Sunday, July 19th, 2009
MOUNTAIN MUSINGS This is going to be a long one but I want to share this piece of Heaven with you. Over 8 days I took hundreds of pictures (thank you digital camera) and it was really hard to narrow down the best and most interesting. Cedar Mountain is a magical place and I hope someday to live there 6 months out of the year. Its only about 10 miles from where we lived in Pisgah Forest but because of the additional elevation the climate and eco system is much different. I have also been blessed to participate in a true mountain summer community. It shelters my inner artist and inspires me every second I am there.
We towed the Silver Princess 200 miles and came up the Saluda grade with no problems. We decided to set up at Cascade Lake campground because when we lived in the area it looked very inviting. We found the campsites pretty close compared to Dan Nicholas but it still was very pretty and shady. The big draw was access to Cascade Lake itself and a nice swimming pond. The weekend was awful-wall to wall tents and screaming kids but by Sunday afternoon it was calm again. Thursday when we arrived I drove over to the Hemlocks about 15 minutes away and saw this critter running down the road by Hooker Falls. I thought at first it was a weird looking dog when to my delight I realized it was a new born fawn. I stopped and grappled for my camera on the seat next to me.The little guy struggled to get over the railing but I held up traffic until I was sure he was ok. Hopefully mom was waiting on the other side.I took this as a good omen for the work I would try to accomplish while at Hemlocks Studio.This is my dear friend, Sue Bryne Russell and her nephew Atlas. She has been my mentor now for 6 years and has really been the push I needed to develop my artist within.
We went to church at the open chapel and I took the opportunity to wander in my friend's Ann garden.Have you ever seen a hosta blossom as beautiful?[iimg:45862]Her fish have also grown-I think she is going to have to enlarge her pond! Remeber Ann is in her early 80's and on my last day I found her hauling leaves from Sue's yard in her pickup truck for her compost pile.These snap dragons are the fattest richest blossoms I have ever seen.This was a real exciting shot for me.This little guy was so busy having a ball in Ann's bed of Bee Balm. Someething you need to know that you can't see in this picture, my Bee Balm is 12-18 inches. Ann's Bee balm is taller than I am!
It was the end of the rhododendron season but I did find this lovely blossom.
Rusty and I decided to have "the girls" over for cocktails. Sue and another master gardner and great friend, Deborah, came to visit. They surprised me by "gettting cleaned up"I still had my overalls on but I grabbed my hat and became a Southern Belle with them.
Deborah has the most incredible mountain cabin built almost over this mountain stream. I showed photos last year.Puff was back after winter hibernationShe has been busy cleaning out the under growth so new rhodos and trilllium can pop up.
A couple shots of the type of mountain houses that are tucked in among the rain forest.
I was able to kayak everyday-it was about two miles to Hooker Falls and I was able to paint this place of contradictions, serenity yet energy.
I will try to get some art pictures up later. Still unpacking. LOL Just temporary though, I'll be going back in August to help with some more workshops. While up in the area I checked out another campground closer to the Hemlocks. It looks like it will be a good place for Rusty and the Princess. Rusty loves the cool, cool weather. We didn't use our air at all and as you can see I was comfortable in layers of clothes for painting. Swimming in the mountain lake can best be described as "refreshing."
Next trip it will be Dahliah season and I am working on getting up to speed with my old Minolta SRL. The photo ops are endless.
Hope you enjoyed these pictures half as much as I do taking them.