February 8, 2009

Monday - More snow.

By Saturday the snow was mostly gone and the high reached about 70 (F)! We visited a neighbor and went out to see her newborn kid goats. This is part of her barnyard with her buck in the foreground and the sunshine all over. :yes, yes, yes:


Later I stopped by a church near our house and was captivated by the late afternoon lighting in the sanctuary.

I love the mural on the back wall of the baptistry but that single glowing pew was amazing.

Closer shot of the glowing pew.

Mural closeup #1

Mural closeup #2

February 1, 2009

Why my post is late...

The weather has not been so nice last week and as Sunday was predicted to be the warmest and nicest of this week the family decided to go for a drive--birding, photo ops, just get out of the house for a while. Destination: Carver's Gap on the Tennessee/North Carolina border.

The weather was nice, a bit on the cool side and a bit breezy, but then what could I expect over a mile up? The elevation here at Carver's Gap is 5512 ft. The Appalachian Trail heads north through the fence here and climbs 314 feet (and about a mile along the trail) to Round Bald. The trail used to go straight up the bald but due to serious erosion problems has been redone and winds across the bald and through the spruce forest to the left.

About a half mile up the trail. Exiting the spruce forest.

Putting the "blue" in the Blue Ridge.

Round Bald

For some unknown but much speculated reason some of the summits in the area are treeless or nearly so.

A great surprise for my secret half-birthday celebration--my "holler." I had no idea that I would be able to see the valley I live in from Round Bald. I just wanted to make the climb when I got the chance. You can't see my house from here because of trees but it is near the upper-left corner of the large meadow just above center. It is about 11 miles by road and another mile by trail from home to this view and still quite some distance as the crow flies but 12x made it look like a short stroll!

Looking east into North Carolina from Round Bald.

Oh, right, why my post is late? I fell asleep at the computer while trying to decide on a "new" or "recap" Sunday six! All those half-birthday's and a mountain hike caught up with me!

January 25, 2009

We got a little snow this week, about 5, maybe 6 inches.
(Tuesday)

Still falling
(Tuesday)

Sparkly!
(Wednesday)

Waterwheel at Roan Mountain State Park, TN.
(Today)

Foot bridge over the Doe River at Roan Mountain State Park visitor centre
(Today)

Mossy rocks beside the Appalachian Trail
(Today)

January 18, 2009

Let's start with one for Nan who collects red barns

A mystery picture for you. Can you identify this object?

American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin
(click thumbnail for better viewing)

Hemlock backed by sunset sky

These holes were made by a woodpecker called the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. All but one are from at least last summer if not older. I did not notice the newer one, lower and to the right, until I was looking at this photo on the computer. So even though I may only see a sapsucker once or twice a year I know there was at least one in the area not too long ago.

Wishing you blue skies
(Love ya Nan!)

January 11, 2009

And here in no particularly meaningful order are this weeks survivors.

This one pretty much sums up the weather for the week - gray, gloomy, and wet. I like the picture a lot more than I did the weather!

Passing by Goggie's gravesite on her birthday this week, I noticed someone had placed these flowers there. She always loved red and it helped me remember good times even though I still miss her.

One of my pet peeves is out-of-date signage. This was still there today! December 25 to January 11 and no one has had time to change it? Or maybe it is just early advertising for 2009! OK, deep breath, relax, exhale, move on.... :-P

This one was just quirky enough to make the cut. I can't believe the rascal stayed still long enough for me to take the shot!

Since it has been such a wet, rainy week I couldn't resist this one of rain drops.

New shoes. I got new shoes today. Check here to see why I'm so excited.

January 4, 2009

I had fun playing with my new camera today. I took a stroll around the property and here are six shots that appealed to me. Some days I'm a sucker for textures!

We've had a lot of rain lately. Sunshine on my driveway.



Shed door



Old wood pile


Gravel on another driveway



Old tires now used for gardening



Lichen on a hemlock tree