LIFE'S BETTER IN THE MOUNTAINS

Friday, November 2, 2012

Fridays Are Golden


We have had blustery days this week with temperatures far below normal for us.  But we have had bright sunshine and at our elevation we had no snow.
 
We try taking the dogs to different places at least once every week so they can run free.  This visit was to the Pink Beds in Pisgah National Forest.  As we expected, there was not another person around that day so we broke the law and let the girls off leash.


Our dogs do not jump much.
Ellie was a bit intimidated about jumping over this small log.




Of course, Lucy was delighted to jump.  Several times she ran back and forth to jump the log.




They especially loved the thick bed of leaves and ran and ran.




Finally, they chose to lie down in a grassy area and take a breather.




Ellie followed Lucy's example and decided that she also loved to jump the log.
The two of them looked like children jumping over and over.




We've never had a dog that smiled quite more broadly than Lucy does.


We have watched in horror the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Sandy.  We have cried with those who lost so much and marveled at those who have shown so much courage.  Our thoughts remain with them in days to come.  So many will have very long struggles to overcome this terrible tragedy.

With only a few days left before Election Day we realize how precious our government is, no matter how often we disagree with some of the policies made.  It is our responsibility to elect candidates who share our beliefs and who will lead our country with honor and compassion for the welfare of all citizens.

There are two quotes for this Friday.  The first is from John Quincy Adams who said:

Always vote for principle though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.

And from one of my heroes, Barbara Jordan:

A government is invigorated when each of us is willing to participate in shaping the future of this nation.

And if you have been feeling stressed and think time is passing too fast, I leave you with this frightening fact:
Only fifty-nine days remain in the year 2012.

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND SAFE WEEKEND, EVERYONE!!!



18 comments:

The Bug said...

Beautiful girls, and beautiful sentiments. May the best team win - and you know it's mine :-)

NanaNor's said...

Hi there, Your girls are so precious! Love to see them jumping and having such fun. I love the quotes you've shared. Have a wonderful weekend my friend.
Noreen & Hunter

wildcatwoods said...

The girls look like they enjoyed their walk. we had lots of high winds but no snow thank goodness. Our hearts do go with all those in the hurricane states - we have many friends and fmaily in that areas but all came thru OK!

The vote quotes are so apropo for these times - I worry that so many will not be able to vote due to power outages and worse!

Cats of wildcat woods

Ms. A said...

You can sure tell the girls aren't stressed with elections, or hurricanes and are able to enjoys the pleasurable moments as they happen. Aaaah, a dog's life, indeed!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

What a lovely afternoon with your girls--I do love their smiles and having them around would lift anyone's spirits--It's times like that you wish you could share them with those affected in the hurricane that need a lift!

Enjoy your weekend!

How Sam Sees It said...

We just found out that Sam doesn't like to jump logs. ...but, it was really interesting to watch him reason how to get around it.

Sam

Janet, The Queen of Seaford said...

Yes, hard to believe it is November, let alone almost 2013....yikes!
Your girls really love running and frolicking about. We seldom take ours in the truck, too many nose prints and fur to clean out (not me, the car cleaner's issue). Love taking them for a ride when I can.

troutbirder said...

I do exactly the same thing with my Baron. He does need to run free and following his nose. Though with many deer present and him less that perfectly disciplined as my hunting dogs were I keep him safe with a rarely used shock collar...
And I'm so apprehensive about the upcoming election I can't stand to watch the news anymore. I asked my wife about moving to Canada if the billionairs and their PAC machines buy the election. She said no...;)

Carolina Linthead said...

Oh, to live life with Lucy's unfettered joy! Yes, make your votes count, let your voices be heard. That most assuredly gives one the right to whine if things don't go his or her way :-) And yes, live with the knowledge that our brothers and sisters are hurting so much, in so many places, and act as you are able to reach out to them.

Cicero Sings said...

A beautiful day in the park. Oh how Mingus loves it off lead so I'm sure your girls enjoyed themselves thoroughly ... no wonder they, especially Lucy, smile so. To live in the moment ... as Mrs. A said ... is a dogs life!

My Mind's Eye said...

Happy Golden Saturday to Ellie and Lucy.

OH how nice to have a sister to help you learn new things
Hugs Madi

Ginnie said...

I could have gone all day happily not knowing that there are only 59 days left in this year !!!
Your girls are just beautiful and I love that you let them roam free when you can.

KB said...

What beautiful and happy girls. The green grass that they rested in looked like paradise. I love the jumping too!!!

Here, dogs are always allowed to be off-leash in national forests... funny that it's different there! I'm glad that the beautiful pair got to run.

One advantage to being in a battleground state is getting to see the President in person. We did so the other night, and it was inspiring.

Karin said...

Enjoyed my visit with your two lovelies - and the quotes!

Rudee said...

Lucy looks so joyful!

Vicki Lane said...

I can almost hear the leaves rustling! Happy Golden Girls!

Re election -- I am so ready for it to be over and so apprehensive that Something will cause a long drawn out wrangling as to who the real winner is.

NCmountainwoman said...

Thanks for your comments everyone! I agree that it would be nice to be as carefree as the dogs and not worry so much about our election. I am very apprehensive about the election and with all the voter repression movements and changes in early voting I fear we will not know the winner for some weeks to come. What a shame some of our citizens have sunk so low as to try to deprive anyone from voting.

Folkways Note Book said...

Liked your quotes especially the John Quincy Adams lines -- barbara