A Parks & Recreation Medley

Hello and happy Wednesday!

Another week has come and gone in a matter of no time it seems.
When you see Halloween candy in the Dollar General, you know the year is quickly waning.
Who wants to buy Halloween candy in July anyway??
But just in case you do, you can find some in our local DG!
~
So it's Wednesday and also time for another...

...with our friend from Florida, Terri.

Today it's all about...

WORLD RANGER DAY – July 31

On July 31st, World Ranger Day honors the dedication, and crucial work rangers do every day around the globe.  The day offers an opportunity to show support to rangers for the services they provide. Every day, their unwavering commitment protects our national parks, wildlife, and forested heritage.

Click on the link and head on over to the Medley to find out more about these special folks.

They certainly deserve a day of their own to be celebrated.

Just copy and paste her questions to your blog and plug in your answers.

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1.  Is there a National Park near where you live?

Well, that depends on how you define "near". We live smack dab in the middle of North Carolina...the mountains, including the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains, are only a few hours to the west of us...

One of the cool tunnels in the Smokies near Pigeon Forge, TN.

A scene from a Smoky Mountain overlook near Gatlinburg, TN.

...and the National Seashore, including the Wright Brothers Memorial and Cape Hatteras are a few hours to the east.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, NC

2.  How many National Parks and which ones have you visited?  Is there one you would really like to visit?

Over the years I've visited several National Parks that are included in the states of NC, TN, KY, VA...that's all I can remember at least. When we had our cabin in Virginia, we were only about three miles off the Blue Ridge Parkway and traveled it often...one of my favorite places. Visiting some of the national parks out west are definitely on my bucket list, specifically, Yellowstone.

Somewhere along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

A view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Fancy Gap, VA.

3.  The Park Rangers are protectors of the environment, of the wildlife, and visitors in the parks.  Is there someone (human) in your life who you count on as a protector or are you someone's protector?

When I think of someone who is my protector, my first thought would be Jim, my hubby. But what could he really protect me from? A burglar or a thief? A hurricane or a tornado? Although he would try to do everything he could possibly do as a human, he may or may not succeed. As a mother, I went through most of my life playing the role of protector...I mean don't we all? There is that natural instinct that kicks in when we have our children...we become like that lioness protecting her cubs don't we? Even when our kids are grown, it's hard to let that go! That's why my answer would ultimately be, I have to rely on my Lord to be my protector in all of His supernatural power.

4.  Have you ever had an up-close-and-personal experience with a wild animal that you can tell us about?

So this just happened a couple of days ago. I was about to close the front door around dusk (thus the bad photo quality) and out the corner of my eye, I noticed something and at first just thought it was one of the feral cats we feed regularly. Well, this "kitty" was wearing a mask, and it was stealing...therefor, I shall call him or her Bandit...or Banditina. He/she was very nonchalant about the whole experience. 🐾🐾🐾  Here are some examples of my other close encounters with wildlife...

Sometimes they call me "The Bird Whisperer"...

...other times, "The Butterfly Whisper"...

...sneaking up on an armadillo in Adam's back yard

and turkeys in his front yard, on Thanksgiving Day no less...

 

...Momma and Poppa Goose and unborn goslings...

  

...and these two........oh wait.......how'd this picture get in here???

Well Terri, you did say "wild" and you also said "animals"...

...so they do fit the description. 😉

5.  It is certainly an honor to show value to this profession by giving them a day of remembrance.  What is another profession that you like to see honored by a "day" of their own?

Well, there probably already is a day to honor them since there seems to be a day to honor just about everyone or everything, but I think the Human Society and/or Animal Rescue organizations deserve a day of honor for doing all they can to save the lives of unwanted animals. Like I said, there is surely a day set aside for them already...at least I hope so.

6.  On this last day of July, please tell us something about your week so far.

Sunday was this guy's birthday and he had to work. This picture of him is from several years ago and he hasn't changed at all (well, not much).


He hasn't gotten his birthday pie yet because we only have one more bag of black raspberries left in the freezer....and we can't get them around here. Looks like we will be making a trip to VA and to the Amish store which usually sells them (frozen). He said to hold off on the pie, which has never happened in the 43 years we've been married! He said he'd settle for one of Aaron's homemade cherry cheesecakes. I guess I better break the news to Aaron!

Other than that, it's been pretty much business as usual this week...well, except for that raccoon incident. I do have appointments on Friday for a follow-up CT, labs (haven't they gotten enough blood yet??) and with the "Big Dog" doctor to discuss surgery plans. At this point I just want to get it over with and move forward with my life! Being in a holding pattern is not much fun...BUT I do know that the Lord's timing is perfect!

Enjoy the rest of your week, my friends!

Until next time....



Late Summer Fences

Did I actually say late summer??

Is it just me or does it seem like this year is just flying by?

Even though Labor Day has come and gone, it really is still officially summer...

...until September 21, I think.

~

Here are a few of what might be the last of the of the fences of the summer.

So...am I looking forward to those scenes dappled with warm hues of golds, oranges and reds?

You bet I am!

~

Head on over to see what everyone's sharing at Tex's Good Fences link-up!

 

 

If you look closely, you will see the tree above is loaded with apples...

...I know they are hard to see but they really are there...I promise!

 

Have you ever noticed that cows usually stand heading in the same direction in the pasture??

There must be a reason...does anyone know why?

 

 

Looks like brand new fence, doesn't it?

 

Two views of the same fence...I love playing around with black and white.
 

 

There just something about barbed wire that I love.

 

I can't put my finger on the reason why...but I better be careful if I do! :)
Seriously though....

I know I am looking forward to finding some fall-ish looking fences.
Are you ready for the change??

 

The "Sunny Side" of Life

Welcome to the Sunny Side!

The Sunny Side General Store, that is!

We discovered this little diamond-in-the-rough back when our cabin was being built...
...as we were traveling back and forth to the Fancy Gap, VA area.

They don't make 'em like this anymore, folks.

From the front, it looks like a tiny little junky store...not much to look at, huh?

You know what they say...looks can sometimes be deceiving.

You see, it's built on a slope and there are actually three levels.
~
You can find just about anything here.
 

From hardware to underwear...literally!

I am not kidding...take a look for yourself.

 

Entering the front door, you will find hardware, old time penny candy,
lovely expensive glassware, silk flowers, miscellaneous knick-knacks and other items.



Need a some tools...or a little red wagon...or maybe a wind chime??
~
Notice that light bulbs and other household items are on the shelf above the candy bars :)

There are several stairways leading down to various other levels or "departments".



It would take you most of the day to go through just the housewares department alone!
See that rooster mug?
Jim bought one for me for my birthday a few years back :)
~
There were some really cute dresses and tops down in Ladies' too.



Good quality stuff!
~
Carhartt jackets and work clothes, jeans, boots and plenty of hats of all kinds.
(lots of farmers and hunters around these parts!)

Hang a left at men's underwear and take the steps down to...

...furniture and rugs, of course!

 

When we visited here about a month ago, I actually lost my hubby, Jim.

I am serious when I tell you it really took me quite a while to find him...lol!

~

So, if you ever make it to Fancy Gap, you really must try to stop at Sunny Side!

I leave you with this little reminder...

Blessings, friends!



Fences on the Blue Ridge

Hello fellow Good Fencers!
For anyone who has never checked out this interesting and fun linky,
you really should head on over to Theresa's at the Run*A*Round Ranch!
~
Today I am sharing some great split-rail fences from the beautiful
Blue Ridge Parkway.



If you have never had the pleasure of traveling the parkway, I highly recommend it!
It is 469 miles of quiet mountain majesty stretching between Shenandoah, VA and Cherokee, NC.

This is the Puckett cabin, only about ten miles from our cabin in Fancy Gap.
Orlean Puckett was the area midwife, delivering over one thousand babies in her lifetime.
She gave birth to twenty-four of her own children, all of which passed away in infancy.
Can you just imagine the heartache she must have endured?
Living to the ripe old age of ninety-five, she continued to deliver throughout her life.
~
You can read all about her in the book,
Orlean Puckett: The Life of a Mountain Midwife, by Karen Cecil Smith.



These particular fences are some that surround the grounds of the Puckett cabin.

Everywhere you look, you see these wonderful fences...each one unique.

 

Just a little jaunt down the parkway is the Groundhog Mountain Overlook,

a great place to pull off, have a picnic and/or climb a few stairs up into the observation tower.

That is Buffalo Mountain you see in the distance.

 I just love this place.

I could actually pitch a tent and live here if they would let me...
..."they" being the National Parks & Recreation people.

This is the same place where we were invaded by the zombies last fall :)
(really...I swear)

The views just go on and on whether you are headed north to Shenandoah or south to Cherokee.

Fancy Gap is pretty much smack dab in the middle and are blessed to able to visit here often.

~

So...if you listen closely, you just might hear me singing...
..."Almost heaven, West Virginia...Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River..."

(sorry John, I changed up the song a bit!)

So until next time, may your life be happy and your fences be good ones!