Blue Ridge blog

An Appalachian 'almost' Spring...

It was hard for me to chose which shot to share with you from the 8 gigs of photos I took on my Monday holiday. I spent my entire day hiking trails around the Grandfather and Linville area off the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is almost spring in the Southern Appalachians yet you couldn't tell from the ocassional snow showers and fiesty winds which prevailed during the day. The shot above was taken around 6:30 pm from just beyond the Scotchman on Hys 105 at the Tynecastle intersection. The snow was intense yet not nearly as daunting as the effects of the cold temperatures upon my fingers. I fumbled with a neutral density filter to subdue to masked sun through the clouds. I should have used a tripod but after a long day of shooting, was lazy.
Tomorrow I may venture the Appalachian Trail near Carver's Gap on Roan Mountain....depends how soon I wake up.
Hey. Did y'all see National Geographic has printed an online map: Discover Appalachia? It is interesting, yet I find that many of the sights and scenes I value as Appalachian icons aren't noted. Maybe this is for the best...

SHEEP!

Continuing on the barnyard theme of my last post, I saw this roly poly while on assignment in the Fall Creek community of Avery county yesterday. It was snowing slightly and I was making my way up a mule face of a mountain when I saw Mr. Sheep looking at me. I immediately had a 'The Hills are Alive," kind of moment where I was overcome with the feeling of running with my arms wide open towards Mr. Fluff. I briefly imagined trying to fit my arms around his body and burying my face in his softness. Alas, Mr. Squishy could read my mind and my thoughts scared him . All I got was this photo.
But, he is adorable with all that wool he's been growing over the winter.

Hey, I wonder if I'm this darn cute with all my winter weight?

Ponies!

I was so tired last night that I slapped up the previous shot on the blog without much fuss. Upload image. Press save. Done. Sleep.

This post is a bit more deliberate. I stopped by the Dutch Creek farms just as the light was waning from the sky last night. I shot several scenics and distance scenes of the horses in the fields with my BRAND NEW Nikon D300. Suddenly I felt like I was being watched. I turned around and saw this cluster of ponies tucked against the barn, with snow laden backs, staring at me with such sorrowful eyes. Naturally, I pointed my BRAND NEW Nikon D300 right at 'em and pulled the trigger.

Anyway, I'm just reporting that yesterday was a good day. I mean, how could it not be? I scored a BRAND NEW Nikon D300 and I got to see fuzzy ponies.

With any luck, this post won't stay at the top of my blog for long....

THis was the greyish-blue scene I saw tonight while returning home from a long work day. Silly meteorologists have done called for yet another whopper. "The Sky is Falling," or so I've been told yet again by both the professional and amateur meteorologists. I would LOL at the forecast, but the most recent radar shows a huge glob of threatening moisture hovering over SE Virginia so I shant tempt the wrath of the snow fairy by being my normal sarcastic self. Still, it won't be a snow/sleep-in day tomorrow for this gal. I've got photos to snag for this and that and if'n I must get up and put on snow gear, let it be a doozy of a snow day so I might earn the t-shirt.

....And, y'all can read my blog from the comfort of your couch and be impressed with my dedication to work;0

Shush, I can hear you LOL'ing at my expense stupidity. Quit it.

++It is almost 10 pm and unless there is a major snow dump in the next 8 hours, I have the unpleasant task of waking my daughter in the morning and breaking the bad news that she has to go to school. Poor me.++

S'no news and good news....

And I looked out the window this afternoon and it was snowing quarter-sized flakes. Just as suddenly as the white deluge started, it ceased.

So probably the biggest news around our house these days is that I can now breathe through my nose sans the aid of my beloved Afrin Pumpmist. I'm less snuff-ly and that makes everyone in close proximity to me a bit more comfortable...

In other delightful news:

1) My eldest is 100% committed to transferring to ASU next fall. The deposit is in the mail and she is
deliriously happy to return up the mountain. "I can't wait to play in the ASU orchestra, join the ASU
cycling team and take classes with less than 300 people in them," she told me this weekend.
2) My youngest has now been accepted to her 2nd, 3rd and 4th choice colleges. She's still waiting to
hear from her 1st choice. Her first choice, which rhymes with 'Bapalachun,' is a stretch given her SAT
scores and the lateness her high school transcripts were submitted to the university (NOT her fault). Yet
youngest is in a good place with her fate and is now pondering her possibilities. Her 2nd choice
school is 7 long hours away from home, and in another state. It is a small-ish, yet growing university,
ideally suited for her personality and academic goals. "I'm so over high school and can't wait to meet
new friends," she confided this evening as we talked about upcoming visits to her 2nd and 3rd choice
schools.
3) My new job is going great. Of course, I'm in that all important probationary period so I still have to bite
my tongue;) regarding the fine folk I'm working with. JK don't ya know? I've never been a part of a
creative 'dream team' before and well, this feels good.

In between the clouds and a hard place...

Today's photo is brought to you because I needed high elevation and fresh air to free my mind of some egregious bureaucratic blunders. Both of my children have been seriously affected by said blunders and I will leave it at that...
I relieved much of my stress as I trudged through crunchy snow on Howards Knob this afternoon. Rime ice covers the tip top trees on most of the high ridges. The contrast between blue skies and white snow made me feel quite alone--and trust me, in the mood I was in at the time, that was probably a good thing.

(Howards Knob is closed during the winter months because it is turns into a solid sheet of ice. Don't trespass. It is not wise nor safe and it is against the law. With that said, I hope the town of Boone forgives me for my trespassing while I attempt to forgive those who have trespassed against my youngins.)

A snowy/icy day in Valle Crucis....

It was just another snow day which turned to icy slush by noon. Still, the whiteness cleaned-up the scenery with muted colors while the local beast hung out and did whatever it is they do. Check out John Doe snoozing on the Mast Store's bench in front of the pot-belly stove. And look how big the piggie is. My how it smiles.

Congrats to my good buddy Mark. His blog Photojournalism reached it's millionth viewer in the wee hours of the morning. If you are even remotely interested in photography and more specifically photojournalism, then his site is a daily must-read. His PJ related posts are a continuous reference source for me, particularly at the beginning of each new sport season. The blogosphere is fortunate to have him share his images and knowledge.

(The used Lucis Art on the above images. I applied the #3 plaid.)

Hey Mom and Dad: It's snowing in Boone!

Yee Hah! It is snowing in Boone and baby, I'm going back outside to shoot. Check back later.
And until I get back, just be content you don't have to have this conversation with your son.

Today I wore a permanent grin...

...because tomorrow I am headed south for a little living on island time. I'll send you a bloggy postcard once I find a cozy seaside wifi hotspot. You can't see my face, but the smile is still there.

It is official. Snow falls in Boone, sort of.

It isn't accumulating much and vicious winds are blowing the fine granules towards Lenoir. It is wicked cold. And as usual, if you drive down Rivers Street, you will see at least one ASU student wearing Crocs and Bermuda shorts...