Blue Ridge blog

Tiny bug and moth float peacefully in the dog's water bowl...

Marie got a good night's sleep. It's easy to tell because her vision becomes keen as a bat (some would say even a bit batty) and she spots such riveting still lifes, such as the above death scene. Her quick instincts and reactions paid off in securing this shot because moments later, the dog, out of curiosity and thirst, slurped both the water and insects.

Hiking the Roan Highlands....

The last two days I have spent a large portion of my time on the grassy balds of the Roan Highlands photographing hikers and the environment. These 3 photos are a few of my many out takes: The top photo is of a rare Gray's Lily poking out through a field of grass. In the center are the Catawba rhodos are at their peak, if not just past it at the gardens on top of Roan. The final image is the descent from Jane Bald back to Round Bald.

I would blog much more, but Typepad is moody and I'm not willing to put up with her anymore.

Just a brief post this morning before I take off on another photo shoot along the Appalachian Trail. I'm headed toward the NC/TN border with 5 ASU students, a ravenous videographer, and a kindly boss. Hmmm. Wish me luck. Hopefully I'll have some shots to share with you this evening. The native Catawba Rhodos are in bloom as the highest elevations...so maybe, just maybe.

(I took this photo of a God's Eye from my deck on Sunday. This is for my friend SW who collects these images.)

Working hard for apples....

I overheard this snippet of conversation yesterday :

Man 1: "My daddy always said there are only two kinds that work on Sunday; a fool and a maggot."

Man 2: "Well, that's me, man. I'm just a fool crawling from one shit pile to another hoping to grow some wings."

And I reckon I'm a fool 'cause I worked both Saturday and Sunday in orchard reclamation. I fought blackberry canes, some 20 feet long, liberating our apple trees from my years of neglect. Annie chased butterflies and delighted in uncovering  tennis balls left behind by Harley.

This morning I eagerly return to my day job. My arms are covered in scratches. I need to rest a bit and take photos.

The photo above is of the new barn quilt placed on the Sustainable Development barn in Valle Crucis last week. Thanks to Tom E. for the heads up. I also noticed a new quilt placed on the barn near the entrance of the Valle fairgrounds. I'll shoot out soon and photograph that.

Here's a link to the first Valle Crucis barn quilt. Here's a link to a map of Watauga County Barn Quilts. Note: It needs updating.

Clear Skies

We've been blessed with unusually low humidity, temps in the high 60's and hazeless days. 'Scuse me while I go back outside and shoot some more....
(Photo from the middle of the cornfield looking towards the Mast Store Annex)

We're back...

"I fear no wave," a claim that lasted just about as long as the period on the end of this sentence. Then along came a rogue wave which gave me an unwelcomed natural neti flush.

A jellyfish grazed my nether regions, no I won't show you, yet it did leave a couple of welts on my shiny white hoo-haa. But nothing a half of a Yuelingling couldn't heal while I was seated on a Peaches Corner barstool.
We were the hillbillies on vacation at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the weekend.
Our pale  mountain flesh is more used to moon shine than sun beams. Still, armed with our beloved boogie boards and slathered with SPF 70+, we walked the board and hit the beach running, splashing into the waves.

There are thousands of restaurants in Myrtle Beach, each finding a glitzy gimmick to lure Ma & Pa America into eating their own special version of hamburgers, french fries or all-you-can-eat seafood buffet.

Still, we managed to find a few keepers, which is why I'm listing them here so when I return, I won't forget. That, and to share with you, of course:

1) Rossi's-my daughter's favorite
2) Umi-my favorite
3) The Library-my husband's favorite

And last but not least, my husband and I must be crazy because, get this: We are sending our Youngest daughter to the beach for her college education. Thus the real reason for our trip to Myrtle Beach. We attended college orientation at Coastal Carolina University. The good news: CCU is an excellent fit for her and she returned home having made new friends and intrigued by all her new possibilities. Boasting almost eight thousand students, the university is just about the right size to offer a wide range of opportunities without sacrificing a small college feel. My daughter is gonna be a Chanticleer.

And did I mention it is but a handful of miles from the beach?

Field tested aromatherapy...

I took series of photos of the lavender blooming in front of Raley Hall on the campus of Appalachian State last week. For many of the shots I was on my side, often nose to bloom. Within minutes I felt a bit like Dorothy in Oz, sitting in the poppy field, relaxed with no worries. In fact, I was so care free, I forgot to blog for a couple of days. Just kidding. I've been out on a family mission. The details of which I will share later.

Valle Crucis, NC

Here are a couple of photos of Valle Crucis. A mixture of scattered fog and dampness transformed the valle into an ethereal beauty this morning. Gonna take my Annie to Valle Crucis park this evening. Any day bookended by Valle Crucis is a good one indeed.

Colored Clouds...

I shot this on an Ayer's Mountain overlook. A severe thunderstorm rolled through the area near dusk on Saturday evening. Temperature inversions caused mist to flow up and over the mountains. The setting sun colored the clouds.

Shhh...don't tell everybody

There is no better sleep aid than the caress of an evening's draft through an open window. That's why I didn't post this last night.

Still, here is an image of the best kept secret in Valle Crucis; the wetlands. It is a place of tranquility and solitude. It is also chocked full of birds, dragonflies, butterflies and other worldly creatures other than humans. From the east, Hunt Hill rises, sometimes through fog. To the west is scenic highway 194 as it rises up the mountain towards Matney. To the south is the Goodnight Brother Sustainable Development Farm.
Somebody cares for the land.
A mowed path circles a spring-fed pond and marsh. Boardwalks cross the muckiest of spots. The path is flat and is less than a quarter mile in length. Unlike Valle Crucis Park, the wetlands is not a place for  cardiovascular exercise, fly-fishing, or birthday parties but rather a place to practice inner balance. Walk the path for a few steps. Breathe. Look around. Go a few feet farther. Pause. Take in the 360 degree view.
I recommend visiting the wetlands early in the morning or at sunset. Wear boots or old sneaks.