Blue Ridge blog

As if a big hairy toe isn't enough excitement...

Well, I give up on having normal days...shortly after photographing this rather bucolic scene on Broadstone Rd., I found Old Red dead. Yep. There I was, minding someone else's business (it is my job afterall) and I saw a pile of red fur peacefully basking in the sun just to the right of the above scene. Now, I'm not just any old dumb hillbilly. I know that horses like to rest their weary bones the same way people do. But this horse was a little bit too still for my liking. I had to crunch through briars to get a closer look see. I regarded no movement in the horse's ribcage. I clicked my tongue several times and stomped the ground and asked of the horse,

"Hey Red, you alive?"

About a rainbow and a big hairy deal

It has been a gully washer of a day. Torrential rains poured all through the night and this morning making the Watauga River angry looking. Some flooding, but mostly in the places that always flood. I've seen much worse.
As I was out cruising for photos, I briefly saw a rainbow appear through the trees. I pulled over, grabbed my camera, shot two frames and then it was gone...

So let me tell you about Yoga class last night...

Shrouded in fog

It is a foggy day up here in the High Country. I travelled on Daniel Boone Dr. this afternoon looking for photos and found this dreamy scene. While taking photos, a man stopped and chatted with me for a few minutes. He shared that although Appalachian State owns the property now, it used to be part of his family's homestead. He said the barn has been photographed numerous times and once appeared on the front page of the Watauga Democrat years ago. It was a snowy day and his Dad was walking to the barn to feed the cattle and the family cat followed him. I'd love to see that photo but he couldn't remember how many years ago it ran.

I made a date tonight to meet a friend not for coffee, but for yoga at the Wellness Center. Last Monday was the first time I've ever taken a yoga class and although it left me somewhat relaxed that evening, I was in horrible pain the next day. I can not believe that I folded so easily into the commitment...

My thoughts exactly

Appalachian 34- Lafayette 23. Bring on the Salukis!
Besides the win, my favorite part of the game was watching the ASU football players come off the field and acknowledge the crowd of 6,327. The ASU fans love this football team and I believe the feeling is mutal.
Oh, and one more thing:
Dear Mr. Sports Announcer,
Our college is not pronounced "App-a-lay-shun State". Please do your homework.

Over the river and through the woods...

This house must have belonged to a grandmother at some point in time. It has that 'Mamaw' look... Sorry ya'll but I haven't picked up the camera in two days except to shoot riveting family Thanksgiving photos. I'm sure you'd be interested in those (inject sarcasm). The house in the photo above is right next door to Tweetsie Railroad. I shot it during as a snow squall hit on Tuesday. The snow is all gone now. Thanksgiving day was laid back and I am completely over the idea of leftovers. I want Fresh!

I was amazed at the number of responses/comments I received on the last horsey photo. Thanks for all of your input. After I read how my heart was 'bleeding' all over the place, I think I sounded as those I was fishing for comments, but I really wasn't. I just really responded to that photo with a gasp as soon as I pulled it up on my screen and was seriously interested in your opinion. I rarely make prints of my photos for myself, but this one, I will.

And thanks to all of you who de-lurked...that was cool!

I like it...

So I am leaving my heart out here to bleed on the internet for you. It is right here and right now and I really want to know what you think...honestly, but not brutally....I love this photo. What do you think?
I took five images. The first two are horizontal but the stupid horses wouldn't do anything but put their butts towards me. Then I walked along the fence, pat the white horse on the nose and told him that he should be a good boy, I then walked away. I took two vertical shots, but still, the composition was all wrong. My final shot, and I was really cold at this point, was this one that I like the most. The white horse stood still and I got the fence post in an agreeable position, I think. I dunno know...honestly, it is a simple shot w/ a simple composition....
This photo was taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway today at about 4:15 pm near Green Hill Rd in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Snow in Watauga

Yes, it snowed last night. As is typical, the peaks saw more accumulation than the valleys. I've been slaving to get my pre-Thanksgiving work done so that I can go out and take more photos for you. I want it to snow more- lots and lots and lots. I want to sit in my living room like I did last night and watch the snow fall. I want to curl up in my the afghan that my grandmother made and read a book. I want to play a game of Scrabble with anyone who feels like it at the moment. I want to catch up on reading some of your blogs. I just want to have a really good reason to stay at home. So let it snow--lots and lots.

The Path to the Barn

My dear husband spent a large part of the weekend winterizing and weather proofing the house and barn in hopes of saving a few pennies on power bills. This morning I woke to see the soft glow of light emanating from the barn. Pretty, but it would also help if we turned off the lights.

The Best View Ever!

Certainly this is a good view, yet why stop?  I continued climbing up to the top of Fork Ridge with my friend Sal on Saturday. At the summit, I had few words to say-partially because I was out of breath but also because the view left me with the definite feeling that there is something much much larger than ourselves. Of course I took many photos, but I won't share them now because I want to return when the scene is lit better ...so the feeling I experienced translates more accurately. Harley was with us, smiling the whole time. I can't decide if she was happiest because there were cows around or if it was because there were cow pies conveniently plopped about just for her to roll around in and eat. MMMMmmm...doggie buffet.

Speaking of food....
My husband and I went out last night to the Peabody's wine tasting at the Broyhill. I was wearing a new saucy hairdo, the coolest of black pumps and a decidedly matronly sweater. Note to self: Buy new clothes.
It didn't matter though. Dear husband and I had a great time tasting food and wine. Our game plan was to stick to red wines that were under $15 a bottle. We enjoyed many but one notable was the Madison Lee Red , a table wine from Yadkin Valley's own Shelton Vineyard . An affordable, yet drinkable wine. Of course we had to eat. So we did. I noshed on Stickboy's pumpkin cheesecake while husband chose their pecan pie. There was also some serious food provided by Sirius Restaurant . Our next date will be there--very soon.

We're Number 1 AND Number 2

Hans Batichon, Dexter Jackson and Pierre Banks pose for me while I take their photo. The Appalachian State football players just found out via ESPN news that their team is seeded #2 in the nation behind New Hampshire in Division 1-AA.
Note the SoCon Champ t-shirts--ASU is the outright SoCon champs. On Saturday, ASU beat Elon in a lop-sided game 52-14. You can read everything you want to know about ASU football and more at Go ASU . I have one more tidbit that I want to share with ya'll--but particularly with the mother of ASU football player Justin Woazeah:

Dear Justin's Mom,
I know that you heard from your son via cell phone today as he sat in Legends watching the ESPN football rankings. I know because I saw him. He was so excited to see himself on TV. It was like Christmas came early. He was adorable as he waited with anticipation. He lept out of his chair when the tv commentator announced ASU's ranking.  I am sorry that you couldn't be here to see him jump up and cheer. But I do want you to know that the first words out of his mouth were, " I've gotta call my Mama." You were the first person that he thought of to share the news.
I just thought you may want to know...

Sincerely,
Marie