Monday Morning Musings #16

I am running a day behind, but I didn’t want to miss another week of Monday Morning Musings. I am having a cup of Archer Farms White Chocolate Macadamia Nut that DH got me. Pass your cup over here, and I’ll share this morning’s brew with you! Let’s take a look at how I spent my weekend, shall we?

Last Saturday, DH and I decided to venture to one the highest towns (4118 feet) east of the Mississippi, Highlands, NC. We had beautiful sunny, blue skies over us the entire time with spring-like temperatures hovering around the 60° mark with an occasion light breeze.

Nikon D7000 ~ focal length:18, F-stop: 6.3, Exp. time: 1/1000

To the left of this picture, which I couldn’t squeeze properly into my view is the Highland’s city limit sign.  The thundering sound of the water rushing over the falls was quite deafening. You just don’t realize just how loud something is like this until you are standing near it. Although, the temperatures felt wonderful for late winter, standing in the shade with the wind against my skin to take this picture quickly caused me to retreat to the car, but only to grab my polar-fleece jacket so that I could finish my shoot.

The drive along route 64 toward Highlands is known as the Cullasaja Gorge. The twisty road is home to several waterfalls ~ Bridal Veil Falls, Cullasaja Falls, Dry Falls, and Quarry Fall to name just a few. These can be seen from the car, but only Bridal Veil and Dry Falls has parking. Cullasaja Falls is real tricky to photograph because there is only a tiny spot beside the narrow, curvy road for one car to pull off for someone hopeful to snap a shot. I wouldn’t even dare to attempt to walk that stretch of windy nightmare for a picture.  At best a person can snap a quick shot, if the timing is just right. I missed out on my chance because I was feeding DH donuts while he was driving. Hey, a girl has to keep her guy happy, right?

The Highlands community is a lovely quaint area, and if it hadn’t been for the busyness then we would have loved to leisurely stroll the streets. I have personal space issues and it throws me into a mad panic when I feel too crowded. Perhaps another day, we’ll have more success in doing just that without me going crazy in public. smiles

Before leaving Highlands, I did seize one more photo-op of the below church. I love how the tree seems to hug the bell tower. I remember as a child, each Sunday morning the church on the hill would ring its bell to signal the community that service was beginning. That sound always filled me with such comfort, and even today when I hear a church bell ringing I think about those times.

Nikon D7000 ~ focal length:18, F-stop: 6.3, Exp. time: 1/1000

I plan to share a few photos I was fortunate enough to capture along the Cullasaja Gorge for next week’s Wordless Wednesday post and I invite you to come back to share in my experience.

Sunday was another gorgeous day,which was spent running errands around town. I squeezed in another photo session at the National Cemetery. I will share these pictures on Skywatch Friday.

May I ask you to pray for a friend of mine name Michelle? She’s going through some bad stuff at the moment. Her mother has cancer, battling with her siblings on how best to care for her mom, problems with a neighbor, husband injured his back, and now she is experiencing eye problems due to Type I Diabetes that may be serious.

Also, while you’re talking to God, please include the Slinger/Baker family of DH’s (I knew her, too) classmate, Brenda, who passed away on Sunday morning. I learned on Facebook she had Lou Gehrig’s disease. She was only 57, but is now home with the Lord. May God’s blessings be with those dearest to you, Brenda!

How was your weekend?

Don’t forget to join my NO-RULE MMM linky party below…

 Ashlee submitted this week’s Monday Listicles prompt…

10 ways you show love
 
 
  1. a touch
  2. a smile
  3. a kiss
  4. a hug
  5. a giggle
  6. a sigh
  7. making a special meal or dessert
  8. keeping the home clean
  9. exercise regularly to look & feel my best
  10. making myself presentable for my DH when he gets home

Each week, Heather, puts on loan FOUR QUESTIONS for anyone to borrow and answer for your blog post, and then she give you the option to add a fifth question of your own for those who are visiting your blog to answer in the comment section, along with commenting on the four questions you answered. Don’t forget to grab the MQAM badge for your blog or post or both from Acting Balanced blog!

1. February 24th is National Tortilla Chip Day – do you like them? What do you pair with Tortilla Chips? Yes, I love tortilla chips! My favorite way to have them is simply with some good salsa, but occasionally I like cheese and jalapeno peppers on top a pile of warm tortilla chips.
 
2. February 26th is Carnival Day (and Judy from Retired Not Tired’s birthday- coincidence???) What is your favorite carnival ride, game or food? I don’t do amusement park rides anymore. As I’ve gotten older, I have become too paranoid to test the boundary of thrill rides. However during my days of youthful ignorance, I loved them all, but my favorite may have been the Scrambler. I don’t know that I had a favorite game, but anything that required a good sense of aim (not that I had one)- dart throwing, ball tossing, BB-gun, … then you could always count me in! My favorite carnival food is without a doubt, cotton candy!

3. Nascar has started for another year… albeit in a wet way… are you a fan? I’m not a fan, but I do like NASCAR drivers and their fans who are all a wonderful group of people.

4. Other than your blog, do you actively participate in social media? I dabble with Twitter and Pinterest, but I just haven’t gotten the hang of these. I scout my Facebook wall a few times each day just to learn news from friends/family that’s about it.

 
My question is….what is your favorite cold cereal?
 

If you need a little pep in your step, then come dance with me on Monday’s Music Moves Me. Have a marvelous Monday!

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Knoxville, TN 37901, USA

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4 comments

  1. I enjoyed your pictures, Cathy. I love photographing frame churches. I like how the tree is framing the steeple, but also rather enjoy the shadow of the steeple and tree on the church roof. In the “real”, the tree is covering the steeple; in the shadow, the steeple is covering the tree. I think it is really cool.

    I love the views in the mountains, but I am terrified to be in a car on a mountain. It is a control issue…I can’t control the actions of the other drivers, and although I am in control of my own driving abilities, I can’t always be 100% sure the car is going to do what it is supposed to do. Visions of “Maximum Overdrive” have scarred me for life, I think. haha

    I also have issues with crowds. They are suffocating and I just can’t stand to be in one.

    I will keep those folks you mentioned in my prayers.

    Now, to the questions:

    1. Yes, I like tortilla chips. I really enjoy them with salsa, sour cream, refried beans, and guacamole.
    2. I have always loved rollercoasters, but wouldn’t dare get on one these days.
    3. I don’t generally watch the races, but my Zoomie should have a #43 on it. My husband often calls me Richard Petty because I tend to have a lead foot.
    4. When I remember to do so, I tweet my blog posts and other bloggers’ posts, too. Supposedly, my blog auto-posts to FB, but I’m not sure if that is working or not as I detest FB and only go on it when I’m forced to (like when my sister posts an old family photo or one of her grandbaby.) I have Pinterest boards (and have had since way back when it was by invitation only) and I follow lots of other pinners’ boards. Aside from that, no, I’m not really active on anything lately other than filling up David’s Kindle with free books. 🙂

    My favorite cold cereal…oh, pinning it down to one is very hard. For now, I’ll choose Honeycombs.

    Thanks for stopping by PS Annie! and letting me know your linky was up. I look forward to seeing the other photos that you’re planning to share. I sure miss being in that neck of the woods!

    Have a great week!

  2. Prayers offered for your requests. I’ll keep them on my daily list.

    Waterfalls are always beautiful, and I love the sounds, from deafening to just the bubbling brooks over stones. Beautiful. I also love the shadow play you captured with the church shot!! Lovely how the tree frames the steeple! Awesome!

  3. Going to answer the four questions:

    1. Only like Tortilla Chips if they are homemade. Living here in the S.F. Bay Area there is a Mexican Joint on every corner. They all have homemade chips and salsa.

    2. Don’t do carnivals. Think they are a huge waste of money.

    3. Love NASCAR. Huge fan. Live an hour from Sonoma. Last year, I flew to Charlotte for the October race.

    4. Facebook, Instagram and my blog

    5. Have had two bowls of cold cereal in the last 25 years. Think it was Cherrios.

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