“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.”
Proverbs 22:1-2
I thought it would be nice to begin our day with this peaceful and inviting scene from near Maggie Valley in North Carolina. I think my eyes and brain need a little rest from being bombarded with scenes and verbal stimulations that aren’t so calm, nor encouraging.
A peaceful Lake Sumatanga, no one around but me and a woodpecker. Camp Sumatanga is a beautiful United Methodist retreat tucked between the mountains a few miles from us. It was established about 70 years ago and is still doing great today. I learned that Sumatanga is a Himalayan word when I read a bit of the history posted on their website. I learned new and interesting details about a place that I’ve known about almost all my life!
One day the sky was so busy with vapor trails of all ages including a new jet streaking across. I decided to stop and get a pic. When I looked at it later I saw that a vulture (buzzard here in the south) had no intention of letting man-made objects completely take over it’s space. Look closely!
We don’t get fly over’s by the “Blue Angels” so we settle for a White Pelican fly-over on occasion in the winter months! I spotted this group while pausing to look at vapor trails. Amazing how giving attention to one thing can often open the eyes to something new and fresh that would not have been noticed otherwise!
This old covered bridge is located in a neighboring county and is closing in on 90. I hadn’t seen it in some time and discovered winter was a great time to get a better look from many angles. Winter does reveal a lot that can’t be observed or even seen in other seasons.
I enjoyed a walk to the other side. Vehicles are no longer allowed on the bridge. I tried to imagine the first “vehicles” that crossed when it opened in 1934.
EK and Fancy Nancy are trying out their new love seat. I see evidence of chocolate on those lips and I fear PJ has slipped in a treat and might be caught. I had nothing to do with spoiling EK’s lunch! It is shameful the way some grandparents act!
There’s always interesting finds just riding the back roads. You can really get a sense that you know folks a tiny bit by passing by and discovering things that must be of interest to them.
Would it be reasonable assumptions to think these folks are mechanics, enjoy fast cars, or maybe involved in racing in some way? A true southern mailbox display for sure!
Wildlife crossings are quite common across the land and it is certainly a good idea to watch for animals. Some places claim to have alien crossings. But around here it is important to be cautious of “objects of another kind”. Hitting one would not be good!
The yardbirds are becoming regulars and after some time with no bluejay sightings, the jays are showing up in numbers.
He took her out for a Valentine meal and I think it’s paying off. Smart guy! I told PJ that this was a dovely thought!
OPAC is a nearby venue that hosts many wonderful top-notch concerts. The theatre is truly a great place to take in an evening of entertainment. Check out their website and events schedule.
PJ and I attended a Home Free concert at OPAC last week. These guys are incredibly talented and it was a very enjoyable evening. If you don’t know of Home Free, then a good place to hear them is on YouTube. Members Austin Brown and Tim Foust do some amazing solo work, also found on YouTube. We have tickets for an April concert which is a tribute to Karen Carpenter and EM will be attending with us. She is the only 5 year old I know that loves Carpenter’s music and knows most of their songs!
An evening sky last week was filled with layers that appeared as horizontal stripes. I described it to someone as a tiger sunset!
”Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”.
Hebrews 13:8
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Ah, simple pleasures. Thank you for sharingnyour daily doses, Butch (& Pam). I cracked up at the way some grandparents act. 😉 Love that EM loves the music…perhaps she will follow in you r footsteps and be musical! EK and Fancy Nancy (I’ve got a lot to learn, didn’t recognize that one) make a great team. Happy Sunday, y’all!
Rita, I doubt you will be a misbehaving grandmother like I am 🤣 EK loves her Fancy Nancy doll we gave her, might be the red hair.
Lovely. Western NC is gorgeous, we love living here. Glad you enjoyed your visit to Maggie Valley. Next time you decide to run over here, see some of our spectacular waterfalls!
Carole, we have been that way many times and always enjoy the waterfalls. It is a beautiful area of NC!
Pam and Butch, Love the church pic. I’m glad you mentioned the turkey vulture as I thought it was a spot on my phone screen! Lol Love the covered bridge! I don’t think it would support the pickup trucks of today. It’s fun to see the unique mailboxes along the road. I always thought the first course of lunch was chocolate at the grandparents house! Lol The sunset is beautiful. Happy 49th anniversary to you both (later this week)! Clara ❤️
Thank you Clara for your sweet anniversary wishes♥️
Beautiful skies and bridges! EK is has turned from a toddler into a little girl and she’s pretty darned cute. Happy Sunday!
Thanks so much, Jeanie!
Oh my goodness, I’ve never heard of this group. So I listened to them on youtube and fell in love. And how sweet that your EM knows many of the Carpenters’ songs. I always loved them. I think Karen Carpenter had the most beautiful voice ever. Thank you for this post and for reminding me about the Carpenters. Going to listen to their music, along with Home Free. God bless you and have a wonderful Sunday.
Thank you, Lisa. I fell down the Home Free rabbit hole when I first heard their amazing voices and music! I listen daily to their music. Karen Carpenter is one of my all time favorite female voices, perfection is how I describe her talent!
Blessings,
Pam
Happy Sunday Pam & Butch! Such a lovely peaceful post, the church is beautiful as is the lake and your nature captures are always enjoyable. EK is looking so grown up these days, and dessert first is always a good idea 🙂 I’m sure EM is quite excited to be attending an evening concert with you and hearing her favorite songs…have a wonderful week!
Jenna
Thank you, Jenna. It seems EK changed so quickly from a baby to an almost 3 year old. Happy Sunday!
Oh the beauty of this world. The eye can fool you but if you stop and stand still there is another entirely world to see. You remind me of 9-11. Our house shook from the power and noise of the fighter jets out of Cheyenne mountain that night. Come daylight all was quiet. So much so that it was frightening. I later learned that the president was in a bunker out in the plains. Our peace can so quickly change any day. . I miss seeing EM but EK is a joy and Fancy Nancy. Have a safe and joyous week.
Alice, sobering thoughts around that experience on 9-11. Thank you for sharing. EM will be back on next Sunday’s post. We try to share one grand per week! Blessings dear one!
Tranquil, indeed…. what a reprieve from the distractions of these days. Sabbath calm to soothe the soul. Just love that satisfied smile on EK that says, “we got away with the dessert first, Grandma..” Thank you for this portfolio of beauty
and sharing, Butch. Have a joyful and blessed week.
Mary, my paternal grandfather always ate his dessert first. EK is like me, she loves sweets. Happy Sunday.
Blessings,
Pam
Such peaceful post. Have a lovely week ahead! God bless.
Thank you Maristella. Wishing you a lovely week!
Happy Sunday, Butch and Pam! I loved the opening photograph of the church and beautiful surroundings. A beautiful, peaceful image is something I think we could all use right now. EK is an absolute doll! I can remember when I used to read the Fancy Nancy books to my Caroline. They were always a favorite! Wishing you both a blessed week ahead!
Thank you, Shannon. I wasn’t aware of Fancy Nancy until EK was telling me all about her. Wishing you a wonderful week sweet friend!
Such a lovely and peaceful post. Precious Emma with her sweet doll. I thought grandchildren were for spoiling – I think you have done a fine job. Love the blue sky and your pelican fly over. Just beautiful. Also enjoyed seeing the covered bridge. We have an old covered bridge about 20 miles from us that was build during the civil war. It still has traffic going through it every day. Also, the sunset is glorious.
Have a wonderful day and great week ahead, my friends.
Thank you, Sandra. We have definitely spoiled our three grands! How interesting that the covered bridge is still in use. Have a lovely week!
Oh my goodness, when did Princess EK get so big?!? I love the picture of that blue Jay! He has a look on his face like he is thinking “hmmm, is that a bigger worm over there?”. Thinking of some of the mailbox posts around here…everything from a plow to an entire motorcycle! Happy anniversary to you Love-y Dove-y’s!!!
Thank you Roxanne, all three are growing too fast. Thank you for the sweet anniversary wishes♥️
Pam Thank You for the lovely post. EK is adorable.
HAPPY SUNDAY
Marilyn,Joan and Marion
Thank you Marilyn, Joan, and Marion! Wishing you all a beautiful week!
Beautiful photos & adorable baby girl! I love Hebrews 13:8, so I was so happy to be reminded of it at the end of your post. Isn’t it great that no matter how much this crazy, insane world changes, that Jesus is the same forever?! I checked out Home Free, and I’m really enjoying their music! I love Pentatonix, so I was happy to hear another acapella group. I found you over on Love & Linda, and I’m glad I did. I think my readers would love to find you as well, so I’d love to have you come link up on my link parties if you get a chance! My newest party, Crafty Creators, is open Thursdays at 6am CST thru Mondays at 11:59pm. Happiness is Homemade is open Sundays thru Thursdays. Hope to see you there!
XOXO,
Niki ~ Life as a LEO Wife
Thank you, Niki for your sweet comments. Yes, Jesus is the same and we can count on that promise. I fell in the Home Free rabbit hole last February and I haven’t climbed out. Their show was fabulous! Wishing you a joy-filled week!
Love the covered bridge picture. I remember riding on one when I was a child. I don’t think it is still there now.
Speaking of fly overs, yesterday Mike and I were sitting on our patio and he heard a jet. He immediately opened his iPad to his flight aware app and saw the plane that we could also see was a Boeing 787 coming from Helsinki going to Cancun.The sun was hitting it and it was golden. I found it fascinating that the app told him the type aircraft, the airspeed, the altitude and where it had come from and where it was going. He often uses it when our children are traveling. All he needs is the flight number. You can’t get that info on military training aircraft.
Happy Anniversary this week.
I read the info about the app and then shared it with Butch. That is interesting. We are in a flight pattern from the Atlanta Airport so we have jets constantly in the sky. Thanks for the anniversary wishes!
Happy Sunday! Such a lovely Sunday Stroll today. It was quite calming. EK is so darn cute and happy as can be having had chocolate. When I was a teacher many called me Fancy Nancy after the Children’s Books. So seeing EK with fancy Nancy made me smile.
Thank you for a beautiful post. Happy Sunday!
Thank you and I can imagine you as Fancy Nancy! Have a lovely week!
Lovely photos, Pam. I will check out Home Free on you tube.
That is so hilarious that EM loves the Carpenters’ music!! I got such a kick out of that! Kids nowadays don’t know what real music is, and it is so refreshing to hear that a little one so young already has such an appreciation for it. I have heard of Home Free – they are so very talented. And that sunset is just breathtaking. God bless you all!
Thank you Cheryl and we have in common our love of music!