When life keeps tossing challenges at you from left to right, from behind and in front threatening to make you stumble - do you have images you keep in your mind to help you navigate these obstacles? Where do you go? Some people visualize themselves at the shore smelling salt air, listening to the surf and watching the waves come in and go out.  Others imagine themselves to be rock climbing, boating, dancing, stargazing...we all have something that can bring us comfort and help sort out our thoughts so we can move on through the day and reconcile whatever issues that have materialized in our daily dealings.       My comforting images deal with either water or the woods, the very best though is water and woods.  This photo is of a trail leading to the Woody House in the Cataloochee sec... 09/25/2012

Okay, round two…by special request. I presented the sheep this morning and now here’s another Speechless Sunday post with the Great Pyrenees and their wards, the chickens. The buyers’ daughter and I approached the enclosure and the two Great Pyrenees pretty much ignored us and just paid attention to the chickens…until we came within 6 inches of the electric wire. Then we got a couple of chiding “woofs”. These two were working hard for their money and we respected their message.  Besides, it was freeeeezing outside in Waynesville yesterday!   02/12/2012

Showing property or snowing property yesterday in Waynesville was a pleasant adventure in spite of the 25-30 mile wind gusts and the below freezing temperatures. If we had waited until today to look at houses, we would have been greeted by this morning’s temperature of 8 degrees with the wind chill taking us below zero. Not only did we identify a few very good candidates for the buyers’ short list of homes but they brought their daughter, a professional photographer, with them. If the weather had been a tad more pleasant, I can see that we would have stopped far more often for photo ops. As it was, we did stop at someone’s beautiful property near the Cataloochee entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to take a few pictures of their sheep, chickens and Great Pyrenees. Today... 02/12/2012

How lucky was this day? Day three working with the nice couple from South Georgia and the forecast was 70 percent chance of rain. Not only did we dodge serious raindrops throughout the day but we also got to see several rainbows in different parts of Haywood County. I sort of felt like a tornado chaser pulling off the highway to get photos. It was worth it…all my life I’ve seen rainbows and never stopped to get photos. Have I mentioned lately how much I love this area and my work?    Have a lucky day, but don’t forget to create it!      From US74, exit 99 in Waynesville, NC     Russ Avenue, exit 100 in Waynesville, NC...Leslie quipped "Follow That Truck!"     View of Cataloochee Divide   View of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park   01/17/2012

There is something so special about being inside a barn built more than 100 years ago. Just knowing that a whole community put their backs and hands to raising the barn together makes you realize the best way to accomplish a goal is to work together. My imagination goes wild when I think about everything that may have gone on inside the walls of this barn.  Then I think about the vast pasture outside this barn located in the Cataloochee Valley area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.     11/18/2011

We are so lucky to live near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  One of our favorite entrances is through Cataloochee Valley just outside of Waynesville.  One can feel the history when in this valley.  Close your eyes and its easy to imagine families traveling by horse and buggy to church or to school.  The walls of the old preserved houses must possess some very special stories.  Early mornings and early evenings are especially popular times to visit the park.  Several years ago, elk were reintroduced to the park and will congregate along the main road and in the old meadows for feeding.  We've been there when there were more than 50 elk in one meadow.  They are truly an inspiring sight.   Barn overlooking huge meadow.                 Clarks Chapel     Schoolhouse     Palmer Hous... 09/12/2011