Showing posts with label wild flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wild flowers. Show all posts

Easter 2019

 Morning dawned, dense with fog.
We braved it to attend the first service-described as "traditional".
Reflecting now (late afternoon), I realize one highlight 
of the morning was conversation with one whose name I'd heard,
but whose face I did not know.
I followed her on the way to the parking lot, 
watching her lone, bent frame 
and silently praying she would make it safely 
to her car.
I remarked on the sunshine that had replaced the fog 
as we had worshiped, and the conversation unfolded.
I learned that she, like me, was somewhat of an introvert.
She didn't need or seek out a lot of activity for activity sake.
"I've heard about you!" I said.
"And I about you," she returned.
And then we discovered our mutual lack of interest in
social activity and mindless chitchat.
***
Since our children live far away, my sister and brother-in-law were headed
to be with his side of the family, and I had failed to 
invite guests to Easter dinner,
we ate at the local cafe--thankful for the servers and cooks
who created and served our meal.
After naps, we roused ourselves for a beautiful walk
on a paved trail in the town next to ours.
Besides the sunshine, bird songs, croaking of frogs and budding out of trees,
a small patch of the two wild flowers shown here 
were the primary evidences of spring that I noticed.
I thought about my new acquaintance and wondered if she and I
were as rare among the crowd surrounding me this morning
as the two small patches of wildflowers  
among the dying excesses of winter....
Sometimes I feel that way.
Hmmmmmm. 

Sunday Evening

Last night, a casual evening walk around the perimeter of Island Park brought us to the base of the largest tree on the island.  The bottom photo of wildflower (or weed) was taken for identification purposes.  It was unfamiliar to my sister-in-law who is quite knowledgeable about the local flora.

We augmented this short walk by two others - one down the airstrip after viewing our nephew's plane in the hanger, and another in a hillside cemetery. 

Sunny Saturday at Lake Fontana

The morning started with chilly, low 30's temperatures.  So we began the day in a local coffee shop.  (Waiting here on the delicious crepes....)
We arrived at Lake Fontana and were greeted by our tour guides, friends of our hosts.  Ellen is shown below skillfully propelling our pontoon up and down the shores of this grand lake created by the damming of the Little Tennessee River.  There are 400 miles of shoreline!
 I can't imagine that there would be anyone more knowledgeable about the history of this lake, the towns that were buried when the river was dammed,  the location of the multitude of cemeteries in the mountains, and the identity of ruins along the paths than David--shown here tying up our boat prior to our hike.
Sites along the trail....

 A separate hike to one of the more easily accessible cemeteries after a picnic lunch on the boat resulted in these photos....
Returning to the launch site, David continued his informative dialogue. 
We were extremely blessed to have enjoyed such beautiful weather and to have seen the sites we did today through the eyes of a local couple who care deeply about the preservation and history of this incredible piece of the world!  Their diligence and action on behalf of this territory are admirable.  Their joy and interest in sharing it with us "outsiders" are qualities we will long remember.
Thanks, David and Ellen!

Fire Pinks?




We took a walk uphill last night before going to bed. I couldn't resist the picture of these wildflowers that also bloom near the Hideaway. While at Pigeon Forge Public Library this afternoon, a block from a quilt of wildflowers hanging on the wall just MAY have helped me identify them!

We never DID figure out how to get into the WiFi at the beautiful library at P.F. so we traveled a few miles down to road to the now-familiar Sevierville Library.

Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)