Living on the Edge

Welcome to the month of June!

 The weather here has been absolutely beautiful for the most part.

Usually by this time of year in NC, even before summer officially arrives,

it is really hot and humid and pretty much stays that way until fall.

~

This week, my Friday morning excursion took me to a park I had never visited before.

Great Bend Park is located on the Haw River,

which extends 110 miles from the piedmont to the coastline of NC.

I arrived right around 8:00 AM and there wasn't another soul in sight.

I thought for just a fleeting moment about me being there all alone...
and then I forgot all about it.

Risky? Maybe.

A gentle breeze whispering through the trees accompanied by the songs of the birds

 were the only sounds to be I heard as I walked along the trail.

Follow along with me, won't you?

I will tell you though, that I was just ever-so-slightly distracted from my gorgeous surroundings.

I kept glancing down at the ground...and not just because of the bumpy trail.

 I had read a review of the park and this one comment in particular went something like this...

"Beautiful place to hike but watch out for snakes."

😲

Thank the good Lord, I saw not a one.

Risky? Possibly.

Not really very smart? Some might think so.

 I wasn't on the trail very long until I began to hear the river up ahead.

This might be where the park get it's name...Great Bend...just guessing.

Up a bit further, I came to the dam where I stepped up onto a stone retaining wall to see the falls.
Oh...no worries...there was a ledge to keep me from falling over the edge,
although I could have jumped if I'd have wanted.
I may have an adventuresome spirit, but not that adventuresome.

And then I saw something(s) moving on the very edge,
w-a-a-a-y over on the far side of the falls.



My trusty zoom brought them closer and closer.



I was shocked that they were standing so close to the edge!



I stood there and watched them for what seemed like forever until they finally took flight.
Of course I had put my camera down by then and missed that shot.



So whatever you may think about my somewhat risky hike,
all alone.........except for the unseen snakes...



...this is really what I consider living on the edge.

It was a lovely hike and no doubt I will be returning.

Next time I just may take Jim with me...

 ...but I'm not making any promises. 😉

I'm sharing with Maggie at...
Mosaic Monday

  

A Sweet Surprise

Blessings can come in all shapes and sizes.

The best ones come when you least expect them...

...sometimes from the people you least expect.

~

Mike is the physical therapist that I have worked with for the past five years.

He's really a great guy and a fantastic therapist.

I manage the office and it's just the two of us there most of the time.

He's the kind of guy who never seems to have a bad day...

...always upbeat, talking non-stop, laughing, joking...

...and he makes every patient feel like they are the most important person in the world.

~

I could tell that he was feeling my pain...

...the day I came to work after Hunter died a couple of weeks ago.

He's a dog lover like me and about a year ago, had to have his Min Pin, Joey put down.

Okay...I lied...he did have a bad day that day and I'll never forget it.

He had told me that his wife was taking Joey to the vet that morning.

Around lunchtime, he was nowhere to be found...I looked all around for him.

Then I heard it.

Sobbing.

His wife had texted him with the news...his beloved pet of 15 years was gone.

Here was this big, fun loving, always-on-top-of-the-world guy reduced to a blubbering mess.

So much so that he needed me to cancel the afternoon patients so he could go home.

~

So I say all of that to tell you the rest of the story.

Last Friday morning, I came into the office and found a bag on my desk.

Thinking that it was Easter candy, I sat it aside for a few moments while I got settled.

He soon popped his head in to see if I had opened it yet.

So as he watched, I opened the bag and to my utter amazement found this...

I was speechless.

He had this portrait painted from a photo of Hunter from my Facebook page.

His wife was acquainted with a local artist who specialized in pet portraits...

...and she had her paint one of Joey after Mike had lost him the year before. 

I think it is a wonderful likeness...especially the eyes.

The eyes are perfect.

Like I said, I was speechless...
...and it takes a lot to make that happen ;)
~
 It blesses my heart every time I think of his sweet gesture of kindness.

Sharing at:
Roses of Inspiration

A Very Special Delivery

A few weeks ago, Theresa...you know, the TexWisGirl, had a giveaway.

Like many of you, I entered just knowing I wouldn't win it...
...I never win anything....but hey, why not give it shot, right?

~

Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather when she announced the winner!
~

It came yesterday.

The mailman delivered it to my door and left it on my front stoop...

...while I was working.

IN. THE. RAIN!

I found it this morning...the package, soaking wet.

I held my breath as I opened it, praying all the while that the rain hadn't penetrated.

Thank the Lord, it was dry inside!

I almost cried...it was so beautiful!

And the card she made that accompanied it was just breathtaking...

...suitable for framing, all by itself (which I plan to do).

Look at the intricate detail of the hummingbird...so beautiful!

But that wasn't all.

Included inside the card was a sweet note and these...

...two four-leaf-clovers from her own yard!

I feel so blessed to have been chosen as the winner of this beautiful gift...

...from this lovely, talented lady.

Thank you Theresa, I will cherish this!

Blessings,