Rain, Rain... stick around:)

I don't mind the rain.   The rain is beneficial to our environment and enjoyment in more ways than one.  It gives all the plants what they need to thrive, and washes away everything that needs washed away.  It also has an uncanny ability to rid the Blue Ridge Parkway of all the traffic, and allows us to experience state parks without any other people:)

Today I set off for Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina.  It borders the Parkway.  There wasn't a soul at the parking lot, which brought me great joy... I get to hang out in the forest without anyone else:)

Aside from the occasional turtle or fish, I pretty much did have the place to myself.  I really don't know why anyone would be out there, the rain was coming down HARD, hard enough that the rain caused my camera(the Pentax) to lose it's ability to control the lens' aperture.  It was at that point when I decided I should pack it out.  Fortunately I managed a handful of photographs first:)

Mist at Fox Hunter's Paradise

Flourishing Fungus near the trailhead

A windy creek near the path

Middle Falls - Stone Mountain State Park

A raging and muddy Big Pine Creek(shot from a bridge on the parkway)

Living Slow...

I live a mile-and-a-half from a not very busy highway in Southwest Virginia.  Basically, turn left after Galax towards Pipers Gap, and go until your Verizon Wireless phone stops working, and it's on your left just past the 'two dogs'(listen for my rooster's mangy crow) Life around here can be as slow as you want it to be, it really is something else(something awesome)

I will take my camera and a little Yorkie down the road, and take photos of flowers, cow pastures, bugs, dogs, turtles... anything that will stay around long enough to get photographed. 

The other morning I was taking a photo of a pasture covered in fog when a couple of the more well known locals came walking about,  the 'two dogs'.  You see the 'two dogs are kind of celebrities on our road.  So much so that if you were to get directions on how to get to our house, you might hear something like "once you see the two dogs, it's on your left after two more houses".

You see, the 'two dogs'(I don't actually know thier names) like to lay in the street and bask in the sunshine, while greeting anyone that comes by.  Whenever I go running, the dogs will come meet me and run with me to the end of the road and back:) 

After a great church service this morning(about 'Margins in Life'), I know I need to make my life just a little bit more like the 'two dogs'....  Take it easy, go for walks, lay out in the sun, and be nice to everybody:) 



Don't let her sad face deceive you, her tail is a waggin'




The Sigma provides nice sharp focus



The mornings get foggy more often as the season starts to change:)

Hope you all had a great Sunday:)