stay ambitious

The ambitious are criticized by those that have given up. -- Grant Cardone (March 1958 - present) Sales Expert & Author

It's so easy sometimes in life to just give up. I guess it's easy to give up because most of the time giving up is taking the easy way out. To not do something is probably one of the easiest things in the world to do! However, to me, giving up is a double edged sword because when you give up there is always something you're missing out on. Yes, it may be minimal and sometimes you may not mind to miss out that something but eventually, if you continue to give up, something big is going to come along that you are just going to miss out on. Giving up kind of goes hand in hand with taking risks. One of the oldest sayings in the book is, "no risk, no reward" which is just what happens when you give up...NO REWARD!! Can't afford to take risks you ask? I say we rephrase that and eliminate the question all together and say we can't afford to NOT take risks just like we can't afford to give up!! You never know, that small risk you take today could really pay off tomorrow. All you have to do is take it! Consider this a challenge!

the mountains have called

The mountains are calling and I must go. 

-- John Muir (1838-1914) Advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States

The mountains have been calling me and finally, 3 years after I moved away, I'm back in the hills of Tennessee. I had almost forgotten how beautiful this place was. Needless to say, it's good to be back. Hopefully now, I can keep my blog up like I want to. This is a photo of Red Fork Falls towards the base of Unaka Mountain in beautiful Unicoi County, Tennessee near Johnson City. Y'all should have seen me and my girls. Emilia was wearing flip flops, Brittani was carrying my camera and as always the "snack pack", and I had Madelyn in the Hip Hammock on my back. Key word there is "hip." Needless to say it was quite a struggle, climbing up and down rock after rock with a 30 lb child hanging on for dear life and loving every minute of it. Oh yeah, forgot to mention it was RAINING!! Luckily the rain quit for a few minutes so I could take a quick pic. Haha, check out Madelyn on my back!! So much fun! Can't wait to go back! 

let it snow

Kindness is like snow-it beautifies everything it covers  -Unknown

These are a couple of photos I took about a year ago with my old camera. This waterfall is located on along the trail to get to the major waterfall called Red Fork Falls (to the left, during Autumn) on Unaka Mountain. Nonetheless, it is just as beautiful. For better photos of Red Fork Falls click here to see how the great Peacock does it!

the A.T.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the The A.T., is a 2,174 mile (3500 km) marked hiking and camping trail in the eastern United States, extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. Along the way, the trail also passes through the states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire.

The A.T. atop of Unaka Mountain. You can tell this is the Appalachian Trial because it is indicated by the white trail markers.

Unaka Mountain

This is another photo I shot from Emmanuel School of Religion. In the distance stands Unaka Mountain.

far more

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. -John Muir

Over 100 years ago, naturalist John Muir founded the Sierra Club to help preserve the pristine beauty of the Sierra Nevada. Since then, we've been instrumental in creating dozens of national parks, saving hundreds of species from extinction, and safeguarding over 160 million acres of wilderness and 8,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers. Help us continue this proud tradition. -Sierra Club (founded 1892)

Unaka Mountain Overlook, Tennessee

unfinished work

Conservation is a cause that has no end. There is no point at which we say, 'Our work is finished.'  -Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson enjoyed a successful career as a government biologist and writer, penning essays on marine life that are still relevant. But, she is best remembered as a reluctant activist and the author of Silent Spring-the landmark book that exposed the ecological and health hazards of DDT. A New York Times best-seller, Silent Spring reached millions and helped shape the environmental movement as we know it today.

Photo shot from Unaka Mountain out towards the east with Roan Mountain in the distance.

simplify

Live simply so others might simply live.  -Elizabeth Seaton

Cabin on Unaka Mountain; Tennessee