can't you see the sunshine, can't you feel the moonshine...

since sunday evening following a severe thunderstorm we have not had internet connection. as a matter of fact, we didn't have water (we are on a well) or cable or phone service. the irrigation timer was blown off the garage wall by a lightning strike that ran from our neighbor's tree through some valve boxes and into the garage. really amazing power. as of this afternoon after two days of repairmen all in the house and out, we are squared away again. grateful we are-- it could have been much worse. two of our neighbors lost their well pumps and ours is fine.

this vacation trip journal has unexpectedly stretched into several days and has now become the vacation treatise. I will spare you 'much words' tonight and share some remaining highlights with some captions and photos.

hubby and i chose the 2 mile leisurely hike up and back whiteside for the acclaimed views and wildflowers and butterflies and hopefully a peregrine falcon sighting. unfortunately we didn't see the falcons who are known to nest in the cliffs, but happily there were lots of other small birds of all sorts. no great photos though.

the trail was full with wildflowers aplenty and since i was ambitiously practicing with my camera i took loads of photos.

even though this photo is not spectacular, i was so thrilled with being able to capture a snap of this rapidly flitting, teeny (maybe 1/4 inch) blue butterfly i am posting it anyway. don't know its identity so anyone out there that knows... would love some assistance. i often had to catch up with hubby as i strayed behind snapping the many butterflies we saw.

we made it to the top and this handsome guy was there. :-) the views were outstanding -- only the day was very hazy. we asked a local about it and he reminded us, "these are the blue ridge mountains after all, they are often hazy this time of year."

we visited several waterfalls. this one is called dry falls. interesting. why would any waterfall be called dry? although as a matter of fact, we were told that all the falls currently were lacking some magnificence due to the shortage of rain this season. in my view all waterfalls are magnificent and most powerful.

the trip home was by way of tallahassee over our final weekend where we saw our son and his wife again. also our oldest son and his family came up from tampa. it was the perfect end to a wonderful time away from the ordinary.

A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in. ~Robert Orben