Oh! I am sooo upset! Yesterday we traveled from South Carolina up through Asheville North Carolina and took I-40 through the Smokey Moun…
Oh! I am sooo upset! Yesterday we traveled from South Carolina up through Asheville North Carolina and took I-40 through the Smokey Mountains. I didn’t take one picture! Woe is me! It was the first time I was a passenger on this trip-and I didn’t snap one shot. I just sat back in awe of the ridge lines, windy road and just the beauty of it all. On my next trip I will be camera ready! / We stayed in London, KY over night – nothing awesome there and continued on our trip back to WV. / Needless to say it was a gorgeous sunny day yesterday but the wind was ferocious. It was freezing. but that is not an excuse!
Big Sur is now under mandatory evacuation. It looks like it’s still the worst of the fire, that is, a threat to people and livestock and …
Big Sur is now under mandatory evacuation. It looks like it’s still the worst of the fire, that is, a threat to people and livestock and homes as opposed to pure beautiful wilderness. People are headed to Monterey with their cats and dogs and birds and horses and families to shelter with friends and in the local high schools, etc. / The firemen are acting like they should, bringing bulldozers in and cutting twice the swathe allowed to keep the fires from leaping. Cachagua is overrun with helicopters and personnel. Word is some part of California is getting help from Canada, thanks brothers and sisters! Smokey the Bear, the US national symbol to prevent forest fires and love the land, has a Big Sur composed mantra in his honor, being chanted far and wide. Can’t say we’ve lost our sense of humor. It’s actually on Wikipedia, worth a read, here it is in part: SMOKEY THE BEAR SUTRA Wrathful but Calm. Austere but Comic. Smokey the Bear will Illuminate those who would help him; but for those who would hinder or slander him, HE WILL PUT THEM OUT. / Thus his great Mantra: Namah samanta vajranam chanda maharoshana / Sphataya hum traka ham nam / “I DEDICATE MYSELF TO THE UNIVERSAL DIAMOND. / BE THIS RAGING FURY DESTROYED” / And he will protect those who love woods and rivers, Gods and animals, hobos and madmen, prisoners and sick people, musicians, playful women, and hopeful children. And if anyone is threatened by advertising, air pollution, television, or the police, they should chant SMOKEY THE BEAR’S WAR SPELL: DROWN THEIR BUTTS / CRUSH THEIR BUTTS / DROWN THEIR BUTTS / CRUSH THEIR BUTTS / And SMOKEY THE BEAR will surely appear to put the enemy out with his vajra-shovel. Now those who recite this Sutra and then try to put it in practice willl accumulate merit as countless as the sands of Arizona and Nevada. / Will help save the planet Earth from total oil slick. / Will enter the age of harmony of man and nature. / Will win the tender love and caresses of men, women, and beasts. / Will always have ripe blackberries to eat and a sunny spot under a pine tree to sit at. / AND IN THE END WILL WIN HIGHEST PERFECT ENLIGHTENMENT. / thus have we heard. / (may be reproduced free forever) Retrieved from “http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Smokey_the_Bear_Sutra” The End. SO California. And entirely Big Sur-ish. / There’s an exqusite Zen Buddhist monastary in Tassajara famous for its hot springs and contempletive ways. The fire’s not far from them now, lots of chanting going on. Big Sur hotels and resorts are closed, and with typical deep feeling for the masses most have laid off staff and said au revoir. Highway 1 in complete shut down for about a twenty five mile stretch. Esalen Institute in danger. Henry Miller library and home saved. I know most of the places intimately and cannot imagine them gone. It’s all steep canyon, ridged hills and bad dirt roads, so it’s a rough fight. Cachagua is looking okay still, maybe even safer. My friends can see the closest range top fires from their bed at night. Today the air was very clear here, totally blue sky and no soot. The mysteries of nature abound. Pray for rain. / I’m still very okay where I am, no indication it’ll get here, fire’s still about twenty miles away. I’ll keep posting updates, and thanks for your prayers and good wishes. / Smokey the Bear says thanks, too. / Barbara
I have decided that Mama is the social equivalent of the Godfather. I had observed before that she seems to be the boss of everyone, sh…
I have decided that Mama is the social equivalent of the Godfather. I had observed before that she seems to be the boss of everyone, she is rarely crossed, and when she is – she’s none the more worn for it. Last week, Mama, Smokey, and Pumpkin were on the porch. Smokey had just rubbed his face against Pumpkin’s & all the kitties were being nice. Mama was sitting beside me getting some lovins. Smokey had moved over in front of the lawn chairs. Pumpkin ran up behind him to attack him and Smokey turned around and attempted to bite Pumpkin in the middle of the back. Mama was after him before I could even think of blinking. They rolled for 3 or 4 turns with the usually mmrrrooowwww that accompanies kitty fights. Mama came back calmly to the porch and Smokey trudged off into the bushes. It makes sense with her being a feral kitty & all and having to fight probably since she was weaned from her mother. I also got corrected today! I have been calling Pumpkin ‘she’ when in fact Pumpkin is a ‘he.’ When they are so young, it is difficult to get a good look, especially when you can’t get near them much less interact with them. I know Caramel is a girl because only females can have the color combination she has – all 3 colors – the same as Mama. This morning, Pumpkin was out on the porch cleaning himself and that’s when I noticed that he indeed has male parts lol. I didn’t have that problem with Smokey. When I first started seeing him, I asked him if he was in heat or if he was carrying babies (because I didn’t know the gender yet) and he promptly turned out & stuck his little hairy pair at me as if to say, “Does it look like I’m in heat?” Sometimes I imagine him having an accent from the Bronx. “Can’t you tell I got a solid pair lady?!” So with the exception of Gus-Gus and Juniper who haven’t come around since Mama chased them off about a month or so ago, I know what all my kitties are. Mama & Caramel are females and Smokey and Pumpkin are males. I guess that explains why Pumpkin is so much more attached to Smokey – that’s his male ‘role model.’ I’ve been trying to spend more time outside but the weather is not exactly cooperating. It’s been pretty cold for here and the sun has been scarce in its appearances. Mama continues to keep putting the smack-down on her kids. I’m not sure yet if it’s a game or if they are trying to run away and she’s telling them to stay but sometimes she will chase after them, pin them down like she’s in a wrestling match, and then smack them once or twice with her paw to enforce her authority. She has been playing with them much more lately & it’s good to see her having a bit of fun. Last week I saw her nursing them both but I wasn’t quick enough to get my camera out to document it! I can’t believe it & so far no one can really explain it. That’s the Critter Watch update.
well guys its that time of year again where marianne, sally, judy, joe, wanda, (this time Lal)and and myself are having another photogra…
well guys its that time of year again where marianne, sally, judy, joe, wanda, (this time Lal)and and myself are having another photographer get together here in the smoky mountains. / for those who would like to join us in going around shooting, shooting the bull (not a real bull), hanging out and cooking together you’re more then welcome to join up with us / the dates are may 7th thru the 11th. / everyone is staying here in townsend, you’re more then welcome to join us if you’d like. / if you need accomendations, contact me, i have a few friends who will give alittle discount on the rooms (helps to be local sometimes), or i can check on a few things you might need. / it doesnt matter what you shoot with!! can be the most expensive gear on the market, or a store bought throw away!! this is all about people getting together doing what they love to do…talk, eat, and go photograph whatever we feel like :) / thought those that are fairly close might want to join up with us / just contact me for more details and if you want to join and need help in finding a place to stay / cmon for the fun and Great food!! (they can cook up a storm..hehe)
And I can still taste the mountain air! The beauty in all of it’s true splendor still etched upon my mind and the peace still holds my ve…
And I can still taste the mountain air! The beauty in all of it’s true splendor still etched upon my mind and the peace still holds my very soul in the palms of it’s hand! I have traveled to every state in the continental USA excluding Maine. I’ve stood at the highest points and walked through the deepest valleys. Southern born and bred I have been raised a true southern lady and never have I left the comforts of Alabama for too long at a time! I have said for many years now that Montana was my final destination. How quickly in the blinking of an eye can ones dreams change and take upon a new course! / I have stood within feet of a wild black bear and shared words with him as we said goodbye each to turn and go back to our individual realities. I have walked side by side with deer as they grazed the field without fear of me or man! I have walked deep into the mountain streams as literally hundreds of giant butterflies surrounded me as the beautiful golden sun rays broke through the tops of the trees and danced around my face! My breath all but taken away!!!! I have touched soul with nature and have arrived upon a new plain, a new height that never before would I have ever imagined! Born again / Mind, body, soul and spirit surrounded by a peace like none other! I have been soooooooo blessed. May the sights, the sounds, and the smells never leave me until I soon return again! Ahhhhhhhh….... Sweet sweet serenity!!!! / Great Smokie Mountains / Tennessee / Bonita Moore
Many thanks to the hosts and to whoever voted for my image “End of Summer”. / It’s an honor and pleasure to be in the Top 10 with all the…
Many thanks to the hosts and to whoever voted for my image “End of Summer”. / It’s an honor and pleasure to be in the Top 10 with all the other great images and talented folks. But I must say,all the entries were outstanding, I’m sure everyone had a tough time deciding where to cast their vote! /
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