Sunday, October 28, 2012

Landscape Photography Show this Friday!

Seasons of the Blue Ridge
Fine Art Photography Show
Friday, November 2nd 2012 – 6 to 9 p.m. 
Benefiting the Buffalo Mountain Camp
$5 suggested donation at door. Wine and Hor’derves will be served. 

Nelson Fine Art Center Nelson Fine Art Center – 423-926-2931 
342 East Main Street, Johnson City, TN 37601 

Three Artists – Four Seasons
Mark W. Peacock – www.markwpeacock.com 
Harold Ross Jr. – www.haroldrossjr.zenfolio.com 
Richard Siggins – www.thesiggins.com 

Three area fine art landscape photographers have gotten together to raise funds for the rebuilding of Buffalo Mountain Camp (http://www.buffalomountaincamp.org/). This camp was devastated by recent floods. Come out and show your support, have a great time in downtown Johnson City on First Friday.

Should be a really fun evening -- benefiting a great cause. Hope you'll join us Friday! :)

Saturday, October 27, 2012

music and motion

A stream is music and motion: smooth glides, fast, turbulent riffles and deep pools, each posing a special challenge. 
--Nelson Bryan, author. 

A small waterfall and cascade found below 'Upper Creek Falls' in Burke County, NC.  Directions and more photos here

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

engineering marvel


Engineering is the art of modelling materials we do not wholly understand, into shapes we cannot precisely analyse so as to withstand forces we cannot properly assess, in such a way that the public has no reason to suspect the extent of our ignorance.
--Dr. A.R. Dykes, British Institution of Structural Engineers, 1976.

The Linn Cove Viaduct is indeed an engineering marvel -- cantilevered, twisting and floating its way around the mountain in tip-toe fashion so as to not disturb the sleeping Grandfather. 

To learn more about this marvelous section of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the fascinating story of how it came to be, click here.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

stand firm

Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm. 
--Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) 16th US President. 

Above: Brothers Joe and Mickey standing on Table Rock, overlooking the Linville Gorge in North Carolina.

Monday, October 22, 2012

turn over a new leaf

Oh, would that my mind could let fall its dead ideas, as the tree does its withered leaves! 
--Andre Gide (1869-1951) French author. 

Above: On the trail to Table Rock, with spectacular views of Linville Gorge.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

autumn symphony

October is a symphony of permanence and change.
--Bonaro W. Overstreet, author. 

Above: Gorgeous views of the Linville Gorge from Table Rock in the Blue Ridge Mountain of NC. 

It's one of the best overlooks in our region -- and well worth the long drive on a twisting gravel road.  After parking, it's a short (1 mile), moderately steep climb up the trail and then you're rewarded with spectacular views of the Linville Gorge and surrounding areas. For detailed directions and more discussion, click here.  More photos at this website.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

brightened path

We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own.
--Ben Sweetland, author

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

arrow-heads of gold

The sweet calm sunshine of October, now
Warms the low spot; upon its grassy mold
The purple oak-leaf falls; the birchen bough
drops its bright spoil like arrow-heads of gold.

--William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) poet, journalist.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

an autumn hymn

The groves were God's first temples.
--William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) poet, journalist.

The trees along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Grandfather Mountain are nearly at their peak. Get out this week and gawk!  In some places (for instance, around Price Lake) it seems the peak has passed. But as you can see from the photo above (taken Friday from Rough Ridge), there are patches of bright fall color near the Linn Cove Viaduct -- but notice all the green leaves still awaiting their turn. If you do venture out, I recommend going early -- especially on the weekends. This particular section of the parkway gets crazy starting around 11am. Here's a previous post with links to various destinations in the Grandfather Mountain area.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

mellow yellow


Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.
--Carol Bishop Hipps

Above: Boone Fork Bridge near the Blue Ridge Parkway

Sunday, October 7, 2012

a beautiful struggle

Only he can understand what a farm is, what a country is, who shall have sacrificed part of himself to his farm or country, fought to save it, struggled to make it beautiful. Only then will the love of farm or country fill his heart.
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900-1944) French Pilot and Author

Above: Barn at the Dave Miller Homestead on Roan Mountain.