Joy and Wonder

"In the woods too, a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period soever of life, is always a child. In the woods, is perpetual youth"

"Standing on the bare ground,--my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space,--all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or parcel of God."

There are so many quotations by Emerson that I love. These two from Nature are among those favorites. For me, a day in the woods is a day filled with joy. Any concerns and worries are diminished. And the mountains fill me with wonder.

You know I love hiking, and Monday was a perfect day--sunny and temperatures in the 60s. So we headed out Monday morning to Newfound Gap at the Tennessee and North Carolina border,where Franklin Roosevelt dedicated the Smoky Mountain National Park 75 years ago. We hiked along the Appalachian Trail. We talked briefly to a thru-hiker. I say briefly because his pace was much faster than ours as he was hiking his 20 miles for the day. (And I was proud of my 8 miles:)) He started the 1900 miles of the AT in Maine in June and is scheduled to finish in Georgia in 2 1/2 weeks. I so admire those who hike the entire AT, but I am quite happy to hike parts of it.

This is one of those views that fill me with wonder.

This outcrop was our destination.

It's called----

Here's the story behind the name. In 1929, mountaineer Horace Kephart and others stopped at this point. Supposedly, a man named Charlie removed his shoe. When Kephart saw the similarities between Charlie's afflicted foot and the rock formation, he said he was going to put Charlie's bunion on the map.

Here's another view of Charlie's Bunion.

And my husband on top

And me near the top

Some views from Charlie's Bunion

The highest mountain in this next photo is Mount Leconte,at 6,593 feet the third highest mountain in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

And now a little Christmas joy and wonder.

I adore Webster's Pages Petite Papers. They are gorgeous! I just want to thumb through them, and I feel I can't add anything to the beauty of these papers. But I make myself use them.For this card I stamped a flourish and added a glittery snowflake. Super easy!

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And a second card to add to the Christmas stash.

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:

Joy and Wonder

Stamps: Fancy Flourishes,Holiday Wishes (PTI)

Ink: Ocean Tides (PTI)

Paper: Petite Papers Holiday Collection(Webster's Pages), Ocean Tides,Stampers Select White (PTI)

Other: Create a Flake 1 (Spellbinders), glitter

Warm Winter Wishes

Stamp: Vintage Christmas (Clear Art Stamps), Stocking Prints, Holiday Wishes (PTI)

Ink: Ripe Avocado (PTI)

Paper: Petite Papers Holiday Collection(Webster's Pages), Sweet Blush,Vintage Cream, Stampers Select White (PTI)

Other: Labels 4 (Spellbinders), Flower Die(Cuttlebug), Smoky Quartz Glitter (Martha Stewart),Vintage Cream Button (PTI)