PineTree Blog

Canna

2008-08-16T20:47:00.002-04:00

A solid red Canna growing in our flower bed. Canna is the only member of the Cannacea family. The word Canna comes from the Celtic word for cane or reed.

2008-07-12T20:35:00.002-04:00

I saw this barn just North of Cold Mountain (yes, That Cold Mountain). I liked the way the artist made it look like the horses were looking out of a window.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY ! !

2008-07-04T09:27:00.002-04:00

A lady on a radio talk show brought up a good point the other day. She said we in America, should not be saying "Happy 4th of July". Instead, we should say "Happy Independence Day". She made her point this way. We don't say "Merry December 25th", or "Happy January 1st". I am guilty as I am sure almost everyone else is. So this year I am going to do it correctly.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY ! !

Mountain Rhodo

2008-05-29T23:31:00.003-04:00

Snapped this one at Smokemont information center at the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Vacation May 2008 Despite High Gas Prices

2008-05-27T19:22:00.003-04:00

My wife Sharon and I took a much needed vacation a couple of weeks ago. Thursday May 15th, we headed West on I-40 bound for Asheville, NC. We spent the night in Asheville, and toured Biltmore House Friday. That is one Gimongous house. and well worth the visit. I hope to go back sometime during Christmas. The "Festival Of Flowers" was going on while we were there. I got some photos of the flowers, but I need to work on those before I post them. I never claimed to be a great photographer just someone who likes to take pictures. That afternoon, we made our way to the wonderfully small town of Waynesville, NC, where we stayed at the Windover Inn Bed & Breakfast Friday and Saturday night. (There was a Gingerbread couple on the pillows YUM!) The place was all we hoped it would be. A restored three story home (circa 1883) furnished with period furniture (if you don't count the hot tub--which by the way was wonderful after hiking in the Smoky Mountains). We did go up into the Smokies on Saturday, and visited Clingman's dome. Fifteen years ago when we were there last, the 1/2 mile trail to the observation tower seemed much easier. I wonder why that is? There are five benches about one hundred yards apart on the trail to the top. We hit all five, and a couple of large rocks before we made it there. I have to say however, I saw some considerably younger people huffing and puffing as well.
To get to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we had to go through the Cherokee Indian Reservation. When I was a kid and had my picture taken with an "Indian Chief", I don't remember him wearing cool shades like those I saw being sported by some of the befeathered "Chiefs" this time.
We wound up our too short stay Sunday morning, by taking a side trip just seven miles outside Waynesville to as close as we could get to the base of Cold Mountain. Yes, the one the book and Movie are named for(see photo). All in all I highly recommend this part of North Carolina if you get the chance to visit. Just bring some comortable shoes, and a light jacket or sweater, even in the summer. Believe me, you will be glad you did in the higher elevations.

Smokies Website

2008-05-03T15:51:00.005-04:00

I was browsing the net and found a pretty neat site. www.gosmokies.ning.com. Here, you can read Smoky Mtn. vacation stories, view photos, etc. If you like the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then you will enjoy this site.
Have fun, I did.

2008-04-15T21:09:00.006-04:00

Lately, my posting seems to be weather related. The last one celebrated a much needed rain. This one however celebrates the fact that a tornado did not hit my house. I will admit it passed six miles away, but that is about one hundred miles to close for me. The photo shows the gathering storm clouds Saturday. What I thought was going to be an ordinary thunderstorm, turned out to be one on steroids. About three PM, Sharon called me from across town (visiting with a friend just out of the hospital) and asked if I had heard about the tornado. What tornado? I turned on the tube and there it was indicated on the radar very close by. Then there were reports that it was on the ground. Time to head for that room without windows I thought. I looked out the bedroom window and saw what looked like smoke. It was in reality, a wall of very hard rain, moving very fast. It reminded me of a wave on the ocean.
As it turned out this was a wimpy one as tornadoes go. It was over very quickly and was an F-0 with 75 mph winds. It was enough however, to rip the top from a mobile home, roll another over and into a third, and uproot some gimongous trees. Fortunately no one was hurt. A second tornado (also small thank goodness) touched down about twenty miles to the north a few minutes later. Minor damage there and also no one injured. I tried to find someone with pictures of the funnel cloud, but could not. It was said to be about one hundred yards wide. Again, small as tornadoes go, but big enough for me.

A Good Soaking

2008-04-06T00:13:00.006-04:00

We got a good all day soaking rain Saturday. When I checked the rain gauge around 5:30 in the afternoon, I found we had received 2 1/2" since the previous night. Things have been pretty dry during the fall and into the early spring. Many cities including Goldsboro had enacted water restrictions. There have been a few days in the past few weeks during which time a cloud or two sprung a leak, but nothing like this. It rained all day. I told Sharon that I was thinking of stocking Bass in the puddle beside our driveway. For all those who needed it, I hope ya'll got a good rain too.

Ginger Bread Man Road Kill?

2008-04-03T22:28:00.002-04:00

I came across this chalk drawing on a rural road Near Pink Hill. I wonder if maybe a giant ginger bread man got run down. Wouldn't it be weird if it was a milk truck?

Cliffs Of The Neuse State Park

2008-04-03T16:53:00.004-04:00

View of the Neuse River taken from atop the cliff.
I stopped by on the way home this afternoon. It seemed like I had the
entire park to myself (well, there were a few squirrels there too- and it is a large park).
A gentle drizzle and 50 degree temps probably had a little to do with
the solitude.

Spring Getting Showy

2008-04-02T12:54:00.001-04:00

Mother nature is trying out her new wardrobe. This Wisteria was hanging over a fence in Johnston County. I love this time of year in North Carolina. The air is getting fragrant. If I didn't have these darn allergies, I could enjoy it more.

2008-04-01T00:03:00.004-04:00

"The sun was warm but the wind was chill
You know how it is with an April day.
When the sun is out and the wind is still
You're one month on in the middle of May
But if you so much as dare to speak,
a cloud come over the sunlit arch,
And wind comes off a frozen peak
And you're two months back in the middle of March."
-Robert Frost

2008-03-29T23:14:00.000-04:00

UNC 83
LOUISVILLE 73

GO HEELS ! !

Good Night for basketball

2008-03-29T13:14:00.003-04:00

Tis a gray day here in Goldsboro. The temps are in the upper forties, and the wind has a little nip to it. Yuck!! It will be a fine night to stay home and watch the UNC Tarheels defend their record against a tough Louisville team. Louisville is ranked third in the NCAA standings and will probably take a serious game to the number one Heels. I believe however, that Carolina will prevail.

Re: Daffodil Festival

2008-03-28T09:09:00.003-04:00

Silly me, I forgot to mention that it is this Saturday March 29th 2008. Get more info at www.fremontdaffodilfestival.com

Daffodil Festival

2008-03-28T08:54:00.002-04:00

Hopefully the weather will cooperate for the 2008 Daffodil Fesitval just a few miles north of Goldsboro in Fremont. They will have beach music, rides for the kids, and let's not forget fried turkey legs and wonderful hot dogs. It may be a bit cool with highs predicted in the upper 50's (after 80 degrees today) but put on your sweater and head out it will be fun.

2008-03-28T07:30:00.002-04:00

Thanks Amy. You have the distinction of being my first reply since I returned to the blog.
My brother is a UNC-Wilm. graduate and though I went to Mount Olive College I have been a Tarheel fan since I can remember. My wife Sharon and I graduated high school together, and Dave Odom was one of our teachers at Goldsboro Senior High School (that tells you how long ago it was when we were in high school). For that reason, she was a Wake Forest fan for the longest time, but I converted her. We both get down on the floor and try to coach through the TV when there is a tight game.

I'm Back!

2008-03-27T22:14:00.000-04:00

Well, here I am back with the blog. I had laid it down for a while but after visiting so many good blogs in particular Blue Ridge Blog, Atlantic Ave., and Gnumoon's blog, I decided to give it another try. I will be trying to post some of my feeble attempts at photography (pales beside the rest), and to update you on the goings on here in eastern North Carolina.
One bit of news I am proud to report, is that the UNC Tarheels have advanced in the NCAA Tournament by beating a very good Washington State team.
Until later.
Brantley