Restful Moments

I recently read this quote in Southern Lady magazine

and thought how it described our recent vacation.

 

"Sometimes the most important thing

in a whole day

is the rest we take between

two deep breaths"

                                       ~ Etty Hillesum

 

 

On our recent trip to Virginia and Kentucky,
we looked forward to resting and getting away from
the every day grind of work and responsibility.
 

We seemed to spend all our time in the car, traveling
from place to place. But between miles we
found places to stop and take those deep breaths.
 

During the week we were blessed by many

"moments of rest" as we stopped to enjoy

the beauty of this great country.

 

Here are a few of our memories

as we took a breath and just enjoyed the beauty.

 

 

As we began to leave the flatlands,

low clouds seemed to hug the hills

giving us just a glimpse of the mountains

we were eager to see.

 

 



 

An unplanned stop at Appomattox was an

awesome moment of rest, thanks to the advice of

a gracious lady at the visitors center.

 

 





As I stood at this grave site and looked over

the green fields of the farm, I couldn't help thinking of all 

the soldiers who shed their blood on this ground.

 

 



Colonial Williamsburg was another

rest stop on our journey.

Seeing our early American history come

to life brought a heart of gratitude

for all the brave men and women who fought

for the freedoms I have enjoyed.

This is the Governors home.

 

 



The Jamestown Settlement was maybe my favorite

stop. Some of the earliest history of our

country is wonderfully recreated here. 



We spent a few hours at Yorktown, having lunch and

walking along the boardwalk on the river.

 



 

Looking across the Chesapeake Bay, the sky and

water were breathtaking.

 



 

We also spent time at the Colonial National

Historical Park, following the path of Gen. Washington

as he and his men fought the battle of Yorktown in 1781.

As we left Virginia and crossed over into
W. Virginia, we visited the coal mining town
of Beckley. It was misting rain on this
day as we visited the New River Gorge.

This bridge spanning the river
 is over 3000 feet long and 876 feet high,
making it the third highest bridge in the US.

We drove over it several times, and I don't mind
saying, it is a little intimidating to me.
(I took more than two deep breaths on this one!)

 

 

 I am amazed at the engineering that goes into a structure
of this size, but thankful at the same time.

 
 If not for the bridge in the picture above, this is the bridge we
would have used to cross the New River........after traveling
down the side of one mountain, and then up the side of the
other. Is my flatlander showing??

Whatever the path we chose,
the most important thing for us
is that we traveled it together, sharing
the rest God provides in Him and
the gifts He has given us to enjoy.

Even though we traveled over 3000 miles, and
came home tired of riding, we were rested in spirit,
refreshed from the change in scenery and
looking forward to the next adventure together.
 
Until next time,
                        Carolyn

 

 

A History Lesson

 

 

 

We spent some time recently

at the Jamestown Settlement

in Virginia.

 

I have a new appreciation for the early

travelers to this new world.

 

They were brave and determined,

traveling in a small, cramped

cargo hold aboard ships much

like these.

 

 

 

This was one of the favorite stops on

our trip.

 

 

 

The weather was perfect,

and the scenery beautiful.

 

 

 The only way the travelers could come on deck

 was to be invited by the Captain.

 I figured I better make friends, I am

a little claustrophobic:))

 

We also visited Williamsburg and Yorktown.

More history to share later.

 

C

 

 





 

Consider the lilies, how they grow:

 

 

 

 

 they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you,

 

 

 

 

even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

 

Spider lilies, surprise lilies, hurricane lilies, naked ladies,

whatever you call them in your part of the world,

they are a lovely way to introduce October.

 

 

Until next time,

               C



GOODBYE
           September     

 

The goldenrod is yellow

the corn is turning brown

  

The trees in apple orchards

with fruit are bending down,

(from the poem September by Helen Hunt Jackson)

 

  

September is a month that starts out as summer

and ends with a hint of fall here in the south.

 

I am looking forward to cooler nights, crisp autumn days

and the lovely colors of October.

 

Until next time,

           C

Welcome

            September          

 

Once again, we are in drought conditions

and under a burn ban.

 

 

The Cypress trees are beginning to

color and drop their needles.

 

I think the fruit is such an odd looking

thing. Not pretty but definitely interesting.

 

Looking forward to rain and cooler temperatures~

 

 

Until next time,

            Carolyn

 

 



Saturday Supper

 

On our way to Saturday supper this week,

we spent about an hour at beautiful

Caddo Lake State Park.

 

Even though we are several hundred

miles north of Evangeline country,

this area reminds me of South Louisiana

and the Atchafalaya Basin.

 

 

Come along on our walk and see if you agree.

I have added a few lines from the poem

Evangeline by Longfellow that come to mind.

 

 

This is the forest primeval.

The murmuring pines and hemlocks,

 bearded with moss, and in garments of green,

indistinct in the twilight,

Stand like Druids of eld, with voices sad and prophetic.

 

 

 

 

Over their heads the towering and tenebrous boughs

of the cypress met in a dusky arch, and trailing mosses in mid-air

waved like banners that hang on the walls of ancient cathedrals.

 

Water-lilies in myriads rocked on the slight undulations

made by the passing oars.......

 

 

Deathlike the silence seemed, and unbroken, save by the herons

home to their roosts in the cedar-trees returning at sunset.

 Can you see the pirogue gliding through the

water bearing Evangeline on her journey to

find her Gabriel?

 

I found myself reading again their story so familiar

to the Cajun people of Louisiana

after I looked at the pictures we took.

 

 

Once again, we returned home, not only refreshed

in body from a good meal, but refreshed in

spirit and soul from the beauty

of the world God so graciously gave us to inhabit.

 

Hope you enjoyed our drive and your weekend was

also filled with beauty! 

 

 

Until next time,

                 Carolyn

 

(These photos were taken with David's little

point and shoot camera so they are not as sharp.

We didn't start out with this destination in mind...

I know! I should never leave home without my camera!)

 

 



Wishing and Hoping

Really hoping these lovely thunderheads

provide a shower this afternoon.

I did my part, I went through the

car wash on my way home from church :)

 

 

If that doesn't work, we watered the grass yesterday.

 

 

So now, it is up to nature.

 Rain or shine, it's a beautiful day.

 

 

Until next time,

Carolyn

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens;

 but often we look so long at the closed door

 that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."

                                                                       Helen Keller

 

                

 

The open doors in one of my favorite old

houses still standing in Dixie.

 

I always think about the folks who have lived

here and wonder if they knew just how blessed

they were to have lived and raised

their children in the country.

 

 

 

Remnants of lives lived and stories told still

paper the walls in this humble home.

 

 

Each year, more of the little house

falls into disrepair. I imagine the memories

will live on long after these walls cease to speak.

 

It's a reminder to be thankful for the happiness

each day brings. When one door finally closes,

 looking with anticipation to the next one that opens,

all the while remembering the good things learned

from the past.

 

Until next time,

                Carolyn

 

 



July 4

 

 

A Perfect Day

 

 

 

 

 

Porch sittin'

 

 &

 

 

Sparkler twirlin'

 

 

 

God bless America, land that I love!

 

 

 



Getting My Farm Girl Fix

 

On our way home from Saturday Supper we

took a drive up to Dixie.

 

 

Several times a year, I feel my "roots"

calling and I just have to head out to
the country and  "see how the

crops are coming along" as my dad used to say.

 



 

The cotton is coming along nicely.

The days and nights are heating up,

perfect weather as far as cotton and okra are concerned.

The fluffy evening clouds in the distance ...... I love.

 

 

 

The corn has had a very good year so far.

After several years of drought conditions,

this is a beautiful sight to see.

 

 

We checked out the sunflowers

along the sunflower trail on our way home.

 

This time of the day, they have their

sweet faces turned to the east.

 

 

 Even the backside of this lovely

flower is so pretty. The leaves

look like green flower petals.  

 

 

 

Such a happy face!

 

 

Thankfully, this year this irrigation

system hasn't been need so far.

God has blessed us with wonderful

showers of liquid blessings arriving

at just the right time.

 

 

 

A trip to the country wouldn't be complete without

a friendly cow tucked in somewhere.

She was a bit curious and shy, so no smile :)

Wonder what happened to her other horn......

 

 

 

Lots of red winged blackbirds

visit the sunflowers each year. This

fellow was fussing at me for interrupting

his supper with my picture taking.

 

No matter what country roads we wander down,

they speak like a kindred spirit to me.

 

~I will always be a country girl at heart~

 

 

Hope you enjoyed checking out the crops with me!

 

Until next time,

Carolyn