Labor Day Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

Tucker and I took Terri on a drive south along the parkway today. The sky was beautiful bright blue, the breeze just right and the temp never got above the upper 80's. It was perfect!

There is something to be said for leaving behind the sales & crowds of the malls and the noise and crush of the last day at the pool/beach/lake to wander along the roads remembering what we actually labor for...


Another nice reminder from today's adventure - not everyone gets a labor free Labor Day! Oh I know all the retail sales staffs are out in full force along with the food industry workers and theater & theme park employees, but they will get another day off to make up for today.

I'm thinking more along the lines of farmers, herdsmen, dairymen and cattlemen (and women) who don't get a day off period. The sun comes up and off they go... the sun sets and still they have things to do! Even on a "holiday" celebrating the working man.


We named this gentleman "Farmer Johnson" and I'm sure he thought we were nuts taking pictures of him. All he wanted to do, surely, was get his field mowed and get home! Look at the tree line and the incline of the land...can you imagine working a field like that just to get hay for your animals?! (BTW, the big orange cloud is POLLON - oy my sinuses!)

The amazing thing about these drives are the lessons - duty, dedication and honor never take a holiday - and surprises that God puts in my path along the way. After watching "Farmer Johnson" for a while I noticed something odd along the fence line.


This wonderful Cross is made up of a fence post, tree stump, vines and barbed wire twisted into a crown of thorns. What a wonderful beautiful picture of the work the Man of Sorrows did on that OLD RUGGED CROSS

1. On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

2. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary.
(Refrain)

3. In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.
(Refrain)

4. To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share.
(Refrain)


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The continuing saga

First full day in Tennessee wasn't too bad, kinda cloudy but still got some good pictures taken (400+ in 4 days) made use of my kitchen and found the "art gallery". In of itself the gallery was a bit of a disappointment but the fact that it was founded by the artists themselves was quiet wonderful. It is open to the who community offering classes, lectures, demonstrations and a nice art history library.

I also found one of the wineries. Interesting place - not a grapevine to be found. Highlight of that stop was this cool wine glass rack I found... If only I had money...and wine glasses! Thus Monday ended...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

My Trip to Tennessee

Have you ever noticed that no matter what wonderful ideas you have before you go on vacation they all go ary and yet it turns out ok in the end anyway...most of the time? I recently got to go to a wonderful area of Central Tennessee sourrounded by lakes and rolling hils and stay at a resort with multiple outdoor pools and even beaches. The idea of laying out in the sun soaking up all that lovely vitamin D thrilled me. Even better was the chance to visit with freinds I had not seen in years - decades even! To top it all off there were a number of wineries in the area. It sounded like a perfect picture-taking getaway. I was soooo excited.

The day before departure the "guest" who was coming with me (and had the money) backed out. Ok, no problem - I had a full tank of gas, a trunk full of groceries and a condo with a full kitchen waiting for me. I could still do this... and the drive down was beautiful. I even stopped at Bristol and got some fresh fruits and veggies at a historic farmers' market.

I arrived at Wyndom Fairfield Glade about 3 hours later then projected and very tired but left the concierge with lots of local art, history and winery attractions. AND two bags of hot popcorn, 4 chocolate chip cookies and 4 oatmeal cookies hot out of the oven. So far so good right?! Wrong... they had me in a small unit with a flight of stairs to get in and 4 steps in the unit. Not good for the knee - oh and my parking was half a block away. Sooo back to the Club House, get the room changed to the one I had reserved and viewed online. Off to the new room, unpack the car and watch some TV - gotta find out about all my sunshine right?? LOL How bout four days of rain and overcast skies. Don't you love vacations??

to be continued...