A Bountiful Gift

Today Jim brought home a box of eggs given to him by someone he works with. The box contains 4 different colors of eggs and reminds me of Easter. But it also reminds of the bountiful gifts of nature. I am looking forward to breakfast now, knowing these beautiful gifts are waiting in the fridge for us.

There is Joy in Bounty!

Here's to the Ride!

Fried Green Tomatoes

A delicious dinner!

Joy!

Here's to the Ride!

A New Library Card

Jim and I checked out the local library last night. Imagine my surprise at finding a coffee cafe inside the library. Whooooo Hoooooo! We both HAD to get library cards and carefully checked out the cafe as well as the endless shelves of books, magazines and videos!

When Jim called me today to make plans for the evening, he found me at the library reading Science and Health with a delicious Mocha Latte grasped firmly in hand. Smiling!

Joy is reading at the library with a fresh cup of deliciousness.

Here's to the Ride!

Adventure in My Blood

Jim had only one question for me as we hiked Gregory's trail. His question: Are you glad you have adventure in your blood and that it makes you want to see the top of the mountain?

My answer: Yes!

Joy is adventure in our blood and love beyond measure!

Here's to the Ride!

Courage to Climb a Mountain

Yesterday we hiked 5 miles to Gregory's Bald and 5 miles back down the mountain. It took 8 hours, four bottles of water, one granola bar, 1 bag of mixed nuts, lots of bug spray and tons and tons of Courage. We followed a one person lane around the mountain that seemed to wind to forever. Passing deer, bunnies, a horseback rider, small mountain streams, and other courageous hikers.

Ohhhhhh, but at the top, a grassy meadow surrounded by beautiful blooming Azaleas, Blueberry bushes galore and a 360 degree mountain view. Courage rewarded!

Here's to the Ride!

Sunrise and a Triple Water fall

Jim and I enjoyed our first sunrise over the Smokies this morning. I got up before 4:00 and checked the sky - it was filled with stars so I brewed our delicious coffee and we headed for the mountains. The sky was clear as we climbed Look Rock Tower and watched as sunlight dazzled us with the panoramic mountain views. It was the most perfect morning.

After the sunrise we drove to the National Park and hiked 4 miles to a triple waterfall. The beauty that we have seen this day has been breath taking and at the same time makes breathing easy. Walking the mountain trail enclosed with a canopy of leaves and greenery with

only the sound of the river falling swiftly over the rocks. Watching beams of sunlight splashing the ground ahead of us making us want to see whatever is ahead or just around the corner.

As the trail got steeper it turned into switchbacks and we tried to imagine how these trails had once been used by trains and cars and now they are barely passable. We saw old steel rails from a long ago era when they hauled trees from this area. We saw only a chimney standing in the middle of a clearing - standing alone - no longer useful. We saw flowers. We sat on moss covered rocks. We felt the cold water with our hands. And still, at the end of the day it was hard to leave the mountains.

Here's to the Ride!

Planning a Sunrise

Jim and I have been busy tonight packing for a sunrise breakfast. I have all the fixings for coffee - ready to brew at 4:00 am. We have his new (huge) backpack loaded with biscotti, the camera, binoculars, flashlights, walking sticks, water and a blanket to sit on - all ready for our trek to Look Rock Tower.

I am so excited to see the sun rise over the mountains tomorrow morning. I am excited to get up early and see the stars from a mountain top with the view unhindered by city lights. And I am excited to spend the beginning of this July 4th weekend in the mountains of Tennessee.

Here's to a Beautiful Sunrise!