Acadia National Park - Jordan Pond Gate House

Hansel and Gretel?

The Seven Dwarfs?

Or just the Jordan Pond Gate House built in 1931 by John D. Rockefeller Jr.....

Can you imagine living here with the purpose of making sure

vehicles didn't pass onto the carriage roads?

I'm sure there were other job duties but it's more alluring

saying you could live here and just be the gate keeper!

It's like an English tudor?

One of the gates that only open for the horse drawn carriages.

Bicyclists are also allowed on the trail but can go through the narrower gate.

Acadia National Park

A day in the life...

Listen closely for the water crashing and the birds chirping...

Sittin on the deck waiting for a sunrise or sunset...

Ahhhhh!

It's a long way down there!

Acadia National Park - Little Hunters Beach

No soft place to throw a beach towel down and relax.

But!

Relaxation can still occur just in a different way.

Many of the rocks or granite looked very much like my countertops in pieces.

Rock stacking.

The jaunt down to Little Hunters Beach is no smooth walk but 

still highly worth it!

The trickle of water is a constant sound wherever you

turn in Acadia.

Acadia National Park - Park Loop Road

Everywhere you turn the roads and bridges melt into the 

picturesque surroundings.

The tide was out but the sea floor was riddled with sea weed.

Lunch?  Dinner?

Sea Urchin?

Rock?

Happy New Year 2014!

I pray that 2014 brings Peace, Joy, Hope and above all Love!

Mt. Pisgah Alter - Shade Mountain -Pennsylvania

After trekking up the mountain from Beaver Springs, PA where we muddied up 

the Jeep through melting snow the view awed us!

The alter was built in 1979 on top of Shade Mountain in Snyder County, PA.

It's part of the Bald Eagle State Park. 

The views are spectacular!

You can feel God's presence in the surrounding nature.

It's a great place to reconnect and find your solace.

Looking down over Beaver Springs, PA you can see the mountain 

ranges going on and on and on...

Attending a wedding or Easter Sunrise service here would leave

a lasting impression.

Call for you appointment today!

Daisy

The kids are grown so we had to find something else to

concentrate on.

Along came Daisy!

Daisy is an Australian Labradoodle.

Fleetwood Church - Brandy Station, VA

Listen carefully...

 Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,

1. Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
   Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
   We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
   • 
     
     Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
     We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
     Bringing in the sheaves, bringing in the sheaves,
     We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.
     
     
     So many churches are now in a neglected way.  The small church struggles.
     Bigger is better.  I'm just not sure what's better except the bells and whistles of 
     softer seats, no worries of heating bills, higher paid entertainment.  
     But why are we to be there is the first place?
     Simplicity is out?  
     I don't think so but remember your local church this season and big or small
     soft seats or hard enter in and listen to that still small voice waiting for you.
     
     

Kutztown University Beauty

Kutztown University

Charming comes to mind.

Quaint follows with a close second.

There are many places for reflection and quiet time surrounded by beauty.

The Kutztown Golden Bears

This baseball field brought lots of memories for out family.

It also holds memories for Ryan Vogelsong who has the charmed story 

as the come back kid

for the San Francisco Giants.

Pinnacle Ridge Winery - Kutztown, PA

It was time to pick pick PICK!!

Vino!

Wine!

Our favorite pass time is checking out the local wineries.

Pennsylvania is continually growing in award winning wines. Pinnacle offers up

many great choices

Pinnacle Ridge offers great wine, a beautiful Hex barn, 

inside ambiance and outside charm!

Don't be fooled by a small appearance.

The wine makes up for it!

The quaint corn bin works great as a firewood storage place too!

Kutztown, Pa Railroad Station

Kutztown, Pa

Railroad Station

Acadia National Park - Otter Cliff and Ocean Path

Otter Cliffs

The rocks and water never ended.

Some may tire of the ever endless supply of both, but to many others

it's pure amazement!

Check out the cliffs along the ocean. 

The path is laid out for you!

A hiker's dream land!

From the shoreline you can spot the many lobster pot markers.

I wonder from which pot our dinner came?

A secluded little fishing hut with just enough room for a nap

and your fishing gear!

Can you find the proud stake of the fishing hut?

The American flag is there!

Acadia National Park - Thunder Hole

Thunder Hole

A rare shot with no people!

I believe were were the first visitors of the day!

The water comes into the huge crevice worn into the rocks and makes a

thunderous sound that you have to hear to believe.

Thunder Hole close-up.

It doesn't seem that imposing but when the powerful water invades

anything can happen!

The ocean had a sense of calm the day we visited, but on other days you 

can easily get sprayed.

There even have been a few deaths when people walk on the slippery

rocks and a unsuspecting wave makes an appearance with a vengance.

Though this wave may seem small the sound made you believe a severe 

thunderstorm was nearby.

Acadia National Park Rocks

The Beehive

It's put here to climb!

The clouds began parting off and on through our day.  

As the sun appeared the rocks seems to come alive with vibrant colors.

As I crawled over the rocks I kept thinking; this would make

a beautiful kitchen counter top!

The granite was full of color.

The greens were as green could be.

The wildflowers seemed to say look at me, look at me!

Acadia National Park, Maine

The Acadian Rocks

Colorful and Solid

Rocks and Water

Water and Rocks

Beauty!

We started through Acadia Park very early in the morning with the rain

ending just in time.

Thanks to the fore-thought of many years ago this is a treasure 

to be discovered time and again.

The Thunder Hole gift shop is worth a stop to check out the history

books of this beautiful park.

Camden Yard - Orioles - Baltimore, MD

                                                          --- missing baseball