord, help the things which
need to be in the forefront
of my mind to be there.
Help me to be mindful
of what You would have
me to be mindful of.
And bring the
things of
beauty...
into
focus.

Edgemont Road Drive

Simply Beautiful View
(click to enjoy)

Small Waterfall (off a winding State Highway)

Highway on a Mountainside

Sunday Drive with Grandpa:
We are taking full advantage of the wonderful weather
we are having (highs in the 70's with lows in the upper
50's at night.) Sunday we took a drive along Highway
221 out of Blowing Rock, N.C. and down a gravel
road (old Edgemont Road) that goes down (maybe)
2500 feet. We only went partway down its steep switchbacks
and peered into rocky gorges along the way. Here are a
few photos from our journey. On another road up,
out and back, the road changes from gravel to pavement
and back (again) to gravel. People live down in this
area (which amazes us as they are deep in the 'boondocks'
of the Appalachians; there are some very nice cabins
and some 'pretty rough' methods of living deep
in these ol' mountains... I would say.) Sandwiches along
the road on the way back while overhearing
the 'grunts' and talking of rock climbers
500 feet above us was a nice touch.
Grandpa ate his sandwich on the tailgate.

lg
:-)

Come on Along!

(click to enlarge.)

Do enter in. This is the Todd Bakery in Todd, North Carolina
(population just a bit over 2000.) The 'downtown' consists of about 4 or 5 buildings
set down off of a small country highway road and along a small river. This old building is over 100 years old. Inside, you will find a (sweet) women who bakes her own bread and sweet items, and also walking sticks, wooden bowls, cards made of local photos of wildlife and mountain scenery, hand knit items and various arts and crafts from this area, all made by local artisans. It is quiet in Todd. People live in Todd; visitors raft and tube there, they trout fish and there is also a small stage where (local) musicians come and play. Todd is known for its music (Doc Watson plays here.) Todd is the kind of place where you can close your eyes and see a dirt street (of yesteryear) and a horse-drawn buggy or two. I just got this one shot off of the 'bakery,' which gently invites all passersby to enter in through the wide wooden screen doors. Step right in.

Oh, to Be a Butterfly

Oh, to be a butterfly
fluttering I go
up and over treetop, flower
winds that take me so
Oh, to be a butterfly
dainty, lithe and trim
lofty breezes are my friend
o're yonder holler rim
Oh, to be a butterfly
up, away I go
captivating
flutter-by,
red flowers that I know...
My acquaintance is the
bloom standing alone on the hill
My playmate bouncing mountain air-
catch me if you will
Oh, to be a butterfly
yellow black and blue
mosaic floating on the lawn
all fanciful
for you.

A Dedication; (On) Heaven's Boughs

I must fly, she thought
and off she flew--
all this time, she was thinking of you.
I must away, she dreamed
of a place shiny, new
and now she has gone there...
ahead (of me) and you.
Husband--
dear one,
hold your head high,
for down the road (just a piece)
in the sweet by-and-by...
she stands waiting
alone
with arms
eager (outstretched)
and open wide...
to hug
(once again)
your sturdy,
strong
neck.
And lofty you will be,
and flying you will go
to the sweet arms of Heavenly God--
to a place, once more,
where together you will trod.
Do not weep for me,
my gentle husband.
Do not weep for us.
We will not be parted
for longer than a moment;
than a glimmer.
United again we will know
the fullness
the wonder
the glory
of a love that blooms
on heaven's boughs.

With love, dedicated to
my mother-in-law,
Barbara Jane Powell;
( June 8, 1933 to July 29, 2011.)

In Love

The morning sunlight caught my
backyard lilies day dreaming, again.
"Oh, to be...a flower!"
:-)

A Thing of Beauty

Daylilly

The 'almost white' daylilies (genus Hemerocallis)
looked stunning in the early morning
light filtering through the trees
in my backyard this A.M.
They are such a strong and a proud
flower, sturdy looking really. But as I
understand it, their blooms do not last long
(which is why they are not used in cut
flower arrangements often, if at all)
The early morning light made
them appear almost magical.

Pine Trees on Tin Bucket

I don't paint often (right now) but I did manage
to decorate a tin bucket with pine handles that I got at
a yard sale for $1.00. (what a deal, eh?! :-) ) I love painting,
I truly do, but with all of the housework that I carry as a load
I rarely get motivated and have the energy (at the same time)
to pull my painting things out and actually complete a project!
I am hoping to set up a utility room that we have so that
I can have my crafting/painting/ clay/fiber materials
and tools and projects handy to just walk in
and work on a project I have going at my whim.
That's the only way to go when trying to make use
of snippets of time! Here is a sample of my work
(however) that I did complete just last week, entitled
"3 Trees of Pine" (I am feeling a bit
Christmas-y this week, apparently...)
The trees here in the High Country always inspire
me due to their obvious personalities and their great beauty!
What do you love to do for a hobby or for
your own artistic funny bone,
I wonder....?!?

Christmas in July

These photos kind of speak for themselves....
Ready for a cool break from the heat wave?
I am.
I cannot believe how these woods transform
into a snow and ice capped wonder!
:-)
What are you favorite things...
about winter?
Mine? How the snow looks like shaving cream
that is edible draped over even the ugliest of
shapes giving them a romantic feel.

Le Jardin

1. Hidden Yellow

2. Peeper?

3. Blooming?

4. (A favorite of mine; 'Can't Get Enough!!')

5. Big.

6. Can me...

O.K. I am back after taking a few days off to clean,
prepare and tend to some family business!!
Today I have for you...a garden guessing game!
Can you guess what vegetable from our current
somewhat soggy garden
(from to much precipitation...)
is in each photo??
I will announce the winner on this blog!
And...please share your veggie photos as well!!
Be a veg head!
And just veg out!
-Be good- and take your Vitameatavegamin.

[Anyone who 'gets' this reference will 'earn extra points'
and an extra shout out (Yes, from myself...personally!!)]

You Came to Me

You came to me in a cloud
Yes, you did--
like the mist that settles in on my shoulders,
warming me up and draping me in lace, again.
You came to me in a dream
Yes, you did--
settling down from up above like a dove
that descends (anew) in dark the chambers of my mind.
You came to me in a ray of sunshine
Yes, you did--
illuminating everything that you touch.
You came to me in my womb
Yes, you did--
as an idea implanted, inside.
You came to me as a tender shoot
Yes, you did--
like the new growth of a young plant, freshly lime.
You came to me like a second chance;
Yes, you did--
it was like being born, yet again.
You came to me as a way of seeing
Yes, you did--
seeing inside.
You came to me on the night wind
Yes, you did--
like a prayer.
You came to me as a flickering flame drawing me in to yourself, as you do
Yes, you did--
and I could see you far off, in the distance.
You came to me and all is well
Yes, you did--
regardless of the 'ins' and the 'outs' of a great (many) things.
You came to me like the drink of cool water that you are and I am invigorated
Yes, you did--
I am refreshed and made whole.
You came to me with hoary head imparting your wisdom
Yes, you did--
And now, I can (more than) make it through another day.
You came to me as a warrior knight in the midst of my pain
Yes, you did--
and as you know (full well)
I have come to slay the dragon.

Mist and Wet and Rainy

Column of Mist, Rising

House Nestled in on Misty Hill

Mist Rising in Background But Cleared in Foreground

It was a wet weekend. It was quite a bit cooler,
here with much rain! I'm afraid that because of
all the moisture this season...our garden is dwarfed
(even.) I catch my husband standing in the garden,
inspecting, and mourning this thought.
We took a ride on Saturday, though, and managed
to find this wonderful mountain mist rising on a hill.
I never tire of watching the mist gracefully
(and playfully) rise up and off of the mountain
tops when the day starts to heat up.
It is a constant source of wonder, to me.
:-)