Serenity - how beautiful are the details we sometimes miss.
The lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the lord holds them by the hand.
Psalm 37:23, 24 NLT
National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge. /
A slightly different angle on a popular site for photography in the park at Valley Forge. The arch was dedicated in 1917. It has a lot of inscriptions and classical references that are not as well known today as to the generation that erected the memorial at the start of the 20th century. We are poorer for that missing sense of history and connections to the past.
Busy Harbor /
The harbors on Mount Dessert Island are a mixture of pleasure and working boats. This harbor is mostly the latter. It is full of lobster boats, some other fishing boats and piers that support the fishing industry.
Hidden /
The wildflowers and the fence and a calm, cloudy day cast a quiet sense that on this spot scores of men died trying to defend or take this position at Shiloh seems impossible to comprehend. But they did, by the hundreds.
Rare /
The view here is from Ebeys Landing National Historical reserve on Whidbey Island across the water to Olympic National Park and the snow covered Olympic mountains.
Yes, they are big. /
This is from Redwood National Park in CA. The walks in the woods just seem to settle a hush over everything.
Vacancy /
Old overgrown motel in the foothills of North Carolina west of Winston Salem.
Time of the Year /
It is hard to not like the fall, crisp but not cold, brilliant colors and pumpkin lattes. And football.
"The lord, the Mighty One, is God, and he has spoken; he has summoned all humanity
from where the sun rises to where it sets. From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God shines in glorious radiance." Psalm 50:1, 2 NLT
Just Blue /
The boat is tied up near one of the Lobster Piers, I believe in Southwest Harbor.
Path Taken /
"If you come to a fork..." Coming down, emphasis on down, from Cadillac Mountain we cross several trail options but managed to stay on the correct one. This is nearing the bottom of the 3 mile hike and was lovely in the fading light of the day. It felt lots darker in the woods than this photo. I added three new trails to Acadia on this trip and re-did several favorites.
Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site /
This is the home of August Saint-Gaudens who was America's premier sculptor and world famous during the last part of the 19th century. He produced amazing monuments. His Standing Lincoln in Chicago is considered one of the finest portrait statues ever made and the monument to Shaw and the Massachusetts regiment he led now installed in the Boston Commons is striking in the detail of the individual soldiers. It is New Hampshire's only National Park Service site. Though with all of the beautiful places I have been in NH I am at a loss to know why this is the only site. Perhaps, Live Free or Die is more than a motto?
Washington's Headquarters at Valley Forge /
This nice stone home was once used as a business and "show" house for the Potts family who operated the nearby iron forge. This was occupied by General and Mrs. Washington, Washington's staff and was the strategic heart of the army that winter. It was at Valley Forge where the men learned to be an army. More bitter winters lie ahead at Morristown but this is the place that is etched into history where the army survived and learned discipline and military skills under Steuben and a reformed supply system that was just as critical to success.
Old Blacksmith Shop /
It appears to be losing the battle of gravity as it sags toward the river running past. I really like the colors of the trees and the siding. This is near Franconia New Hampshire about a half mile from our campsite. We walked a trail along the stream and came to this building. Later, heading out to Polly's Pancake Palace - a whole other story! we noted the old sign on the front of the building that said it was a blacksmith shop.
Silly Excited /
I am thrilled with this photo even if it is not the "best" hummingbird photo it is by far my best. And I have tried a lot. It is handheld at 1/1000 at 5.6 and 110mm with an ISO of 400. It is, of course, a juvenile (I think, contrasty head with throat and slightly shorter bill) Ruby-throated. Anyway, it is my best.
"I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved." Matthew 5:18 NLT
Crash /
Waves hit the rocks at Seawall in Acadia National Park.
Lancaster Farm /
Among the beauty of the farms and the people of this part of Pennsylvania you occasionally get a view that enhances both.
Odyssey of the Mind Worlds /
The World finals for 2016 were held in Ames, Iowa at the basketball arena at Iowa State. Our grandson's team was here to complete and they took third place in their division. This is from the opening ceremony. 21,000 kids make a lot of noise! What a treat for us to see it all.
Natural /
These vibrant yarns are at the weaving house at Colonial Williamsburg. They are produced with natural dyes from roots, fruits, flowers, seeds etc. It took several years for an apprentice to become a qualified dyer and four additional years with a different master to learn how to dye greens. A PhD in green, who knew.
Fern (& Irene) /
Loved the color and the texture of these ferns. They were just a bit outside the park on a cliff over looking the ocean.
Sorry for the inside joke that only two people will understand.
Ship's Harbor /
This is a really nice easy walk along an inlet and out to the ocean near Southwest Harbor on Mt. Dessert Island. This is a part of the Acadia National Park but on the "quiet side" of the island.
