On the Parkway with Kim and Dave

One of the things I like most is driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The views change constantly. After living here nine years, I have a favorite section, and that’s the one we were on with blogger Kim and Dave. We stopped at several overlooks. Since I have a lifetime supply of mountain views stored on a computer, I wanted a picture of the people I was enjoying.

Kim took one photo of grandson David in a dangerous place, and I took the other. He is very sure-footed and is comfortable standing close to huge drop-offs. It makes me nervous to just watch him.

Everyone agreed to stop at my favorite waterfall. We were rushing about, so I didn’t herd the folks together for a picture. Don’t want to become the Photo Nazi!

We had dinner at another of our favorite places, Jukebox Junction. You get two views from different photographers.

It has been marvelous to spend time with these special friends. If any of you get a chance to meet one of your blogging friends in person, DO IT! The rewards are truly great.

Napping on the Mountain

Daughter Lise took her lunch break to walk to the creek with me. After she finished work for the day, she drove us on the Blue Ridge Parkway. She loves to drive, and I love to have her drive. The day was overcast, bordering on rain. At one of the first overlooks, I took her photo as the mountains posed silently.

We stopped again for a small stream that had a lovely sound. This little stream becomes a roaring waterfall, visible further down the parkway.

Lise was short of sleep and wanted to rest her eyes for a while. I was in favor of that for her comfort and our safety. It was peaceful for me to look at the mountains from an overlook and play a card game on my phone. She woke, refreshed by a nap, and we headed to the supermarket on the way home. She had a list of things to take back to Denmark. An American she works with wanted grits, something easy to find in any Southern grocery store. She bought peanut butter powder, which she gets every year, as well as dark chocolate peanut butter. A new find was honey powder. ??? Maybe we’ll have a report about that in a few weeks. Chocolate graham crackers were hard to find, because they were in a different section. Lise also bought several packages of marshmallows with unusual flavors, colors, and shapes for a Danish friend. We bought chocolate mallows filled with chocolate for ourselves. I delighted in looking at all sorts of things I never see when doing the weekly shopping.

While relaxing at home, I got a shot of Lise and John $ with Sadie. The dog is reveling in being surrounded by people who love to pet her. She gives as much love as she gets.

Driving on the Blue Ridge

Grandson David and I took a quick drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway, because we both love the views. The definition of quick gets slower as you ride. We got out at the first overlook because mist was flowing across the gap. We walked the length of the parking area, and I took one photo after the mist cleared.

As we walked back to our car, a couple spoke to us. We all agreed the view was spectacular. They asked where we came from, and we found out they were from Atlanta. They were most interested in good views and seeing waterfalls.

Two overlooks later, we saw that couple again. I walked over to them and pointed out my favorite tree, the mountain ash. The berries were a bright red. The tree might grow elsewhere, but I have seen it only at higher elevations.

A young man spoke to us, wondering if the weather would be good for an hour. I knew the forecast included rain, and we could see dark clouds approaching. He said his friend asked him to call from that overlook. The friend was going to propose there and was driving up with his girlfriend and a photographer. David and I had our doubts about the weather, but the young man decided to tell his friend to come. How I wish we could have fast-forwarded the time to see what happened! The young man was driving on to Asheville and wouldn’t be on the spot at proposal time. It’s probably a good thing he was leaving, because I don’t think the scenery would perform as promised. As we drove home, we saw one brilliant streak of lightning, followed by a heavy downpour that lasted only a few minutes.