Yesterday I needed to get out of the house after the last eye surgery. I feel like my new eyes are a miracle and so I took some photographs on the Parkway. It is a gift to be able to see to write, photograph and paint again. It makes me cry with relief.
So, dear friends and readers, yesterday was a partly sunny day with temperatures in the high 50’s. It was a perfect day to drive in the mountains and revel in what Divinity has wrought.
When I put a camera up to my eye, I see more than I was seeing before. I have been with non-photographers who were amazed at my photographs because having been with me they didn’t see until what I saw through the lens until they saw the photographs. I think, for me anyway, that my heart and soul see through the camera. They see what is really there. When I began to take pictures, I wanted to prove to myself that this life was real. It wasn’t a dream. I was, by extension, also real. Enough of that, please enjoy the photographs.

Around every curve and hill is more beauty to thrill the soul. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Every day there is more green on the trees. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

The Blue Ridge Parkway goes from Virginia, North Carolina and into Tennessee. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Woodworking on the Parkway. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

This is not an autumn photograph. It is new leaves coming out on the branches. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Wildflowers. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 201

Have you hugged a tree lately? Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

The Blue Ridge Mountains never stop being a thrill. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Carolina Blue sky amongst the trees. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

The mountain air is as sweet to the lungs as the mountains are to the eyes. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Flowers in bloom on trees. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Simple beauty. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2016