Evening Glow

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This picture was taken in December, 2010, in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. I was intrigued by the reflection of the sky in the water of the marshes bordering the Intracoastal Waterway and captured this scene.

A Meeting in Appomattox

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American history teaches that General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Army of Northern Virginia to Lt. General U. S. Grant in the parlor of the McLean House in Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on April 9, 1865. The two met briefly again the next day at this site along the lane between the two armies.

From the Archives: Flowers in Our Yard

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Most of you know that we have roses in our yard, but we also have quite a few lilies that provide beautiful blossoms and nice fragrance as well. This lily is called Dizzy. I don't know how it got that name, but I sure do enjoy seeing it in bloom.

Keeping Warm in Winter

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My Bride likes a fire in the fireplace in winter, and I must admit that a fire helps keep the house warm. This truckload of wood was dumped in our yard in September, and I got warm stacking it. I can also keep warm by splitting some of the larger pieces.

This is actually the wood we'll use next year. We try to stay a year ahead so the wood will dry completely and burn well.

Mingo Falls

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Mingo Falls tumbles nearly 200 feet over a ledge near Cherokee, North Carolina. The waterfall is often included in the waterfalls of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but it is technically in the Qualla tract of the Cherokee Indian Reservation.

The waterfall is reached by a fairly short hike from a parking area nearby. We visited the falls during a drought several years ago -- I would really like to go back when the water flow is greater.

Artistry in the Snow

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I imagine that many of you are sick and tired of seeing snow pictures, but I couldn't resist posting this picture. I like the soft curves in the snow bank along a roadside ditch just below our house. God is a marvelous artist.

Battery 5

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The mound near the trees in this photo is Battery 5, part of the Confederate lines at the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia, in 1864 - 65. It's hard to imagine that a scene where so many men were maimed and died could be so peaceful and serene today.

From the Archives: Flowers in Our Yard

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These pretty blue flowers tell us each year that Spring has truly arrived. We have several areas on the upper side of our yard which are nearly impossible to mow because of rocks and tree roots. We have periwinkle growing there now, which keeps the weeds under control and gives us a pretty green and blue carpet each Spring.

Upper Big Branch Falls

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Betsy and I have been to the area around Erwin, Tennessee, a couple of times to visit waterfalls. There are many small waterfalls in the area, but a waterfall doesn't have to be big to be interesting. Upper Big Branch Falls is small, but had a wonderful flow when we visited in December, 2009.

Ocean Isle Sunset

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One of the advantages of visiting the beach in December is that we could enjoy both the sunrise and the sunset from the balcony of our room. This is a December sunset from Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.

Fairfield Glade in the Morning

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I came across this picture in my archives, and it was so wonderful to see green instead of white that I decided to share it with you. This picture was taken during a walk on the golf course in June. Early in the morning we often have the course to ourselves.

The Smokies in the Spring

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In May, 2009, Betsy and I traveled from Cherokee, North Carolina, to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, on Newfound Gap road. Along the way we stopped at an overlook, where I got this picture. According to the weather reporters these mountains are now covered in snow. I much prefer the Spring colors.

From the Archives: Flowers in Our Yard

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Bella'roma Rose is a beautiful yellow-pink rose which we have enjoyed in our yard for several years. In addition to beautiful colors, this rose is also quite fragrant.

Ocean Isle Pier II

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Yesterday I posted a picture of Ocean Isle pier taken on a sunny day in May, 2009. Last month I walked along the beach on a dreary, cloudy day. Since it was low tide, I walked under the pier and snapped this picture.

Ocean Isle Pier I

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The pier on Ocean Isle Beach is a landmark we can see from the Islander Inn, our favorite place to stay when we're at the beach. This picture of the pier was taken on a sunny day in May, 2009.

Machine Falls

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Sometimes the water going over a waterfall is more like a trickle (or series of trickles) than a stream. Machine Falls is one of those waterfalls, but Betsy and I had a nice winter day's hike to reach it.

Evening Mountain Sky

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I took this picture of the evening sky through the trees at the cabin of friends in the mountains of western North Carolina. I like those pink clouds showing through the gap in the trees.

From the Archives: Flowers in Our Yard

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It may seem that roses are the only flowers Betsy and I have in our yard, but that's not true. We have Spring flowers in several beds, and we also have iris in two beds. This iris is Orange Harvest, one of the first that we planted when we moved here.

Full Moon Eclipse

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Betsy and I missed the beginning of the full moon eclipse, but we woke up to see the latter part of it. This is what we saw when we got outside.

The Mao Memorial

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The exterior of the Mao Memorial Hall in Tiananmen Square frankly reminds me of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. C. This picture was taken in 1987, when the Mao Memorial was relatively new. You can see the Chinese citizens lined up at the main entrance. As foreign visitors we got to slip in the side entrance, bypassing the line.

The picture above was scanned from a slide.

The Start of a New Day

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This seems to be an appropriate picture for my first post of a new year. I snapped this picture from the balcony of our room at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, as dawn broke on December 23.