August 14, 2017 by IdealisticRebel

Beautiful Sights

A little over a week ago my sister and I took a day trip to Linville gorge and falls. It was a beautiful day. I left my cane at home and took my hiking sticks. It was some rough walking for me however I was able to get some great photographs which I am going to share with you. Thanks to all of you for your continued support. I really appreciate it.

Namaste,

Barbara

Not as overwhelming as Niagara Falls but still very powerful. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

There are two falls separated by a rock wall. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

water tumbling over the rocks. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

Linville Falls. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

Sun over the path. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

Surrounded by mountains. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

Ferns along the trail. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

Mountain vista. photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

Water flowing. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

Mountainside. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

Water flowing among the rocks. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

Wild Orchard
Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

The Linville Gorge, North Carolina
Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

A view of Grandfather Mountain from the Linville Gorge area.
Copyright by Barbara Mattio 2017

September 5, 2016 by IdealisticRebel

Labor Day at Whitewater Falls

Greetings everyone. I hope you had a good holiday if you are in America or an exceptional Monday around the world. We took a day trip to one of the National Parks to see the Whitewater Falls. The weather was actually perfect, warm but not too hot, not humid, not too much wind. We haven’t had a lot of rain lately so the falls weren’t as rushing as some pictures I have seen but they were beautiful.

The Falls are the tallest falls east of the Rockies. Mother Nature did a good job carving them out.The entire area is quite awesome.

Here are some of the shots I took while we were there. I hope you like them.

Namaste

Barbara

BJSquiggel

Falls over the rocks. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

View from a greater distance. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Falls landing in a pool. Photography and copyright by Barbara Mattio,2016

Top of falls from greater distance. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Layers of rock divide the water. Photograph and copygraph by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Constant water wears away at the rocks and the sides of the mountains. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio,2016

Whitewater Falls Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Water dancing over rock. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio,2016

The water has a ghost like appearance. Photography and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Water tumbling down the mountainside. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Cascading Whitewater Falls. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio,2016

May 2, 2016 by IdealisticRebel

My Day of Discoveries

Yesterday was a pleasantly warm day with the possibilities of rain. So my sister and I want into the mountains to do some exploring. It was a wonderful day and full of many beautiful scenes. I took 139 photographs but I will just share a few with you. I hope you like them and that they add in some little way to your day.

bjwordpressdivider

Now I live on the French Broad River. You have seen many pictures of the river and nearby mountains. There was also the English Broad River, which now has become the Broad River. The French Broad River is older than the surrounding mountains. It is also the only river in the continental US that flows south to north. It ends up in Tennessee. The following pictures of a river are the Broad River.

Storm coming in and mist in the mountains, Chimney Rock, NC. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Old wooden bridge over the Broad River. Photograph and copyright Barbara Mattio, 2016 (in the rain)

The River. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Huge rocks. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

In places it rushes by. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

I love the little white caps. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

The river rambles through the mountains. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

The river flows through it. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

River swirls. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

River rock. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

The river. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

The Broad River. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Some of the rocks which have slid down the river are quite large. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Rocks from the mountains have fallen into the river. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

Wooden bridge over the Broad River. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

The Broad River. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

A creek which feeds the Broad River. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

I named this the Sunflower House. Photography and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

The Eastern Continental Divide. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

I love lavender. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio, 2016

October 17, 2015 by IdealisticRebel

Great Smokey Mountains

Had friends visiting from Indiana, and here as some pictures I took, from a moving car, as we drove to Waynesville, NC.

These are the Great Smokey Mountains.

Leaves in Motion (from a speeding car)
Photograph & Copyright Barbara Mattio 2015

Changing Leaves from the Road
Photograph & Copyright Barbara Mattio 2015

Autumnal Beauty
Photograph & Copyright Barbara Mattio 2015

Cloudless Mountain Sky Photograph & Copyright Barbara Mattio 2015

Changing Leaves on Hillside
Photograph & Copyright Barbara Mattio 2015

Great Smokey Mountains across the horizon
Photograph & Copyright Barbara Mattio 2015

Great Smokey Mountains – A Literal Interpretation
Photograph & Copyright Barbara Mattio 2015

Turning of the Leaves Photograph & Copyright Barbara Mattio 2015

Church Steeple, Waynesville, NC Photograph & Copyright Barbara Mattio 2015

October 12, 2015 by IdealisticRebel

A Journey Down the Road

Yesterday was such a beautiful day. It was like summer here in the mountains. Of course, it is frequently like that. The sky was Carolina blue with big white cumulus clouds overhead.

So Amy and I started a journey on the Blue Ridge Parkway. I decided to take photographs, no surprise, I am sure. So what follows is a pictorial record of our journey and the colors that are beginning to come to the tops of mountains. I hope you enjoy our trip. I wish you all a fabulous week.

Namaste

Barbara

bjwordpressdivider

The French Broad River before we got on the Parkway. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

The Blue Ridge Parkway
Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

The road is cut out of rock in some places. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

The colors are just beginning to show and there are so many shades of green. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

The clouds. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

There are always more mountains no matter what direction you look. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

There are many tunnels going through the mountains. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

Red my favorite color. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

Sometimes no words are necessary. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

Bad Fork Overlook. Photograph and copyright by Amy Halperin 2015

Coming out of a tunnel. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

The higher elevation you are at, the more colors you see. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

The joy of color. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

Antique truck out for a ride. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

A beautiful colorful day. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

I love the tunnels and there are many. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

The River. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

August 26, 2015 by IdealisticRebel

The Depths of Me

Women are repeatedly accused of taking things personally. I cannot see any other honest way of taking them.

—Marya Mannes, American Writer

“Come to the cliff,

he said.

They said, we are afraid.

Come to the cliff, he said

They came.

He pushed them,

And they flew.

—old French poem

I am sitting at my desk in front of my bedroom windows. Everywhere I look is mountains, river and trees. The night creatures are singing to me their oft-repeated song. The sun is gloriously sliding down behind the mountains and twilight descends. I see no stars or moon yet, but they are there. I hear traffic far off in the distance, the collision of two worlds. In this present moment, I could not ask for more.

a last romp Two of my grandchildren having

the last romp in the waves for the day.

Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2013

Hidden Treasure

I came to plant some seeds

I came to plant a tree

I came with a treasure buried deep

in the depths of me.

I came like land to land

I came like sea to sea

the mysteries of earth

and the secrets of dreams

deep in the depths of me.

Who shall witness time’s flowers

pluck fruit

from the fruit-giving tree

and who be crowned with

the diadem found, deep

in the depths of me.

—David Sparenberg

August 17, 2015 by IdealisticRebel

A Saturday Adventure

Hello everyone. I thought I would tell you and show you about our adventure. On Saturday, Maggie, my sister and myself started out on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was fascinating. Though still summer, there are many hues of green on the trees and shrubs. It was truly amazing. We went to the Folk Art Center, where local artists sell their wares and are often available to talk. Next we drove on to Black Mountain, where Maggie used to live. We had lunch with all the other tourists and took my sister to the old general store. They carry so many items. It is a huge building and it is full. Maggie hauled me over to a display of walking sticks.

Now I have my decade old cane which has a wizard carved into it. I keep refusing to get other sticks, but they both were hounding me and I did find one I like. They Amy found a matching one. They are from the Great Smokies and have bear prints on them. Amy told me they would be great for “off roading.” In other words, when they get me to leave solid ground for a trail. These beauties were the least expensive I have seen anywhere. So they came home with us.

I thought I would share some of my photographs from the day, with you.

Namaste, Barbara

Really cool cloud formations as twilight begins to come upon us.

The mountains here are literally layer upon layer. There is a book published that gives all the names of the mountains. It is a fairly thick book. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

The clouds here are amazing. Photograph and copyright by

Barbara Mattio 2015

A predictor of autumn? Some leaves are turning colors. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

Blue Ridge Mountains. Photograph and copyright by

Barbara Mattio 2015

Maggie and Amy on our excursion.

Off of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photograph and copyright by Barbara Mattio 2015

August 11, 2015 by IdealisticRebel

Views from my new home

I am now settled into my new home which is in Asheville, NC. We have an apartment on the third floor and I have wonderful views of the mountains and the French Broad River. I have done some research and found out that the river is older than the mountains. I find that very cool. Also the river flows south to north and is the only one in America to do so.

I hope you enjoy the pictures:

April 2, 2015 by IdealisticRebel

My Dream

I have a dream, a dream of peace. My dream is a world without borders between countries. Mother Earth would be one endless landscape where all are welcome and appreciated. My world would have new priorities. People would see themselves in others and therefore would not work to hurt or disparage others.

Resources would be willingly shared with all no matter what they look like or who they love. I dream that the homo sapiens would face challenges in our world together. No one looking to be more or have more than other people.

I dream of a world where communities are not deliberately fragmented. No one must do without because it is inconceivable not to share. It matters to each of us that we all have what we need to thrive and enjoy success.

As I watched the mountains turn a little more green each day, I was mesmerized by all the shades of green and the light. It shimmered and shined across the mountains. The peacefulness was healing and inspiring. Each day, a different kind of tree began to bloom. From the bottom of my heart, I was filled with gratitude for being able to watch life come out of its long winter sleep. There were many people around me who were sharing the same experience. A smile here, a nod there and we knew that we were filled with gratitude and love for our planet.

Mother Earth was a gift given to humans from the Universe. Each blade of grass, each leaf on trees and shrubs, each floral scent carried on the wind is a boon for our lives. Life is precious and it is found everywhere. We are charged to take care of each other and what we have been given. It is up to us to love and care for everyone. It is up to us to care for everything in our world. We need to be responsible.

“Gratitude to Mother Earth, sailing through night and day—

and to her soil: rich, rare, and sweet

in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Plants, the sun-facing light-changing leaf

and fine root-hairs; standing still through the wind

and rain; their dance is in the flowing spiral grain

in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Air, bearing the soaring Swift and the silent

Owl at dawn. Breath of our song

clear spirit breeze

in our minds so be it.

Gratitude to Wild Beings, our brothers and sisters, teaching secrets,