A couple of weeks ago, several of us drove back to Neels Gap. The snow (at the time) was almost gone, but the cold weather had not changed. Hikers who were traveling through on the Appalachian Trail had stopped at the Mountain Crossings store at the Walasi-Yi to buy gear. The wind was blowing and I was grateful to be inside in the warmth for a few minutes. The day was winding down and everything at the gap was washed in a marvelous sunset glow.

When you see this sign, you know you are standing in a very adventurous place. 

Friends are friends forever, if the Lord is the Lord of them. And a friend will not say never ’cause the welcome will not end.

Though it is hard to let you go, in the Father’s hands we know that a lifetime’s not too long to live as friends.

My friend Joy, who lives in western PA, captured these two photos while traveling the western PA countryside with her husband Denny. First, they discovered an abandoned Amish buggy. Then they rode on a little further and saw another buggy—complete with a horse. A few minutes later they spotted two Amish men down on the lake to do a little ice fishing, which is probably a great way to spend a casual afternoon! I just can’t imagine standing out in the cold fishing, let alone fishing through a small hole in ice! I have to see what I’m catching before I reel it in!

I have a list of things to do today, and I’m headed off to accomplish each one, but humor me for a moment. Mentally, I want to stroll through the green hills of the Cotswolds, drink a hot cuppa tea, and eat a fruit scone with clotted cream at the local establishment. What fun it would be just to be silly for a time and do something ridiculous so that I gain a sideways “get real” look from a friend.(smile)

I really wanted to drop down to another level to take this photo, but I couldn’t. A small deer had fallen from the top of the falls and died. “He probably slipped on the ice,” one lady told me. Cocoa was at my side and immediately knew something was very wrong. She is such a sweet dog. I grabbed this photo and left vowing to come back in the summer under happier circumstances. There are several really nice waterfalls in the  Pisgah National Forrest. Most of the hikes are short and not extreme.