perspective

This is the view looking out of one of the windows of the Elizabethton Covered Bridge. From this perspective, you'd never know this scene is found in middle of downtown Elizabethton. Behind the bridge, is Edwards Island Park. This is the Elk Avenue Bridge, constructed in 1926. The bridge was scheduled for replacement, but public interest and outcry led to its recent rehabilitation. It is nearly identical to the nearby Broad Street Bridge, built in 1929, which was also recently repaired. Click photo to enlarge.

Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.
--Winnie the Pooh

Talk about putting things into perspective...here's a video of a comedian who does just that, saying: "Everything is amazing right now and nobody's happy." It's a fitting and funny video for the end of the "zeros" or whatever we'll someday call this decade!

Christmas Bells

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) American poet. The hymn above, entitled Christmas Bells, was composed by Longfellow on Christmas day, 1863 - in the midst of the Civil War and upon news that his son Charles had been wounded in battle.

More than a bell tower, the ETSU Carillon is really a musical instrument in that its 26 bells can be played using a keyboard. The bells, which were cast in Holland, are of various sizes -- the largest weighs 550 pounds, and the smallest weighs just 40 pounds. The 48 foot tall carillon was dedicated in 2005.

I love this video of Johnny and June Carter Cash!

a magical world

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
~Norman Vincent Peale

Roan Mountain in the snow (taken last winter).

Christmas every day

Wouldn't life be worth the living
Wouldn't dreams be coming true
If we kept the Christmas spirit
All the whole year through?
~Author Unknown

The main administrative building at Mountain Home (known now as the "VA Center" -- once called "The Old Soldier's Home"). Click here to learn more about Mountain Home.

Merry Christmas!

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
~Dr. Seuss

Children at Christmas

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.
~Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Covered Bridge in Elizabethton, TN, built in 1882. More photos and history here.

Tipton-Haynes

From the website of Tipton-Haynes Historic Site in Johnson City, TN:
"Contained within the large white house is the 25' x 35' log cabin of Col. John Tipton. The Tiptons enlarged the home and built a shed porch across the front of the house and built a separate kitchen. In the 1850s, Haynes changed the front porch to what is seen today and constructed his law office next to the house." More history here. And here is my previous post. The photo to the right is of the small law office.

Tips for Dog Training

This is a little out of left field for this blog, but I want to share some things I learned from Duke about dog training. This first started because I wanted to make a list of all the commands and tricks Duke knew (just for my sake), but then I realized that I had a lot of advice that I wanted to share (I guess that's the teacher in me). He was such a smart dog, able to quickly learn new things. Some breeds are known for being easier to train than others. My theory is that Duke learned quickly, not so much because he was unusually smart or an Australian Shepherd, because he was so motivated for treats! Here is a list of all the commands and tricks that Duke knew: Sit, down, off, shake, come, stay, drop, gentle, roll over, leave it, beg, bow, belly, crawl, stand, full belly stretch, rampage, speak, ring your bell, spin, under the bridge, say hello, figure eight, high five, circle, look, get on your rug, crate, kitty cat, someone here?, up, jump, ball, find it, hide and go seek, sneeze, dry off, kisses, cuddle, woof, come around, back, little bit, make it count, go to bed.

These are my top recommendations for dog owners who want to train their dogs:
1. Sign up for Obedience Classes. With Duke, we started with obedience training as a puppy -- which I recommend to every dog owner. There are classes for dogs of all ages. The training is not so much for the dog, but for the owner. It will teach you to understand and communicate with your furry friend. The training should begin as a puppy, but it shouldn't stop there. Many breeds require mental exercise just as much as physical exercise. For Duke it came from doing his tricks and from his favorite game, hide-and-go-seek. By the end of his life, he was able to find nearly 20 tennis balls well hidden throughout the house with most of the lights off. The obedience class didn't teach Duke how to do this -- but it gave me the knowledge as to how to teach my dog new tricks! Besides teaching you how to teach your dog, a good class will give your dog lots of opportunities to socialize with other dogs and people -- this is essential to developing well-adjusted canine citizens.

2. Be Consistent. It takes a great deal of consistency and patience to train a dog. It does little good for one family member to work with the dog while the rest of the family is inconsistent in their interactions with the dog. It takes each member of the household reiterating the training, the hand signals, the commands and the corrections in a consistent manner. For this reason, every family member should attend the obedience classes.

3. Be Realistic. People think obedience classes will 'fix' their dog. That's ridiculous. If your dog is acting out then it will take time to correct the unwanted behavior. And chances are the class won't 'fix' your dog. That's not its purpose. The purpose of the class is to give you the training and tools needed to begin to change in your dog. It's unfair to expect your dog to learn fifty commands right away. Work on one, one at a time. It might take a week or more before your dog will consistently respond to a given command. Even then, you'll have to continually reinforce the command over a period of weeks. Be willing to put in the time.

4. Keep it Fun. For the training to be effective, it has to be fun for the dog. If you create a stressful situation where the dog is scolded at -- you'll quickly teach the dog to shut down. Celebrate every success, no matter how small the progress. And never let your training sessions last over ten minutes.

5. Praise, not Punishment. This is where many if not most dog owners get it wrong. Training is about teaching the dog to respond consistently to your commands -- and this is best done by positive reinforcement. That isn't to say that a strong "NO" is never in order. But if that's your main approach to training, you're in for some frustration and disappointment. Just as children thrive and respond best to positive reinforcement, so do dogs.

6. Use Rewards. It takes very, very little to reward a dog. The key is to find something that really motivates your dog. If it's hot dogs, then cut up a couple hot dogs into dozens of little pieces and keep them in a small bag in the fridge. Soft treats work best, because the dogs are able to instantly swallow them without taking five minutes to lick up the crumbs. For Duke, I would buy Pup-Peroni and cut it up with scissors into very small (eraser sized) pieces. Eventually, it took less and less treats and time to teach him as he and I got the hang of it.

7. Learn Sign Language. Believe it or not, your dog's native language is not English. It's sad to see people yelling commands at a puppy and getting infuriated because the somehow the 8 week old puppy has yet to master English. Your pup will learn the hand signal for each command much sooner than the spoken command. So if you're consistent with the sign used for each requested action, your dog will learn the command much sooner. So it's important to make sure each family member knows what hand signals to use for each command. Eventually the spoken word will become associated with the action, but that comes later.

8. Start with the Basics. The most important commands your dog needs to master are sit, down, off, drop, gentle, come, stay and leave it. These basic commands are necessary for your sanity and your dog's protection. I think all are obvious except for the 'gentle' command -- this is teaching the dog to gently take treats from your hand without chomping down on your fingers!

Hope this helps someone out there! What really got me going on this today is that I went to the dog shelter this afternoon - which was very helpful - although it was very sad walking by the cage where we first saw Duke. But it also got me thinking about someday welcoming another dog into my home. I miss his gentle presence in this house and his companionship every day. I appreciate all of your notes and encouragement this past month.

(My thanks to Lee for taking and sharing the above photo of Duke and I!)

Don't let your fire go out

In the name of the best within you, do not sacrifice this world to those who are its worst. In the name of the values that keep you alive, do not let your vision of man be distorted by the ugly, the cowardly, the mindless in those who have never achieved his title. Do not lose your knowledge that man's proper estate is an upright posture, an intransigent mind and a step that travels unlimited roads. Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it's yours.
--Ayn Rand (1905-1982) Russian born American Writer and Philosopher

The winter wonderland outside my house following this weekend's 7" snowfall.

early home

Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat.
~Author Unknown

The Carter Mansion, Elizabethton, TN. Click here to learn more about his historic home, built in the 1770s.

shivering

To do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in, and scramble through as well as we can.
--Sydney Smith (1771-1845) English clergyman and writer

This quote fits those early settlers who dared, risked, struggled and prevailed at Fort Watauga in present-day Elizabethton, TN. The above fort is a replica built in the mid-1970s in anticipation of the nation's bicentennial.

2010 Appalachian Treks Calendar

Sold Out! Thanks for your interest and support of my photography! If you're interested in purchasing a print as a gift or for your home or office, please visit my gallery at www.markwpeacock.com. The 2010 Appalachian Treks Calendar. This twelve-month calendar features a different image each month of a beautiful scene from the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. The calendar is full-color, spiral bound, measures approximately 11"x17" when opened, and is printed on high-quality card stock.

Toms Spring Falls

This Transylvania County waterfall is widely known as Daniel Ridge Falls (and occasionally referred to as Jackson Falls), but from what I've read in Kevin Adam's book North Carolina Waterfalls (and from Internet sources), that name is incorrect. Daniel Ridge is located well to the northwest of this waterfall - and this waterfall is not located on Daniel Ridge Creek. The correct name is Toms Spring Falls. But regardless of its name, everyone can agree that this is an awesome waterfall. It might not necessarily show in my photos, but at 100 feet tall this is a 'wow' waterfall. And it's another one in the Brevard, NC area that is easy to get to. Secluded in the woods, it's difficult to photograph, but well worth the effort to see in person.

If you're looking extend your hike, you can take the "moderately difficult" Daniel Ridge Loop Trail to the upper falls, described here.

Directions: From the intersection of N.C. Route 280 and U.S. Routes 64 and 275 outside of Brevard turn north on Route 276 and drive for 5.2 miles, take a left onto F.R. 475 and drive 3.9 miles to a large parking area on your right, immediate after you cross over the Davidson River. Park here. Once on the trail, you'll immediately cross over an impressive bridge, soon after you'll come to a fork in the road, turn right. The grade of this trail is gentle for a reason - it was once a railroad bed. Continue on this trail for 0.4 miles to the falls, which will be on your left (immediately before you get to the falls, you'll pass by the Daniel Ridge Loop Trail on your left). The best place to 'take it all in' is from the trail, but you can also take a side trail that leads up to the falls. Total distance to the falls: less than 1/2 mile.

Slick Rock Falls

From the looks of things, Slick Rock Falls is aptly named. When we arrived, we were startled to find a dead deer at the base of the falls. I suppose it died when it fell from cliff above. Sorry for the disturbing photo, I tried to obscure the deer as much as possible -- I actually had planned on removing the deer via Photoshop, but then I realized that it pretty much tells the story of a place named Slick Rock Falls. To add insult to injury, this was a large buck and some idiot crudely removed the antlers from the animal. Even without the dead deer to work around, it was still a difficult waterfall to capture, the bright afternoon sun doing nothing to help the situation! Click here to see some beautiful, much less disturbing photos taken of the falls under better conditions.

Slick Rock is an easy-to-get-to waterfall near Brevard, NC. This time of year, it can be seen through the trees from the road. A short trail takes you past a kiosk and then the trail splits, the right fork leads to the base of the 30' falls. The left fork, by the way, leads to the base of Looking Glass Rock, a popular destination for rock climbers. During dry months, Slick Rock Falls is reduced to a mere trickle, so this is one you want to visit during the spring or after some heavy rains. I'm also told that this is one of the better waterfalls to visit in the winter to see icicles hanging along the edge of the cliff.

Directions: From the intersection of N.C. Route 280 and U.S. Routes 64 and 275 outside of Brevard, turn north on Route 276 and drive for 5.2 miles, take a left onto F.R. 475 and drive 1.5 miles. Turn right onto the F.R. 475B, which is a gravel road, and drive 1.1 miles to a roadside parking area on your right immediately after a sharp left curve in the road.

Moore Cove Falls

Above: Jesse and Buddha admire Moore Cove Falls.

Just up the road from Looking Glass Falls is this beautiful 50' waterfall located in the deep woods. Moore Creek is very small, so you'll want to visit after we've had some heavy rains. And if we've had some rains, you'll be thankful for all the little footbridges and board walks that have been constructed along the 0.7 mile trail. Winter is a great time to visit. When we visited there were still a few icicles hanging off the overhanging rock ledge. I love this photo of the falls in the winter time when the falling water created what looks like an ice volcano at the base of the falls. It's a terrific waterfall to photograph as you can approach it from various angles and heights. Walking behind the falls offers a unique perspective. More descriptions and photos here, here and here.

Directions: After visiting Looking Glass Falls, continue north on Rt. 276 for 1 mile, there is a roadside parking area and kiosk located right in front of a stone bridge over Looking Glass Creek. The trail (marked with yellow dots) begins by crossing the foot bridge located at the north end of the parking area, from there, the trail will parallel Looking Glass Creek before turning up Moore Creek.

Another Nearby Waterfall: Sliding Rock Falls. This is a very popular swimming destination (more of a slide than a waterfall), 1.1 miles north on Rt. 276 from Moore Cove Falls.

Looking Glass Falls

With some 250 waterfalls, Transylvania County, NC (which is south of Asheville) is known as "The Land of Waterfalls" -- if you love waterfall hunting, this is the place to go. There are a number of helpful websites to help plan your journey: an interactive map, photo galleries of various falls, and ncwaterfalls.com contains photos and detailed directions. But by far the best guide to the area is Kevin Adam's book, North Carolina Waterfalls.

I remember somebody once looking at one of my waterfall photos and asking me, "Can you see it from your car?" Which cracked me up, not only because the hike to that particular waterfall was actually quite rigorous, but because in a way, she was saying, "I'd really like to see that, but only if I don't have to get out and actually walk." Well, Looking Glass Falls is the waterfall for her. It is one of the most accessible waterfalls to be found anywhere. For those who love nature but don't want to set foot in it, here is a waterfall you can actually see from your car! For the truly ambitious, there are a number of stairs leading down to the base of this spectacular waterfall.

Looking Glass Falls is a 60 foot free-fall on Looking Glass Creek found outside of the city of Brevard, NC. Its beauty, power and accessibility make it one of North Carolina's most popular waterfalls. If planning a trip to the area, you should also consider visiting other nearby waterfalls: Moore Cove Falls, Sliding Rock Falls, Slick Rock Falls, Cove Creek Falls and Daniel Ridge Falls (aka Toms Spring Falls).

Directions: From the intersection of N.C. Route 280 and U.S. Routes 64 and 275 outside of Brevard, turn north on Route 276 and drive for 5.6 miles to a long, narrow roadside parking area on the right.

kindle a light

As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.

--Carl Jung (1875-1961) Swiss psychiatrist

Another Doe River Gorge shot from last weekend. I always enjoy photographing the two tunnels there - there's something about the contrast of light and dark and the curving lines that just works for me. I can't image how difficult it was in the early 1880s to construct the "Tweetsie Railroad" from Johnson City, TN to Cranberry, NC. Those at Doe River Gorge Ministries have done a wonderful job restoring and preserving their section of the railroad. Click here to see a similar shot taken in autumn.

never too old

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
--C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) British Scholar and Novelist

saving its best for last

How beautiful the leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.
--John Burroughs (1837-1921), naturalist and essayist

These are the last of the red leaves I found in the woods. It looks like poison ivy, but I don't think it is -- because poison ivy doesn't have serrated edges. But anyway, whatever it is, it saved its beauty for one last autumn show.

Details: Nikon D90 with Tamron 90mm macro lens, 1/60 sec. f/3.5 ISO 1600.

Finish. Find. Live.

To finish the moment, to find the journey's end in every step of the road, to live the greatest number of good hours, is wisdom.
–Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American philosopher and writer

a great adventure

Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
–William Blake (1757-1827) English poet and painter

A rustic cabin sits on the banks of the Doe River in the beautiful and majestic Doe River Gorge outside of Hampton, TN. Click here to learn more about the adventure camps and ministry of Doe River Gorge.

winter thrill

When I no longer thrill to the first snow of the season, I'll know I'm growing old.
–Lady Bird Johnson (1912-2007)

battered is better

I prefer the rather old and battered, things with character, to the brand new.
--Rick Allen (b.1963) musician

sorrow and delight

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
--Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) Lebanese American writer and philosopher

I'm really glad that I have lots and lots of photos of Duke to remind me of all the good times and adventures we had. And rather than bore you with a new photo of Duke each day for the next several months, I thought I'd share some of my favorites today. He was a beautiful, smart, fun dog, and a wonderful companion. My thanks to everyone who sent emails or left comments giving me words of encouragement and support. I'm also grateful to my friend Lee, who also put together a slideshow which you can see here.

smiling through the sadness

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
--Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991) American Writer and Cartoonist