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This tree had once stood guard over a spring in a forest not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. The winter storm a couple of weeks ago toppled this old sentinel -- creating a bit of abstract art.
These tall poplar trees survived the winds and heavy snow, but so many trees were downed -- making it difficult to hike the trails.
Not many towns can boast a waterfall right in the city center -- so I was amazed when I visited Greenville and saw the Reedy River Falls.
When in Greenville -- a must see is the Museum of Art. Check out the Andrew Wyeth collection.
The little town of Marshall, NC escaped the flood waters the day after Christmas. This photo was taken on Blannehassett Island -- which is prone to flooding -- but like Marshall -- stayed dry. The awesome power of the water was very much on display today -- there was a constant rumbling sound as huge stones in the river bed where pushing around by the water like tiny pebbles.
Hiking is something I always look forward to when I come home to western North Carolina. I attempted the Rich Mountain hike on Christmas Eve, but high winds on the ridges made it extremely dangerous with dead limbs falling all around me. I turned back.
The snow melt had created some amazing waterfalls on both sides of the river.
And the plant life loved the water!
Tim-Berrrr! The beavers decided to take a break.
As I stood on a hillside looking into a pine thicket covered with 15 inches of snow -- there was a large snapping sound -- followed by a small storm of snow rising above the trees. This scene was repeated throughout the afternoon today -- as the heavy snow kept snapping the tops out of the pine trees -- releasing an evergreen smell onto the hillside. 
I'd never seen "mounds" until my trip along the length of the Natchez Trace Parkway. I encountered the Pharr Mounds about 20 miles or so north of Tupelo, Mississippi. They were constructed some 2000 years ago -- during excavations at this site -- cremated and unburned remains were found -- along with ceremonial artifacts. Many of these artifacts, including stones and other objects are not from Mississippi -- indicating the people who constructed these mounds -- had trading networks.
As I turned left off Canal Street in Natchez onto Highway 61, Mississippi Fred McDowell was playing on my Ipod. I was ready for my trip up the famous blues highway to the town of Clarksdale -- the place where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil -- at the Crossroads.
I got goosebumps when McDowell's 61 Highway came on the player -- I'd forgotten it was on the Ipod. Then, it was B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton and Howlin' Wolf -- doing Highway 49.
I highly recommend this trip up to Clarksville -- and the Delta Blues Museum is a must-see for Blues fans -- lunch at Abe's BBQ topped off the short visit -- Abe's is located right at the legendary crossroads of Rt 49 and 61.
Rowan Oak, the house where William Faulkner lived, is not an easy place to find. He wanted it that way. He was something of a hermit and it was stipulated that when the house was converted into a museum there would be no signs pointing the way. As a museum staffer told me "you have to really want to find it."
In Oxford, itself, the county courthouse dominates the little square in the center of town. Faulkner wrote of the courthouse in Requiem for a Nun: "tall as cloud, solid as rock, dominating all."
When in Oxford -- check out Ajax Restaurant on the square -- great catfish and fried okra.
Day two of a trip down the Natchez-Trace Parkway included a stop in Tupelo, Mississippi and a visit to the birthplace of Elvis. It's a two-room "shotgun shack" as the tour guide described it. She said someone could stand at the front door and fire a shotgun through the house and out the backdoor.
In the gift shop, you can buy a refrigerator magnet -- Made in China -- for five bucks. I passed.
Meriwhether Lewis met his death in this house along the Natchez Trace on October 11, 1809 at Hohenwald, Tennessee. His death occurred late at night. The circumstances of his death remain a mystery -- was it suicide or was he murdered?
A cold, blustery day in Nashville. First visit in more than 20 years and first-ever visit to the Ryman Auditorium.
Australian Peacekeepers are a common sight around Dili. Admittedly, it is still a bit unsettling to see automatic weapons carried on the street -- and in restaurants.
Imagine coming home from work and finding a metal fence around your apartment building. When you attempt to go through the fence, security guards forcefully refuse to allow you inside.
According to press reports in Azerbaijan, it happened to Gurban Aliyev and the other residents of 95/97 Neftyanik Avenue – which is near the historic Maiden Tower – at the edge of Baku’s old walled city.
Aliyev says “all our stuff is in the apartments.” She said several days earlier, water, gas and power to the apartment building was suspended. She says the city plans to demolish the building. Aliyev says some residents have been driven to despair and are threatening to throw themselves off the top of the multi-story Maiden Tower.
Police apparently anticipated such a move, the Maiden Tower is closed and is guarded by police.
The deputy of Azerbaijan’s ruling party, Aydyn Hasanov, has a novel way of saving money. He’s proposing that parliamentary elections scheduled for 2010 be postponed until after the war in Nagorno Karabakh – an area claimed by Azerbaijan, but occupied by Armenia.
“The draft budget for fiscal year 2010 allocates 50 million manat (62 million US dollars) for elections. We cannot afford ourselves such a luxury during the world economic crisis,” Hasanov said on Friday during a discussion of the draft budget for fiscal year 2010. He went on to say “all deputies, including me, are worthy people. Why do we need to conduct elections? Do you think people will elect someone better than we are?”
Ali Ahmadov, the deputy chairman of the ruling party, Yeni Azerbaijan, said Hasanov was making a joke. He said parliamentary elections will be conducted in 2010.
The Parliament is a rubber stamp for President Ilham Aliyev.
