A Day At Stone Mountain State Park

"The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places." -- Habakkuk 3:19

This verse meant so much to me on a recent trip to Stone Mountain, NC. It was a gorgeous day for a short trip to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and I took full advantage of it. Stone Mountain State Park is about 1 and 1/2 hours from Greensboro for most people (2 hours on the scenic route I took). I parked at the Upper Trailhead Parking Area. It was a pleasant short walk to the falls. There were several sets of stairs, but they were well-built and in good repair. Just a note of clarification: to get to the falls from this parking area, you go down all these stairs, which means that when you return to your car via this same trail, you go up all these stairs. I chose to go to the falls first, but next time I will probably choose the Loop Trail which will have me seeing the falls at the end. This still means going up all the stairs at the end of the hike, but it is manageable. I just know that there are things I didn't see because I did not do the entire loop.

I hiked to the falls, past the falls, and then to Hutchinson Homestead. This is a group of older buildings which have been restored. It included a cabin, a barn, an outhouse, and several other buildings which were quite interesting and were blessed with the above view. Can you imagine waking up to that outside your window every morning? How awesome!!

After the homestead, I turned around and made the hike back the way I had come. I then moved my car to the Lower Trailhead Parking Area and attempted to make the hike to the mountain's summit. I made it almost all the way. Those of you who know me well know how difficult it is for me to make that statement. I don't almost do anything. Maybe it is time to share that I got new glasses two days before this trip. My prescription has changed some, but I didn't realize how much until I began the walk to the falls. Those stairs that I mentioned were a real challenge since to me each step appeared to slant off to the side. I had to grip the handrails to keep from missing stairs as I made my way down. In areas where there were no stairs but just rocky trail, I had to be extra careful. My lack of depth perception made each step treacherous. Truth be told, I looked like I had had a few too many drinks of alcoholic beverages and then decided to hit the trails. Anyway, as I made my way up the summit trail I got a little worried the rockier it got. I decided that wisdom should prevail over stubbornness, so I didn't actually get all the way to the top. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire time on the trails though, and the pictures below will attest to the beauty that I beheld.

Here is a baby bird that apparently fell from its nest. Lots of people tried to help it but no one was sure the best way to help. We ended up leaving it there in hopes it would fly to safety.

Important notes:
*Both parking areas had restrooms which were clean and well-equipped.
*There was a large poster-sized park map behind glass at each parking area and also free park maps for the taking.
*There were people of all ages on the trails. Also lots of dogs on leashes, so feel free to bring your pet.
*There were a few places to eat not terribly far from the park. I chose to drive to Wilkesboro which is about 30 minutes away. I found a pizza restaurant with a buffet.

Links:
Stone Mountain State Park

Village Inn Pizza Parlor

Hanging Rock -- A Day Trip For the Soul

“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and winds long to play with your hair.”  -- Kahli Gibran

After weeks and weeks of quarantine and then a few more weeks of readjusting to life outside of my house, I finally had the chance to get away. It was just a short day trip, only about an hour outside of Greensboro, but it was a trip soothing to my soul. It refreshed me, encouraged me, gave me joy. Ironically, I shared the day with Joy! 

My friend Joy and I were longing for an adventure, even a small one. She suggested a trip to Danbury, NC to visit an art show presented by the Stokes County Arts Council at The Apple Gallery. I jumped at the chance, even more so when I remembered that Danbury is home to Hanging Rock. I took my nephew and his friend there years ago and recalled enjoying the area.

We left about 9:30 and took a meandering route through Oak Ridge, Stokesdale, and Walnut Cove. It was a pleasant drive in which we enjoyed farmland, interesting yard art, and gorgeous plant-life. We decided to start our adventure on the outer edge of Hanging Rock State Park, choosing a short (.2 mile) trail that leads up to Tory's Den and Waterfalls. It was a great start! The trail was easy to find, with a parking area on Charlie Young Road. A map at the parking area gave us an overview of the whole park and specifically the trail to the den and falls. The trail itself was well marked and extremely safe. We came to the falls first, meeting a couple of young girls who were out enjoying their own adventure. Moving on down the trail, just a little farther, we came to Tory's Den. I was interested to read on a historical background sign at the parking area that the cave was a refuge to 100 Tories for a short time during the American Revolution. This fact became most amazing when we saw the size of the cave. I have no idea how 100 people squeezed into it!

After returning to the car, we decided to drive to the main part of the park and hike the trail to Hanging Rock itself. The visitor center parking lot and entrance to Hanging Rock trail were not hard to find. On the way we made a stop at Hanging Rock General Store. It was a fun place with lots of local arts and crafts, t-shirts, food/drink, and a public restroom. The girls we met at the falls were right behind us and we visited a little more with them while we enjoyed the store. We promised to look for each other near Hanging Rock. 

I remembered this trail being a little more difficult than the Tory's Den Trail. My memory was not wrong. This trail is 1.5 miles one way. It starts as a paved trail, becoming a gravel trail, and eventually a stairway of stones. At some points it has a pretty steep incline but is not really dangerous. I spooked for a little bit when someone ahead told us that part of the trail was kind of slick, but we just altered our path to where there were more rocks and less dirt and we were fine. The view at the top makes the climb totally worth it, as you can see from my pictures. There are lots of rock formations jutting out from the mountainside; we chose to stick to the more protected rocks. We did see people who climbed/slid/struggled further out, but we were not even tempted. The sign at the beginning of the trail was enough to deter me if I had had the slightest inclination to crawl out to the edge which I did not! We enjoyed the view from several different angles, ran into our new friends from Tory's Falls again, and began our return hike. Going down was much easier than going up. We walked only a short way before we felt a few raindrops. I prayed, asking God to hold of the rain till we had made it through the rock area and onto the slightly flatter gravel area. I don't know why I didn't ask Him to hold the rain off until we made it to the car!! Almost as soon as our feet left the rocks and touched gravel the bottom fell out. We were completely drenched in no time and walked about 1/2 a mile in pouring down rain. When we arrived at the car it stopped. I was so grateful to God for His protection and a little not-amused at His sense of humor. Joy had a roll of paper towels in the car which helped some.

Our next stop was lunch. We ate at the River Rock Cafe, which I highly recommend. Their menu is large, sandwiches, flatbreads, pizzas, and the prices are reasonable. One thing to keep in mind is that they close at 2:00 except on Fridays and Saturdays. We got there just in time. We ate outside do to our drenched state and the air conditioner inside. We both got Reubens and were very satisfied. It was also nice to sit out in the sun and dry out some.

Next we were on to the art gallery. The gallery is a very nice place in downtown Danbury. There is ample parking in the back, entrance is free, and there's many good pieces of art to mull over. For the month of June they are showing the work of Dennis Byrd, the artist who Joy is familiar with, but the work of several other artists was on view as well. There was also a gallery store with some artwork, crafts, jewelry, etc. for sale.

After the gallery, we began our journey home, still enjoying our time and the new views outside our windows. On the morning trip towards Danbury we enjoyed passing through the small town of Walnut Cove and were happy to be passing through it again on the way home. We became even happier when we saw the Duck Donut Truck. How can you NOT stop at a donut truck after hiking 3 1/2 miles (33 floors)? My favorite is the Beachball. Sorry no picture; I didn't have them long enough to get a picture. 

Greensboro was back in sight soon enough. We were tired but refreshed. I personally enjoyed every minute of the day (even the rain) and was so grateful to have a friend who also loves the journey as much as I do. I highly recommend a day trip to Hanging Rock. We saw kids of all ages on the trails, and even a lady on crutches, though I am not at all sure how she managed slippery wet rocks on her way down. Danbury is also the place to go when you want to tube down the Dan River... but that's a journey for another day.

Links:

Stokes County Arts Council

River Rock Cafe

Hanging Rock State Park

Hanging Rock General Store

Travel Through Books

“That's the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.” -- Jhumpa Lahiri

In this time of world-wide upheaval, when traveling to places far and even near is discouraged or restricted, there is still a way for you to leave your present surroundings and enjoy a sense of journey. The answer is through books!

Books have long been my first source of adventure and escape, and now more than ever, they are providing me the opportunity to visit other worlds, other times, and other peoples as a way of escaping present circumstances and uncertainties. At no other time have books been more available and accessible than they are right now. Many of us have been given the gift of time to visit any place that we choose which can be found between the covers of a book, be it an actual book or virtual. 

Below are some of my favorite book-destinations. Feel free to make your own visit to these favorites of mine. Enjoy the peace, the adventure, the feelings of satisfaction as good conquers evil, the joy of love surviving and thriving, the wonder of new experiences. Then also feel free to share some of your favorite book-destinations. 

Anne of Green Gables -- My favorite go-to for comfort and the companionship of an old friend. The fictional sleepy town of Avonlea, nestled on Canada's Prince Edward Island, is so real to me. I love to walk the forest paths with Anne, look across the Lake of Shining Waters, or run across the field to visit Diana. The visit never disappoints me.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe -- Escaping through the wardrobe door into the land of Narnia is another journey that never disappoints. How exciting it is to see Narnia for the first time or for the hundredth time. How comforting to share a cup of tea with Mr. Tumnus. How awesome to run my hands through Aslan's golden mane. How victorious to see the White Witch and her minions defeated, and then to realize that our Lord has defeated Satan just as completely.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe -- A visit to Whistle Stop, Alabama in the 1930's never fails to make me laugh. Idgie's high-jinx and Dot Weems' comments bring the town to life. The parallel story of Evelyn becoming Tawanda completes the humorous trip for me. 

Christy -- I love to travel with Christy Huddleston to the backwoods of the Smoky Mountains in the early 1900's. Learning to love the Mountain People, watching Christy as she matures in mind and soul, and enjoying the intricacies of a time long-past is a trip worth taking.

Papa's Wife -- This little-known gem of a book is the first of three by Thyra Ferre Bjorn. The reader is transported to Sweden at the beginning of the 20th century. It is a journey of family, love, and fun. I first read it in high school and loved it so much I considered stealing it from my high school library. (Don't worry, I didn't give in to temptation. I later found the whole series on Amazon.)

Daddy Long-Legs -- Accompanying Judy Abbott as she leaves the orphanage and goes to upstate New York to attend college thanks to the kindness of an anonymous benefactor is a trip well worth taking. I walk alongside Judy as she conquers her fears and becomes who she was meant to be, all while writing detailed letters to her benefactor to keep him up to date with her activities. (The illustrations make it even more fun.)

Joy in the Morning -- Annie also travels to a college-town, but as a wife, not a student. For many years I have returned to Annie's story of trials, achievements, sorrows, and joys as she navigates the life of leaving home and becoming a wife while still becoming her own person. The 1920's midwest college town is the perfect destination for Annie's story.

I have many more favorite books populating my shelves. These books listed above are the old friends in whose company I seek escape and comfort during trying times such as these. The main Book that I go to for comfort however is God's Word, the Bible. It never disappoints. I especially search the Psalms for comfort, reassurance, and peace. I pray that comfort, reassurance and peace for all of you at this time.

Saigon, Place of My Birth

"The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started." -- T.S. Eliot

I don't know how true that quote is, but it did get me thinking. I have never had the opportunity to go back to where I started. Recently I started wondering about that place. Full disclosure -- the thing that awoke this wondering was an episode of "Magnum, P.I." 

I was born in Saigon, Vietnam. My mom flew there when she was pregnant with me in order to be with my father who was already stationed there in the very early days of the Vietnam War. She and I left Vietnam along with other military dependents when I was 9 months old, and I obviously have never returned. It was a place of war, disease, and confusion but was also the place of my birth. It was where my parents became parents, and was conversely the place where so many parents lost their sons or daughters. Beauty existed there, side by side with filth. It was a place of paradox, and my parents and I were in the middle of it. 

So, my "Magnum, P.I." episode caused me to start an image search of Saigon 1964 which led to the discovery of a book. (Is anyone really surprised?) The book is entitled Station Hospital Saigon A Navy Nurse in Vietnam, 1963-1964. I immediately ordered the book from Amazon. 

The book itself, though interesting and well-written, didn't really unearth any information about my personal story but did open my eyes more to the situation that existed in Saigon in 1964. I don't know if I didn't pick up on enough details from my parents over the years or if they just didn't choose to share everything. Saigon was a pretty rough place that year. Terrorism was real in a time before terrorism became the buzz word that it is today in post 9/11 America. Sickness was also very real. I myself almost died from amoebic dysentery as an infant. You can see in the smaller inset photos above that I was pretty thin. I read that very few of the military personnel stationed in Saigon at the time escaped without at least one bout of amoebic dysentery, so why not me too? 

I am looking forward to the conversations that this book will open up as I pass it on to my parents. I know that it will resonate more with them and bring to mind some memories for them, probably bad memories along with happy ones of their sweet little girl. 

Discovering and reading this book has been an interesting experience for me. It was a unique experience for me to "travel" to the place of my birth via a book of someone else's memories. It reminded me that books can take me anyplace that I want to go, even back to a place that I've already been. 

Where do you want a book to take you? Comment below.

Looking About Lexington

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.” -- Anne in Anne of Avonlea  

This weekend I enjoyed one of Anne's sweet days. A friend and I made the short drive from Greensboro to Lexington. We had almost no agenda, just a desire to enjoy the town, the day, and each other's company. Sometimes it's nice just to go far enough away for a change of scenery. We ended up getting more than just a change of scenery; we were treated to a splendid day full of simple little pleasures.

The drive was pleasant. I, as usual, stuck to non-interstate roads. The trip took about 45 minutes, just long enough to have several pleasant conversations but not get tired of the car. We went first to my favorite Lexington destination, The Candy Factory! I try to get to this awesome candy shop at least 2 or 3 times a year.

The store is FULL of all types of candy. They have vintage candy; fresh, by-the-pound chocolate; baskets of scoop-able hard candy; and several kinds of unique candies. There's one kind of candy that I purchase every time I go. These are Tootsie-roll type candy which are made in the shape of a little person. I love to get them because I first heard of them in a favorite book, All of a Kind Family, by Sydney Taylor. Yes, I even have food-book connections! The Candy Factory is one of the only places in the United States where you can still get this candy.

Another favorite part of The Candy Factory is the back room. Here they have antique books, games, kitchen utensils, and several other items. I love this part of the store. I have purchased several old books and games here which give me much pleasure.

After the candy store, we walked down Main Street to Ace Hardware. It is not your average hardware store but is filled with so many other interesting items. I like to go to get cookie supplies and was not disappointed on this trip. I was able to find a certain decorating tip which I need. We spent a relaxing 45 minutes wandering the aisles of the store just enjoying the varied inventory.

Our next stop was Main Street Antiques which was a fun place to browse in. I found an old cookbook and a Snip, Snap, Snur book. (For those of you unfamiliar with these books, they are about 3 Swedish triplet boys, printed in the US beginning in the 1930's. There is also a female set about Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka. I am always on the lookout for these books.) At this point I had made a purchase at every store we went in but had only spent $20.

We made our way back down Main Street and were drawn in to a store because of some Dr. Seuss books we could see through the large front window. The books ended up being the personal property of the store owner, but they did the trick and got us in. My friend really liked this store. It was a children's consignment shop, and was probably the best I have ever seen. The large front room had clothing and baby items and a smaller back room was full of books, toys, games, and puzzles. The store was EXTREMELY neat and well- organized. I highly recommend a visit to this shop if you have children and are anywhere near Lexington. The name of the store is Encore Kids Consignment.

By this time in our day, we were hungry. Lexington is best known for its bar-b-q of course. We took the recommendation of the clerk in the antique store and headed for Bar-B-Q Center. She told us it was the best in Lexington. I personally am not a huge fan of North Carolina bar-b-q, being a Mississippi girl. (I apologize to all the die-hard North Carolinians; it's nothing personal.) My friend ordered a combination bar-b-q plate and was VERY satisfied. I got a cheeseburger and sweet potato fries and was not disappointed, especially in the price -- only $6. The restaurant was very down-home and comfortable. My friend and I were able to take our time, enjoying our food and talking. We did not feel rushed at all, even though there was a constant flow of people in and out.

After filling our stomachs, we had one more stop to make in Lexington. We headed to the Bob Timberlake Gallery. This was a pleasant surprise for me. I was not familiar with his work and wasn't sure I would care for it. I really liked most of it. The gallery is set up like the inside of a lodge, with a huge working fireplace in the center. It had a warm and welcoming feel. There are pieces of art along the walls, along with furniture and assorted other pieces placed around through the gallery. I of course cannot afford any of the art but saw some I would like to own if I had the money.

After visiting the gallery, we headed back to Greensboro with a stop in High Point for cheap gas! All-in-all it was a fantastic day of conversation, food, and fun. I completely enjoyed myself and would recommend a day in Lexington to anyone close enough to go there for the day. Below are some links to some of the places we went.

The Candy Factory

Encore Kids Consignment

Bar-B-Q Center

Bob Timberlake Gallery

First Two Books of 2020

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” -- Dr. Seuss

I just got to start using this awesome new book journal! It is so neat. It's full of pages where I can record books that I've read along with various pages about famous authors, iconic book covers, book store cats, and other literary trivia. (For anyone interested, the same company also prints notecards, a puzzle, and a Bibliophile book. The notecards and book are at Just Be.) 

So, my first two books for 2020 were both difficult, each in its own way. My goal for each month will include a book with information for writers, a biography, a spiritually-related book, a classic, and at least two just-for-fun books. I have read January's writers' book and biography, and would love to share something about each of them for you.

This first book for 2020 was a collection of essays by C.S. Lewis. (It really fits in to two of my categories, but I selected it for the essays written to support and assist writers.) I enjoyed the book, but it was intellectually a challenge. I had to keep my dictionary near me as I read, which I don't really mind since I enjoy learning and using new words. There was the added struggle of complicated sentence structure and overall difficult content. Sometimes I had to read a sentence several times before I felt like I understood it. 

Though sometimes frustrating, the book was rewarding. I'm glad that I read it and am thankful for the information I gleaned from it. I will need to read it several more times before I take in even half of what he said. There were selections about writing for children, fairy tales, and stories in general. My desire is that what I learned will help me to become a better writer.

The two most important take-away quotes are: 
 "No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of fifty -- except, of course, books of information."

"But books about writing by those who have themselves written viable books are too rare and too useful to be neglected." 

Unlike my first book, the second was not intellectually difficult but was emotionally draining. I chose Sally Field's book in preparation for March when I will actually get to hear her speak in Greensboro. 

I chose this as my biography selection and then realized that it is classified as a memoir. That got me wondering about the difference between an autobiography and a memoir. I have researched the two and this is what I discovered: Memoirs are more like sketches and don't just focus on the subject's life but might also delve into the lives of others. They also usually have some kind of final message to share. Autobiographies are usually more focused on the life of the narrator chronologically and solely. I was glad to discover these fine points.

As for the book, it was well-written and detailed. Sally Field has had such a difficult life, and it was quite difficult to read through all of the situations that she has had to deal with. From a spiritual standpoint, it makes me hurt to think of how lost this talented, hurting woman is. She has come to terms with so many of the incidents in her life, and that is how she was able to write this book. It was definitely a cathartic experience. It is, however, totally lacking in any reference to or belief in the One True God. This fact, even more than reading about the horrible things Ms. Field lived through, caused me such inner pain. I am still looking forward to hearing her speak in March but am sure that it will be equally as difficult.

I am now reading one of my just-for-fun books and am already enjoying it immensely, just 4 chapters in. You will have to wait for my next post to find out what my fun choice of a book is.

What are you reading right now? I really want to know!!! I'm always ready to add to my TBR list! Just comment below.

Travel Through Books

"Books are the plane, the train, and the road. They are the destination and the journey. They are home." -- Anna Quindlen

bibliophile -- (n) a person who loves or collects books

As this new year begins, I am revising my blog. I am, in a way, returning to my roots. Before I was able to actually pack up and travel on these journeys I have been on over the last few years, I went to those places by opening the covers of books and jumping in. Books are my original travel itinerary, and I continue to visit far away places and times long ago via printed pages. I will still be writing about my actual journeys (Summer trip announcement coming soon!) but want to also include my journeys through the written word.

Based upon the requests of several readers, I am going to start posting about my latest read. I will also be sharing book recommendations. I also hope to include you, the readers, as you comment about your favorites, latest reads, TBR lists, and where you are traveling when you open your books.

I have been writing down every book I read since I was a sophomore in college, so I have a large stack of book journals. I began by simply notating the title and author of each book but have gradually increased my notations to include when I read the book, where I got it, a short summary, my opinion of the book, and sometimes a few Golden Lines. I highly recommend keeping some kind of book journal; if only to keep you from rereading a book that you didn't really enjoy. Goodreads is an excellent online medium for keeping track of what you've read, what you want to read, and what your friends are reading and recommending. Goodreads also has a yearly Reading Challenge to spur you on in your reading goals. My goal for the year 2020 is to read 50 new reads (which does not count all the rereading I do because I love to revisit favorite characters and stories).

My January reading stack. 

Here are some titles just to get you started as you begin your reading journey this year:

Most favorite overall book -- Anne of Green Gables

Favorite Historical Fiction -- Hadassah: One Night With the King

Favorite Historical Fiction (YA) -- Goodnight, Mr. Tom

Favorite Classic -- Jane Eyre

Favorite Classic (YA) -- The Secret Garden

Favorite Historical Fiction Series -- Zion Covenant Series

Favorite Series (YA) -- Betsy-Tacy Series

Favorite Historical Fiction Mystery Series -- Maisie Dobbs Series

Favorite True Crime -- Bitter Blood and Mississippi Mud (It's a tie, and I can't break it.)

Favorite Fantasy Series (YA) -- Chronicles of Narnia

Favorite Fantasy (YA) -- The Phantom Tollbooth

Favorite Memoir -- An Invisible Thread

Favorite Non-Fiction (History) -- The Day the World Came to Town

Favorite Non-Fiction (Christian) -- Polishing God's Monuments

Favorite Fiction (Non-Historical)  -- Girl in Translation

Favorite Family Chronicle -- Papa's Wife

Favorite Christian Allegory -- Hinds' Feet on High Places

Favorite Book that Made Me Cry -- Sarah's Key

Favorite Book that Made Me Laugh -- Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

Favorite Book About NYC -- Apple of  My Eye

Favorite Narrative Non-Fiction -- The Last of the President's Men

Favorite Teacher Book -- The Vocabulary-Enriched Classroom

Favorite Christmas Book (Kids) -- Christmas Tapestry

Favorite Book for Writers -- The House on Mango Street

Favorite Fiction Book Written Through Letters: Daddy Long Legs

Favorite Classical Historical Fiction -- The Scarlet Pimpernel


*Notice that I just make up my own categories when I can't make a decision between certain books! (Blogger's prerogative!) I can come up with many more favorites but made myself stop here. (as difficult as it was to find a stopping point)

More to come with a review of my first January read...

Don't forget to comment below and share some info about what you're reading!