Gray Blue Attitude

Raindrops pounding the pavement on a chilly September day make my mood a little gray. It seems as though the wind is whispering and the rain is singing of cooler days the month is bringing.

Beauty and the Beast

As I was sitting at my desk working late in the day on a beautiful September afternoon, I heard sirens. They were on the periphery of my attention as a host of emergency personnel agencies are located nearby. Sirens are not uncommon.

The blaring sound kept up and I realized numerous police and fire vehicles were zooming down the road in front of the office where I work. I got up to look out the window to find my usual beautiful view had an ugly mark on it.

The state is in the process of making the road in front of the building into a four-lane from the two-lane it has been for countless years. It was sad to see the many old, thick-trunked hardwood trees being wrenched from the ground and ground into mulch.

To add insult to injury it seems a piece of heavy equipment being used to do so caught on fire, spewing noxious black smoke into the air.

The beauty of the day had been smacked by the beast of "progress."

Summer's Last Kiss

High Green Meadows

In Memoriam, Agnes MacRae Morton

It was the last weekend in August when I had the opportunity, nay, pure joy of traveling to the highlands of Watauga County, N.C.  I can think of nothing, save for the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, more beautiful than the meadows at the foot of Grandfather Mountain.

It was a clear Carolina Blue Sunday morning with low humidity (a rarity in late August).  As I strode through the soft green grass and clover, I felt the spirit of the Universe was there.  I found a lovely rock memoriam to Agnes MacRea Morton whose decision it was to hold the Scottish Highland Games in these green grasses every year.  The land on which the Scotch clansmen and various other folks gather is known as MacRae Meadow. 



Grandfather Mountain Keeps a Peaceful Watch Over the Meadow Below

Grandfather Mountain

Grandfather Mountain, which was previously owned by the late, great, Hugh Morton, stands a peaceful watch over the meadow.  Morton was a well known wildlife/nature photographer and philanthropist, and was known for his kindness in keeping all life on Grandfather Mountain in a proper eco-sytstem. And, on a perfect day such as the one I discovered the day I took these photos, I give a hearty salute to Mr. Morton  Thank you for the calmness. Thank you for the beauty.  Thank you for pure spirit.