Saying "Goodbye" to a difficult year,

So Looking forward to a fresh start.

~~~

Photo taken this past summer

at Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Near Duke University

in Durham, NC

Reynolda Garden at Evening

 
Come on an evening stoll

at

Reynolda Gardens
 

~~~

This was the formal

garden and historic home 

of Katherine and RJ Reynolds



There's formal gardens,
 

a beautiful greenhouse,

pergolas and fountains.

Reynolda Gardens

is located in

Winston-Salem, NC.

~~~

Their walking trails

are part of the

NC Birding Trails.

Everyone is welcome to come and 

stroll though the gardens and 

visit the surrounding village.

~~~

The historic home has been turned 

into a Museum of American Art.

~~~

Southern Style

 
We recently had the pleasure of 

visiting my husband's sister's home

This is her newest addition

to the family - 

Cleveland

~~~

We enjoyed a couple of nights sitting

out in their back yard birdwatching

while my brother-in-law grilled.

He was filling us in on some of the

history of Georgia, and we were

getting a rare chance to

see a pair of pileated woodpeckers

fly through their woodlands.  

We had the pleasure of

trying what I now call
"brother-in-law potatoes"

~~~

~~



These were actually cooked
in a wheelbarrow
with coals beneath
and above



He put in chuncks of
sweet potatoes, onion,
and garlic. 

They were also
seasoned with salt, 
pepper and olive oil.
 


Cook over the coals for
about an hour,
turning the potatoes once.







The aroma from the cooking

potatoes and onions kept our

mouths watering until...

our wonderful steak supper...... southern style

~~~

~

West Pointe Mill on the Eno River...

~~~~~~~

This meme been making the rounds

and I thought I would have fun too.

This is what I would be today...

Join in!

If I were a month, I'd be June…
If I were a day, I’d be Saturday...
If I were a time of day, I’d be 8 p.m...
If I were a font, I’d be Freestyle Script…

If I were a sea animal, I’d be a clown fish...
If I were a direction, I’d be South...
If I were a piece of furniture, I'd be a piano...
If I were a liquid, I'd be sweet tea...

If I were a gemstone, I'd be a sapphire...
If I were a tree, I'd be a Yoshino cherry tree…
If I were a tool, I'd be a trowel...
If I were a flower, I'd be a pink Calla lily…

If I were an element of weather, I'd be a light Spring rainshower...
If I were a musical instrument, I'd be a bell…
If I were a color, I'd be Purple…
If I were an emotion, I'd be in love…

If I were a fruit, I'd be a sweet, but tart blackberry…
If I were a sound, I'd be the lapping of waves on the shore…
If I were an element, I'd be silver…
If I were a car, I'd be a Subaru Forester...

If I were a food, I'd be a flaky, fried flounder…
If I were a place, I'd be a waterfall…
If I were a material, I'd keep you warm...
If I were a taste, I'd be sweet…

If I were a scent, I'd be Cinnamon...
If I were a body part, I'd be the small of a back…
If I were a song, I'd be The Climb …
If I were a bird, I'd be a Bluebird…

If I were a gift, I'd be everything you ever wanted!
If I were a city, I'd be Naples…
If I were a door, I'd be propped open…
If I were a pair of shoes, I'd be a pair of hiking boots…

If I were a poem, I'd be A Little Glimpse of Heaven…

~~~~~~~

~~~

~

Playing in the Waterfall

My blog friend Dagmar, from Holland, asked me to play along and have some fun so here I go. Okay you guys, wanna join the fun? Here's what to do:

1. Open your first photo folder
2. Scroll to your 10th photo

3. Then post that exact photo with it's story

4. After you've done that tag 5 people to play along.

Here the story to go along with the photo:

On one of the last days of our summer vacation in Cashiers, NC or "Paradise", we loaded up the children and all went to spend an hour or two wading in the pool at the bottom of Silver Run Falls. It got it's name from the silvery or platinum sand that covers this whole area. It must be mica or some mineral that has been chipped away by the falls. There is a ledge right under the waterfall where you can stand and let the ice cold water tumble right over you. It is very cold water, even in the summer time.

The pool is rather large and has a walking path all the way around to the other side of the falls. If you climb over opposite the falls, you can see another fall above this one upstream.

It is a wonderful way to enjoy the best of North Carolina!

Here are my 5 tagees:

http://possumkitty.blogspot.com/
http://nenslens.blogspot.com/
http://ols1-ols1.blogspot.com/
http://jeanneklaver.blogspot.com/
http://danceofapaintedlady.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for tagging me Dagmar!! This was fun!!

~~~

Watching the Birds Feed in the Snow!

Here is a little wren we spent Valentine's morning with at my parent's house, along with a suprise snow.

~~~

We woke up to the snow, and my dad and I spent atleast an hour roaming about the yard taking photos.

~~~

The gold finches below decided to join us also.

Can you see the finch in flight?

~~~

~

Kreativ Blogger Award

I feel so honored to receive this award from Jeanne. This is my first ever award for either of my blogs. My first blog, yadkinvalleyhome is what I consider my "real photoblog". This one was sort of an afterthought where I can send out a little bit more about my personality.

Thank you Jeanne so much. Please visit Jeanne's blog at http://jeanneklaver.blogspot.com/ to see more about her life in Pennsylvania and her travels.

The instructions for me to are as follows:

1. Thank the person giving the award.
2. Copy the award to this blog.
3. Place a link to their blog.
4. Name 7 things people don't know about you
5. Nominate 7 bloggers who you admire (WHAT? ONLY 7???
6. Place a link to these bloggers
7. Leave a comment on their blog notifying them of the award.

Seven things people don't know about me:

1. I'm also a painter; photography was sort-of just a hobby until 2009. Now I'm learning watercolor painting.

2. All my photos (even on yadkinvalleyhome) so far have been taken from a simple, point and click camera - an older Sony Cybershot. And I don't have Photoshop either. I wanted my photos to be something anyone could do, even without expensive equipment.

3. My lifelong dream is to live in the mountains.

4. Geneaology has been a 10 year + hobby of mine. I have huge charts of both sides of our families and cabinets full of info, probably enough for a book.

5. Before the children came along, I owned a retail pet store.

6. After eating out and having a great meal, I like to come home and recreate the recipe.

7. My son and I enjoy raising finches together.


This last part was the hardest, seven bloggers who I admire:

1. Dagmar - http://barefootfromheaven.blogspot.com/ She shows her deep character to go along with her wonderful photos.
2. Mark - http://appalachiantreks.blogspot.com/ I love Mark's photos of the Appalachian Mountains.
3.Lee - http://fromthesehills.wordpress.com/ Lee has wonderful quotes of wisdom to go along with beautiful photos of flowers.
4. Jessica - http://jessicayusdi.blogspot.com/ Jessica shows us many gorgeous photos of her travels and her beautiful son.
5. Stephen - http://nikonsniper.blogspot.com/ Stephen is a new blog for me to follow. I like the crispness of his photos and the variety of everything he posts.
6. Sandy - http://4pointsphotography.blogspot.com/ Sandy shows us her wonderful outdoor world in a unique way.
7. Beverly - http://beverlygilbert.blogspot.com/ Beverly is so talented with color and her beadwork. Her creations are amazing!!

Pease also view all the blogs on the right-hand of my page.

It inspires me everyday to read about their travels or hear about their day. They all add so much to my life.

Thanks for visiting!!

Holiday Cheer!

What a wonderful , festive Christmas we had this year,

Spending time with friends and family.

~~~

Somewhere I read that

"Friends are the family you choose for yourself".

~~~

We had our good friends over a couple of weeks before

Chrismas for an Italian dinner and gift giving.

~~~

My sister-in-law and husband spent Christmas Eve

and all day Christmas with us. It was so nice to be together.

~~~

My husband kept a fire going all day long. We even had

snow on the ground from earlier in the week.

~~~

Both our sons were with us all day long,

and we met up with my family over the weekend.

~~~

We couldn't ask for anything more. Even our dreams

of a White Christmas came true.

~~~

Happy New Year!!!!!

~~~~~~~

Buddy checking out the snow:

My "Protector" ~ taking care of the homestead.

Merry Christmas!!

~~~

~~~~~~

We're Dreaming of a White Christmas!!

~

We're dreaming of a White Christmas in the Carolinas,


Something we seldom see,


I've only had one in my 39+ years.


~~


I'm actually dreaming of lots of things right now -


A little time to myself,


reconnecting with friends who mean so much,


looking forward to the new year to


reconnect with the real me again,


~~~


The past few months have been almost like a snowball-


rolling events together everyday until it becomes


this huge overwhelming orb that I can no longer carry;


When my best is never enough,


regardless that I've given my absolute all.


~~~~


This morning was another overwhelming life event -


For the past several months, I've been trying to move


to another position within our company.


Today was my second interview.


~~~~~


Few things are more nerve-wracking


than an interview with a panel of people all asking questions.


I tried to do my best, which wasn't really all that good today.


Regardless, the decision is made. Now, more waiting while


life continues to pound away at my little world.


~~~~~~


"Life" has kept me away from my writing for far too long.


I've been looking everyday, around the world at all my friends


sharing your lives, sharing the beauty around you.


Hopefully, I can rejoin you all very soon!!

~~~~~~~

Our first snow this winter...

~~~

~

Finally Fall

Fall has finally come to our area in the

Piedmont of North Carolina

~~~

A pond near my home

showing vibrant colors

A

nearby

community

park

has

this

bright

red

tree

for

a

mascot!!

I never knew how much I loved trees until I started posting my favorite photos.

~~~

The bi-color leaves of red and green

or red and yellow are

gorgeous this year!!

~~~

~~

Happy Fall!!

Glimpses of Color

Driving along the Blue Ridge Parkwary,

you get a first glimpse of this fall's colors.

Can't wait to view it at its peak!!

Trees

turning

red along

the shore

of

Price Lake

When I started this blog a couple of months ago, I wanted to start at the center of who I was and work out. Sometimes that has been how things have flowed, and other times, it has not worked out that way. Such is life. The good and the bad have knocked me off course a couple of times.

I have yet to feature my youngest son or my husband. They are the ones who are constantly around me, but I still haven’t found the right inspiration to truly share them with my ever-expanding world.

My youngest son is shy, but there is so much to him, even if he doesn’t show it to everyone. He is an artist and an author, a hunter and an aspiring chef. I’m getting inspired already. My husband on the other hand, is so many things I just don’t know where to begin. You’ll see them soon.

Other things close to my heart are writing, traveling, hiking/kayaking - anything outdoors really, and photography, of course. We’ve spent much of the past two summers traveling to waterfalls, mountain ranges and lakes. What an enchanting life we really live.

Recently, we spent a whole week in a cabin on Lake Glenville with my husband’s family.

There was tubing, kayaking, hiking, gem mining, fishing, and best of all – waterfall viewing. This area of NC has literally hundreds of waterfalls, three of them on the Lake we stayed on.

My youngest son and I hiked almost every weekend last summer. All the photos we took inspired my original photoblog. Click here to take a peak at all our adventures.

Silver Run Falls

We're vacationing again at Cashiers in North Carolina
on Lake Glenville, which is just gorgeous!!

Here is one of the waterfalls we have been to - Silver Run Falls.

(photo by Reid Edwards)

There are also 3 waterfalls on the lake,

accessible by boat only.

Click here to see one of them.

More mountains photos to come!

~~~

Weekend Smiles

We spent the weekend

with friends in Virginia at

Smith Mountain Lake

~~~

Can't wait to tell you all about it,

but I only have time to share

my friend's beautiful sunflowers with you now.

~~~

Enjoy!!

~~~

~~~~~~~

~~~

Real Pen Pals

Shelagh recently set up a pen pal project for us bloggers if we wanted to participate. She joined us up with someone who had similar interests.

My pen pal, Cathy, sent her package all the way from Oregan to North Carolina. I think it is neat that we are from opposite sides of the United States.

She really surprised me with a photography book of Oregan, a set of notecards she made with her own photos (love those!!!), a long letter, and a card with flower seeds embedded in the outer wrapper. You soak the blue wrapper in water, then tear it up and plant it in a pot or in your garden. I can't wait to see what types of flowers will grow.

Thank You, Cathy!!!

And, Thank You Shelagh!!! What a great idea you had!!

100 Things I Love

His eyes from across the room,
Sweet Buddy who meets me at the door

like it has been a week since I’ve been gone,

Christmas Trees all trimmed up for the big day,

Sailboats tied to the dock,
Beagle Puppies, Fried Flounder,
Sweet Tea on a hot day,
Moma’s Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner,

Watching for nightfall on the back porch,
Waterfalls, Hiking,
The Blue Ridge Mountains,
Watching the light of the sunset filter through the trees,
Listening to your voice as the story of your life slowly unfolds,

Hearing the waves lap along the shore while

lying in a hammock at the lake,
Sweet, Long Kisses, Surprise hugs from behind,
Watching a baby sleep,
The moon reflecting off the ocean all the way to the shoreline,
Writing my thoughts out,

Art Museums, Good Friends,
Hearing Bossman say - “You did a Great Job!”
Holding your baby for the first time,
The color Red, The Coastline of Italy,
Candle-lit dinners, Kayaking,

Fly-Fishing, Motorcycle Rides,

Sharing popcorn while we watch the same old movies

over and over again, Champagne,
Seeing my son perform a concert in “Rock Star” mode,
Hearing my husband sing me a love song,
Goldfinches, Woodpeckers,
Birdbaths, Lilies,

A Chaise Lounge, Looking at Stars,
Mountain Streams, River Rocks,
Roses, Weddings, Snowcreme,
The feeling of being “In Love”,
The Sound of baby birds,

The sky before sunrise,
Searching for the ISS,
Nature Trails, Holding Hands,

Baby horses, Pecan Pie,
Any movie with Meg Ryan,

A Silver Maple Tree in the Fall,
The Wrens in the Blue Bird box,
A Sleeping Porch, A new dress,
Windchimes, Pin Oak Trees,
My son’s artwork,

A friend’s voice - just when you need it,
Long talks on the phone,
Real handwriting from a pen pal,
Wrapping paper and ribbons,
Clean, fresh sheets,

Your husband rocking your baby to sleep,
New art supplies, Wild blackberries,
Tulips blooming in the Spring,
The family gathering for the Holidays,
New Year’s Eve parties,

Fireworks over a lake, you get to see them twice,
Hay on the rolling hills near home,

A roaring fire in an open fireplace,
Christmas Morning, Sleeping In,
Taking a child to the Zoo or Aquarium,

Valentine’s Day, Rainbows,
Blue Eyes, Hot Air Balloons,
Baby deer that still have their spots,
Listening to a really hard rain shower,
The smell after the rain,

A man who loves me unconditionally,
A week’s vacation in a mountain cabin on a private lake,
Someone who really listens,
Roasting marshmallows over a flame,

Wooden boats,

A great love story,
Little girl’s Easter dresses,
Time to let my thoughts wonder,
The smell of the ocean,
Freckles across a child’s nose,
A field full of black cows,

When my son plays the Blues on his guitar,
Sea shells and looking for sharks teeth

A horseback ride along the river,

A sweet hug after a long time apart

~~~

Now, if anyone took the time to read through all of those, you know me a little bit better.

~~~~~~~~~

Today Sandy is celebrating her 100th post and wanted us all to join in the fun.

Kamana is also celebrating her 100th post.

~~~

It suprised me how long it took to come up

with 100 things I love,

but I wanted them to be from the heart.

~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Struggles of Life

This one is really for me, so feel free to pass over the thoughts I need to get out. After all, I started journaling online to work through all the thoughts that rage inside sometimes. I’ve been so inspired by our “community” of sorts, who blog regularly. Sometimes it seems like a place to put down just the good thoughts, but life so often hurts too.

We’ve had a couple of really hard weeks. They felt like they would stop my poor heart from beating for sure. We finally went to family counseling yesterday. We should have gone a long time ago. It is possible that my ‘superman’ son may be bi-polar. Yes, I knew he had some tendencies that resembled this, but I just didn’t want to admit it. Who wants to think you own son will have to fight a life- long battle that sometimes he will not win.

My husband was right again. He always is. If only I could just trust him in the beginning, life would go so much smoother. I just kept trying to fix everything. After all, it seems like it is my job to “finish” my son, as if he is a production of mine. Yes, I want him to be complete when he steps out into this world alone, but he is not mine to complete. I can only give him his beginning. I can honestly say; and he would agree, that I did all that was humanly possible to give him a good start.

My son, you have done well, you have held out strong among all the pressures of being a teenager. We couldn’t be prouder of you. You can do anything, you can make anything happen, more than anyone else I know. We are still here for you whenever you need us. I can’t save you and rescue you when you run yourself to the point of exhaustion. I can’t make you eat and rest so you will be ready for your next endless day of being all you can be. I can only watch what you will become and hope that you remember the strong foundation we laid for your life.

So I lay down my weapons, and will fight you no more. Please fogive me for trying so hard to help you, when I was really only hurting you further. I accept you as you are, a complete package, a whole person. You are whole because you truly are filled with love. Love makes us broken people whole. It is love that fills in the cracks of our broken hearts. So I offer you true, unconditional love for your whole life. I only wish you peace on your journey. I’ll always be here to listen, and love you always.

photo credits for both pictures of the beautiful NC seashore

goes to my brother, Craig Lipscomb

~~~

~~~~~~~~

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

Reid, you mean the world to us!

~~~

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!!

My dad on the left and my Granddad on the right

with fish caught at the Chesapeake Bay in 1969.

~~~

~~~~~~~~~