Mt. Mitchell, NC


Yesterday, my sister Amy and I went to Mt. Mitchell in Burnsville, NC.

Mt Mitchell is about an hour from Asheville, along the Blue Ridge Parkway — which was, as always, a spectacular drive.

Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway Photograph and Copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

 

At Mt. Mitchell State Park, we met with friends and had a wonderful potluck picnic!  After dinner, we went to the peak of the mountain.  I had a bit of assistance from the Park Rangers who took me and another friend with limited ability to the top.

 

Mt. Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi, at 6684 ft above sea level.

 

Mt. Mitchell – highest peak east of the Mississippi
Photograph and Copyright Amy Halperin 2017

 

The scenery was wonderful, with lovely spruce and firs and rock formations that look designed by an artist.

 

Rocks of Mt Mitchell
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

Top of Mt. Mitchell
Photograph and Copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

The sky was full of mist and fog, but then the sky cleared and we saw a magnificent sunset.  At the top of the mountain, the view was breathtaking. Then suddenly, the clouds opened slightly and I beheld a glorious sunset. You could see for miles in every direction and I was very excited. I felt close enough to touch God.

 

The beauty of the sunset touched my soul.

 

I hope it touches yours as well.

 

Namaste,

Barbara

 

Sunset on Mt. Mitchell, NC Photograph and Copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

 

Mt. Mitchell at sunset Photograph and Copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

 

Sunset in mist. Mt Mitchell, NC Photograph and Copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

Haikus of Nature


This weekend, I took a class on Haiku at the North Carolina Arboretum.

I’ve never written Haiku before, but I enjoyed it very much, particularly being in Nature on a beautiful, warm, sunny day in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

I thought I’d share a few of them here, and I hope you enjoy them.

 

Namaste,

Barbara

 

Cascading Water clear

White water falls down the steps

Water reflects sun

Linville Falls
Photograph and Copyright 2017 Barbara Mattio

 

Giggles bubbling up

Did you see, did you?

The sunshine is warm

 

Monarch Butterfly at the NC Arboretum Photograph and Copyright 2016 Barbara Mattio

 

 

Carolina Blue sky

Cotton ball clouds sail away

sunshine smiles upon Earth

Sky over the NC Arboretum
Photograph and Copyright 2016 Barbara Mattio

 

 

 

Fountain water drops

splashing into the garden pond

Insects dance in Fall

 

Fountain at the NC Arboretum
Photograph and Copyright 2016 Barbara Mattio

 

 

Walk on Mother Earth

Find new way to tred lightly

Reach up for the sky

 

 

Silence is illusion

Peering behind silent drape

Nature full symphony

 

Wildflowers at the NC Arboretum
Photograph and Copyright 2016 Barbara Mattio

 

 

A Beautiful Day on the Mountain


I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it before, but my sister Amy and I live in a Picture Postcard

 

The view from Mt. Pisgah, NC Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

A few weekends ago, we went up the Blue Ridge Parkway, to Mt. Pisgah and had a picnic!  It was truly a beautiful day, with blue skies and warm temperatures.  Perfect.

 

Beautiful trees at a wonderful picnic
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

A picnic basket, a lovely day, simple food and good company.  We had a wonderful time, with no drama and a lot of laughs.

We stopped at the overlooks along the way:

 

View from the Blue Ridge Parkway
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

A beautiful day on the Blue Ridge Parkway Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

 

Overlooking the valley from the Blue Ridge Parkway Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

We saw the amazing engineering on the parkway, the tunnels carved through the Mountains over 60 years ago.

 

Tunnel through the mountain Blue Ridge Parkway Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

 

Exiting a tunnel, Blue Ridge Parkway
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

We ended the wonderful day at the Pisgah Inn, at the very top of Mt. Pisgah.  Pisgah Inn bills itself as the “Peak of the Parkway”, and the view is spectacular, some of the most amazing views I’ve seen anywhere.

View from Mt. Pisgah
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

 

View from Mt. Pisgah
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

 

Picture postcard
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

We had dessert at the Pisgah Inn, also.  I had a chocolate cake, with chocolate ganache frosting.  I added candied pecans, strawberries and a caramel sauce.  It was sublime.  It was also about the size of my head, and I had leftovers for 3 days.  Amy had a cobbler of blueberries and mountain raspberries, with caramel sauce and strawberries, and said it was one of the best desserts she’s ever had (she finished hers).

 

It was one of the most pleasant days I’ve ever spent, and for almost no money.  The drive, less than 45 minutes, was beautiful and as much fun as the picnic or the dessert!

 

If you live in the right place, you can always find something wonderful to do.

 

I’m going to end this blog with a few more pictures.  I hope you enjoy them, and I hope you use them as an inspiration to go and find the beauty in YOUR own backyard.

Namaste, Barbara

 

 

Blue Ridge Parkway
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

 

 

Bad Fork Valley Overlook
Blue Ridge Parkway
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

Bad Fork
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

 

Bad Fork
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

 

Hominy Valley Overlook
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

 

 

Hominy Valley
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

Mt Pisgah
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

Mt. Pisgah Picnic Site
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

 

 

View from Mt Pisgah
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

Mt. Pisgah View
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

View from overlook
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

 

Into the Mountain
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017

 

Out of the mountain and into the light
Photograph and Copyright Barbara Mattio 2017