Springtime

"Spring won't let me stay in this house any longer! I must get out and breathe the air deeply again."  -Gustav Mahler

This is a picture I took outside of my office today. 

Highlands, NC

These are a couple pictures from a trip to Highlands, NC we took last weekend. 

Cumberland Trail

Here's a picture of the Cumberland Trail at Signal Point near the southern terminus of the trail. For more info on the trail visit the link below. 

http://cumberlandtrail.org

Mabbit Springs Trail

Mabbit Springs

Mabbit Springs Trail

Cascade along Falling Water Creek

These images were taken from a hike on Mabbit Springs trail on Signal Mountain. This Chalybeate spring was believed to have healing water and was used to heal some from Cholera and Yellow Fever outbreaks in Chattanooga as early as the 1870's. Some believe  it was used even earlier than this date. 

North Suck Creek

Mushroom Rock

Conner Creek

Gracie and the North Suck suspension bridge. 

Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.

-John Muir

These are a few images from a hike to North Suck creek I took with my hiking buddy (our dog Gracie). 

North Chickamauga Creek

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”

- Winnie-the-Pooh

This is a picture from a hike at North Chickamuaga Creek on 01/30/16.

Snow

In honor of Grounhog Day and the promise of an early spring here is a picture of the snow we had on 01/23/16.

Jellyfish

 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.  - Genesis 1:21

This photo was taken today at the TN aquarium jellyfish exhibits. 

Piney River

"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for its not the same river and he's not the same man."   -Heraclitus

This photo was taken on a recent fishing trip to Piney River near Spring City, TN.

Watauga River Fly Fishing

"A trout is a moment of beauty known only to those who seek it."
by Arnold Gingrich

This is an image taken from Wilbur Dam.

Piney River Trail

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.  Revelation 22:1(NIV)

Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe.  -Henry David Thoreau

4th of July

 

The top picture was taken in Chicago and the bottom one was taken in Glacier National Park.  The following is from Red Skelton, feel free to click on the link at the bottom to listen to the audio version.  Happy fourth of July.

 On January 14, 1969, I presented "The Little Old Man" as a teacher. The time was 1923.The students had finished reciting the Pledge of Allegiance which at the time was but 10 years old. The old sage called the children together and said--

"Boys and girls, I have been listening to you recite the Pledge of Allegiance all semester and it appears that it has become monotonous to you or could it be you do not know the meaning of those words. If I may, I would like to recite the Pledge and give to you a definition of the words.

I----meaning me, an individual, a committee of one.
Pledge----dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self pity.
Allegiance----my love and my devotion.
To the Flag----our standard, Old Glory, a symbol of freedom. Wherever she waves, there is respect because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts freedom is everybody's job.
Of the United----that means that we have all come together.
States----individual communities that have united into 48 great states. 48 individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose, all divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that's love of country.
Of America.
And to the Republic----a republic, a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
For which it stands!
One nation----meaning, so blessed by God.
Indivisible----incapable of being divided.
With Liberty----which is freedom and the right of power to live one's life without threats or fear or any sort of retaliation.
And justice----The principle and quality of dealing fairly with others.
For all.----which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine."

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our nation, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance "under God." Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said, "That's a prayer" and that would be eliminated from schools, too? 

http://www.redskelton.com/PLEDGE.htm
Copyright Lothian Skelton, 2009, all rights reserved

Roan Mountain Summer Blooms

Abingdon VA

Biking at Tsali NC

 

"If you worried about falling off the bike, you'd never get on." -Lance Armstrong

Piney Falls

 

http://www.state.tn.us/environment/tn_consv/archive/waterfalls.htm

Devil's Race Track

Chimney Tops

  

Here are a couple of pictures from a hike to the Chimney Tops last Sunday. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimney_Tops

You Came Like a Winter Snow

Here is a link to a song that reminds us of the real meaning of Christmas.  We sang this song in church on Sunday, hope you enjoy it and Merry Christmas!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpHiAmL8-b0