Abba's Art

Tag: Great Smoky Mountains

  • Fall > Winter in One Day

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    Fred D
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    My oldest daughter Karin spent few happy days together with us 2 ole duffers last week. She got to see Smoky Mountains spectacular fall colors and the pristine beauty of winter’s first snow on the mountain tops in the same day. Here’s a few pics what was ours to enjoy in the special corner of…

  • Smoky Mountain Fall Spendor

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    Fred D
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    Ellie and I motored up to the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains today.  Standing atop  Clingman’s Dome at 6,643 ft you can see 7 states on a clear day … TN, KY, VA, NC, SC, GA and AL … on this clear day, from this height, all were joined in hushed peace. As Summer’s…

  • Duffer and Youngster Hiking

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    Fred D
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    As with all hiking adventures, certain requirements are necessary to enjoy the experience to the max. Last month’s Greatland wilderness hiking adventures with my son were hybrid Duffer/Youngster hiks, ofttimes demanding somewhat rigorous requirements … especially from this ole ragamuffin 👴. Ellie and my domestic Duffer hike to Bald River Falls yesterday was ‘rigor free’,…

  • Creepy Crawlers … Evolution or Creation?

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    Fred D
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    I have a love/hate relationship with insects. Childhood summers frequently found me chasing orange Monarchs, yellow Swallowtails, and a variety of other brightly colored butterflies through fields with my net … and … smearing calamine lotion on painful bee stings and spider bites.   Not sure why God made mosquitoes and bald-faced hornets, but I’m…

  • Heat Wave

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    Fred D
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    Our area averages 34 days/year with temperatures of 90 degrees or more. Today was the 28th day this year with 90+ temps . . . this ain’t Alaska! You know it’s HOT when you’re awakened by splashing outside the bedroom at night and see Smoky cooling off in the creek. I was gonna’ throw him…

  • The Grief of “WHY?”

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    Fred D
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    Watching the horrendous scenes of the incomprehensible tragic devastation and loss of lives in the recent Texas floods, especially those so young, truly breaks my heart, reminding me how so undeservedly blessed I am! . . . by His Grace alone I’ve been spared the unimaginable grief of losing a child. The enemy delights using…

  • Father’s Day Visitors

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    Fred D
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    Hope this Father’s Day was an extraspecial one for y’all. We were blessed with a visit from a local single Mom with her two younguns’ 😊 Be Blessed, and . . . Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!

  • Flight

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    Fred D
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    Since childhood flight has always fascinated me. Dreams of dueling it with the Red Barron in my biplane later morphed into Top Gun in my F/A-18 Super Hornet zooming through the skies blasting enemy pilots. My pilot dreams met reality in the USMC troubleshooting electronics aboard lumbering helicopters, and being awarded hearing aids for my…

  • Slime or Divine?

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    Fred D
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    Slime or Divine? Confession . . . I secretly and regularly check in on what my neighbors are up to . . . Relax!!!  I’m referring to my game-cams strewn around our property. Yesterday they captured 5 different feral friends – 1 insect, 3 birds, and Bubba, a hefty male bear frequent guest. According to…

  • Sanctuary

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    Fred D
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    As a child each summer was spent with my mother, siblings and grandparents at their cabin in Promised Land, PA . . . and indeed it was . . . my childhood sanctuary.  From sunup to sundown I delighted roaming its forests and streams . . . and a virtual little John Muir was born…