nothing worth having is easy

My father was very sure about certain matters pertaining to the universe. To him, all good things - trout as well as eternal salvation came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy. 

-- Norman Maclean: A River Runs Through It (1992)

The other week, the girls and I went over to beautiful Sycamore Shoals in Elizabethton, TN. The park stretches along the Watauga River and offers a trail you can easily navigate by walking, running, or even biking. Sycamore is a great place to take the kids because they can actually walk without have to worry about them falling off a cliff. Above is a shot of a bridge that stretches across one of the streams that the Watauga feeds and to the left is a shot of a garden of Black Eyed Susans. Beware, the water is ice cold!!

a snails pace

By perseverance, the snail reached the ark. 

-- Charles H Spurgeon (1834-1892) British Particular Baptist preacher

The girls and I ran up on this snail at Limestone Cove in Unicoi, TN. Either the heavy rains brought it to where it was, a good 100 ft. from the stream, or it got there by perseverance. If I had half as much fight in me to persevere through life's difficulties I would be unstoppable in everything I did.  This just goes to show how the willingness to succeed overcomes the willingness to fail and failing my friends is unacceptable but it may take you a while so keep on trucking! 

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! 

the art of God

“All things are artificial, for nature is the art of God” – Thomas Browne

For those of you who know me, you know that I love the outdoors and love to deer hunt. I just wish I had more time to do it. At times, I've found myself dreaming about shooting that monster buck to hang on the wall. Yes, I would still love the trophy, but now I see it in a different light. Not only would I love to bag the trophy but first I'm aiming to shoot it with my Nikon if I'm close enough. I was lucky this past weekend because there were deer everywhere. I "shot" this deer on an old friends land who I used to rent from when I lived in Tennessee while attending college. This girl was just standing there looking at me while I sat on the 4 wheeler shooting away. This particular morning I think I saw like 15 deer. Good times, good times!

Judge Not

"Judge not unless you judge yourself"  - Bob Marley

I think this quote fits the photo perfectly and to be honest, after thinking about it, at first glance, I definitely judged this place. Matthew chapter 7, verses 1 and 2 in the Bible are very similar to this quote as well. Matthew 7:1-2 says "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." If you could make a guess, what do you think this building use to be? It shocked me as well. At first I thought this was just an old abandoned shack in the outskirts of Pilot Mountain close to where I live, but as I moved closer it was something totally different. This is actually an old abandoned church and everything is still in there, except maybe the piano. If I could guess, based on my religious studies and by the looks of the alter and pulpit, this used to be a Lutheran type gathering place. I could be wrong so don't hold me to that but I'm pretty confident. Nevertheless this place is cool!! 

Knox Vegas

Wow! I did not realize it has been since DECEMBER since I last posted. I guess that just goes to show how busy life can get at times, but I plan to do better. Well, since my last post, things have changed a little bit. I now work for a company by the name of Cellular Sales. Cellular Sales is the worlds largest premium retailer for Verizon Wireless. Anyways, every new employee has to go through a week of training and my week of training lead me to Knoxville, Tennessee. During the week I took full advantage to soak up the sights of old Knoxville and just unwind a little before starting my new found career 100%. Out of all the photographs, this one here is one of my favorites. Ground first broke back in 1927 by a Chicago-based contractor named George M. Fuller for the historic Tennessee Theatre. A short 55 years later the theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Needless to say this was a pretty cool site to see. For more information on the Tennessee Theatre just simply click here.

the country life

 

Ironically, rural America has become viewed by a growing number of Americans as having a higher quality of life not because of what it has, but rather because of what it does not have! -- Don A. Dillman, American Author

life of purpose

The purpose of life is a life of purpose. --Robert Byrne 

This shot here is just a small example of how "Old Salem" operates on a day to day basis. There are tours, and little old shops up and down the streets with people dressed like they did back in the more primitive days. You can enter the shops but you have to purchase tickets to ponder about the stores.

old salem

The important thing is to not stop questioning. Curiosity has it's own reason for existing.
-- Albert Einstein

Yes, I know, I have a lot of catching up to do with my postings. This is the entry way of the Old Salem Visitor Center in Winston Salem, NC. This place here is where my photo journey began for the day. If you're ever in Winston Salem or close to it, I would definitely recommend taking a few hours to explore the historic district. You won't be disappointed you did! Click here for more information on this neat little district.

generous harvest

We must give more in order to get more. It is the generous giving of ourselves that produces the generous harvest.  -- Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924) American Writer

Autumn, or the harvest season, is by far my favorite time of the year. After the long, hot Summer, there really is nothing better than the weather cooling, hunting season, pumpkin pie, and the leaves changing. I've rode and rode past countless corn fields and told myself every single time when the opportunity presented itself to stop and grab a quick shot but I kept putting it off. Needless to say, I finally stopped and grabbed the shot I was looking for. So, as the leaves change, I challenge everyone to go out and explore the wonders of Autumn!

keep it simple

Nature always tends to act in the simplest way. -- Daniel Bernoulli (1700-1782) Mathematician 

These mushrooms here are kind of a big deal. Madelyn's Grandmother noticed these shrooms driving back from church one morning. Then, she was the only who saw these until we turned around to go back for one more look. I happen to think these little mushrooms are cool myself with the stair like growing pattern and not to mention Pilot Mountain in the distance.

lessons learned

The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and the given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.
-- Tom Bodett (1955-) American author, voice actor, and radio host

Kayaking on the Saluda River...hard to beat... 

the optimist farmer

The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn't still be a farmer.
-- Will Rogers (1879-1935) was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, and one of the best known celebrities in the 20s & 30s.

I shot this photo on roadway 268 in between Elkin, NC and Pilot Mountain, NC. I've driven past this spot too many times to count without stopping but this past weekend I could not resist. The sky wasn't ideal but it still makes for a nice image. Silo's may become a new favorite subject...we'll see!

hot-lanta

Divine Nature gave the fields, human art built the cities.
--Marcus Terentius Varro (116 BC - 27 BC) ancient Roman scholar and writer

Back in July, we took a family trip to the White Water Park in Atlanta and to the  Georgia Aquarium (click link to explore). I must say the Georgia Aquarium is bad to the bone and I really recommend it to anyone at any age (well maybe not an infant). Just make sure you have at least a half a day because this place will take at least that to thoroughly explore and enjoy optimally. However, things can get a little pricy so be sure to budget for for deep pockets. Anyways, I shot this photo along the walkway that connects the aquarium to the parking garage. I really liked the mountainous feel of the little coffee shop with part of the World of Coca~Cola factory and a few of many skyscrapers in the background.

we are what we eat..

Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are.
--Jean Anthelme (1755-1826) French Lawyer and Politian

While reading this quote I couldn't help to think about how true it really is. I think it's really cool how food defines who we are as a culture and how it always seems to take us back to our roots. Think about it..

This photo was taken at a little farmers market in the ZERO red light town of Cana, Virginia. Cana is located along highway 52, right close to the Blueridge Parkway, just outside of Mount Airy, North Carolina and not far from Fancy Gap, Virginia. Originally, I drove right past this little place but the line of tomatoes out front pulled me right back to grab a quick shot.

song of poetry

 

If we can discover the meaning in the trilling of a frog, perhaps we may understand why it is for us not merely noise but a song of poetry and emotion. - Unkown

appreciate

Learn to appreciate the things you have before time makes you appreciate the things you had. -- unknown

troubled experiences

If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force withing you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be.   --John Heywood (1497-1580) English writer known for his poems, plays, and collection of proverbs

gift from the sea

The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless, as a beach--waiting for a gift from the sea. -- Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906-2001) American Aviator, Author, and spouse to fellow aviator Charles Lindbergh

alignment of events

I often think of that rare fulfilling joy when I am in the presence of some wonderful alignment of events. Where the light, the colour, the shapes, and the balance all interlock so beautifully that I feel truly overwhelmed by the wonder of it.  --Charlie Waite (b. 1949) landscape photographer