too ripe for dress-up

Mom, I told you I'm too old to dress up--all my friends are going to laugh at me!

birds and bees

Gromit: Honestly mom, we weren't doing anything...
Roxy: Can someone please get this obnoxious jock off of my bed?

air gromit

Gromit's girlfriend is staying over for the weekend. Here he is chasing his ball through the puddles in the park while Roxy gallops alongside him.

1826.25

In the beginning, we tried to go to Beacon Heights and take a picture each year (2004, 2005, & 2008). Other photos were taken at Mt. Jefferson, Rendezvous Mountain, Wiseman's View, Wilson Creek, and Black Mountain (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, & 2011, respectively). Happy Anniversary, my sweet!

the little engine that could

This was taken a few years ago when we were hiking at North Harper Creek. There were quite a few leaves collecting in a puddle at the base of the falls, and I happened to notice there was one brilliant red leaf among the ocher. It was (and is) one of my favorite fall photos.

out of the fog

Let's just go ahead and confess--I'm cheating again. This one was taken two years ago and features a gorgeous tree penetrating the Deep Gap fog. I promise I'll start taking new photos again soon. I wish the leaves were pretty here, but it looks like we're not going to have much color.

code orange

I'm cheating a bit with this one, which I took last October up near Mabry Mill. 'Tis the season (for pumpkins, not cheating, of course)!

paved paradise

I enjoyed hanging out with former co-workers and one very special walking buddy & dear friend today. This photo is of one of a handful of trees that still have their foliage (it was in a parking lot, of all places).

hard to leaf

Aside from the opportunity to snap this photo, we were a bit disappointed in the Blue Ridge Trail. While it boasted four overlooks, we only saw one, and it was less impressive than the view from the buildings on the property (which did not require a 2.8 mile hike, uphill both ways!). Nevertheless it was good exercise, and the leaves were beautiful.

buena vista

Having a wonderful time on our church retreat to Black Mountain! This was the view from Robert E. Lee Hall on the property.

couch potato

The dining room is almost done! I just have a few framed patterns designed by Surly Bird Studio to hang from my glass doorknobs (above the church pew). I love this room so much that I almost want to eat dinner at the dinner table. Almost.

terrarium treasure

Found this candle holder at a yard sale a few weeks ago and turned it into a terrarium centerpiece for the dining room table.

cute as a punkin

Gearing up for the trick-or-treaters this year. Our sweet neighbors gave us these silly faces for our pumpkins, which guard each side of the front door.

let there be light

Please pay no attention to the fruity wallpaper or hideous tile countertops. This before & after applies only to the pendant lights. We traded out the brass beauties for some gorgeous Edison-style globes.

secret falls

Near Highlands. The rain began to fall on this hike and followed us all the way home the next day. I snapped the shot of the main waterfall (left) right before it began to pour. For the shot of the top of the falls (right), Seth hovered over me with his rain coat to shield my camera. I could've spent all day at this oasis if the rain hadn't run us off. This concludes our waterfall journey--I hope you have enjoyed it even a fraction as much as we did!

lower satulah falls

Near Highlands. And yes, there is a waterfall in this photo, although the watershed was small and the distance was great.

glen falls

Near Highlands. The photo on the left was taken at the top of the falls; the photo on the right from the base.

bridal veil falls

Near Highlands. The original Hwy 64 routed travelers under the falls, but it soon became evident that this was a dangerous venture in the winter months. Thirty years later, a by-pass was constructed to route traffic around the falls. You can still pull off and drive under the falls in the warmer seasons.

dry falls

Near Highlands.

quarry falls

Near Highlands.

cullasaja falls

Near Highlands. Terrifying, absolutely terrifying. A tiny pull-off on the side of a narrow, well traveled mountain highway was the vantage point for this falls. Seth risked life and limb to climb up a bank opposite the pull-off to get this shot.

silver slip falls

First off, happy birthday wishes to my brother-in-law, Greg! We were thinking about you while we were hiking to this waterfall near Cashiers. This hike involved a little trespassing at a closed down bed and breakfast. At the time our waterfall guidebook was published, the b&b was open and allowed access to the public. When we got to the gate, we discovered that the b&b was closed, although a housing development that shared the same gate buzzed us in. The photo on the right was taken from the front lawn of the b&b, which features one of the best views of the Devil's Courthouse in the area.

silver run falls

Near Cashiers.

upper silver run falls

Near Cashiers. Getting to this falls involved a vertical hike up a rock face, but fortunately tree roots made for perfect hand and foot grips.

whitewater falls

Near Lake Toxaway.

white owl falls

Near Lake Toxaway.

eastatoe falls

Near Rosman. This little gem is located on private property, but the owners graciously allow visitors. On the way up their driveway, you pass two ponds (pictured center), and there is a neat footbridge that crosses downstream from the falls. I want to write these folks a letter to thank them for sharing such a beautiful gift!

cove creek falls

Near Brevard. Backpacked in and camped slightly downstream from the falls at an awesome site along the Caney Bottom Trail.

waterfall on cedar rock creek

Near Brevard. We first visited this falls a few years ago. We decided to hit it up again while we were in the area and met a very nice group of hikers from Augusta who scored a pretty awesome campsite just upstream from the falls.

looking glass falls

Okay, I'm finally catching up the blog after a week of workshops and a long weekend of hiking and camping. I'm going to take you on a photo tour of our hiking adventures in and around Brevard, Rosman, Lake Toxaway, Cashiers, and Highlands. Bear in mind that the next 15 or so photos were not necessarily taken on the day I am posting them, but they are in order of visit. The photo above is of Looking Glass Falls near Brevard.

on the prOWL

At 7:30 this morning, I convinced Seth to come along with me for a fun morning of yard sale hopping and Bo'Jangles, of course, which helped the coercion tremendously. For some reason, he couldn't imagine why on earth I wanted to buy a set of these brass owls. He just doesn't see the potential (yes, there will be an "after" post of this one...).