The creation of Lake Norman, located near Charlotte, North Carolina, began in September 1959 with the detonation of a single charge of dynamite to mark the start of construction on the Cowans Ford Dam and the lake that would follow. The purpose of the lake was to provide water and electricity, with the total cost to Duke Power reaching $62 million—equivalent to approximately $500 million today. As farmlands flooded, a 32,500-acre lake was formed, complete with 520 miles of shoreline. Although most of Lake Norman's shoreline is private property, Lake Norman State Park (formerly Duke Power State Park) offers 1,942 acres of public land, located 39 miles north of Charlotte. The park is beautiful, offering miles of hiking trails, including some that run along the shoreline. Visitors can enjoy a swimming beach, boat ramp, community building, nature center, and camping facilities. The park is meticulously maintained and provides modern amenities for campers and visitors. The educational...

  I cut my hike short, returning to the campground to escape the blustering, cold January beach wind. Once behind the dunes, the winds subsided, and as I sat at a picnic table before I went inside the camper, I looked up, and there he was!  Nestled into the fan-shaped leaves. Dark green pointed evergreen palm branches framed his desired body, creating a background to show him off. The common cardinal had transformed into a tropical treasure. Perfectly posed on a Palmetto Palm at Myrtle Beach State Park.  

Driving on the Virginia Beach boardwalk is permitted this holiday season. A perfect stream of lights features animated creatures of the sea, Santa surfing, traditional Christmas trees, a gingerbread house, flying reindeer, a tribute to the U.S. Navy, prancing seahorses, and dancing dolphins. A six-hundred-foot finale through a strobing LED tunnel completes the lighted tour. This exciting visual finale is way too complex for me to capture in a still sketch, so I am drawn (pun intended) to the creatures of the sea – the shark with her strobing fin along with Nessie from down under making a lighted Loch Ness Monster appearance.   Driving, making memories - a fun time at the beach on a cold holiday night. 

Holliday Lake State Park in Central Virginia is a serene Piedmont park tucked away from traffic noise and nestled beside the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest. The Red Bud Campground welcomes tent campers and smaller RVs, while the Laurel Ridge Campground accommodates overnight camping for a few larger RVs over 30 feet long. The park's forest boasts a rich array of native trees. During our fall hike, we saw the peak of the deciduous tree colors, their leaves so brilliant. The oaks line the Lakeshore Trail, showcasing these majestic trees in their natural environment. The black oaks display broad, leathery leaves that turn a striking golden yellow-brown, while the white oaks feature rounded leaf lobes, distinct from the pointed lobes of other oaks. The red oaks, with their irregular pointed lobes, set them apart. The trees' diversity and varying leaf patterns highlight the richness of Virginia’s forests. 

  Blue ridged mountains appliqued to skies Billowing white clouds   Sunbeams streamed down to fields Booming with grapes, apples, peaches, and muscadines   Sweet fruits ripened to perfection Offering nectars of goodness   Meads, wines, and spirits Tastings in the blue ridged mountains   This poem was inspired by a summer 2024 Harvest Host visit to the Peaks of Otter Winery. The tastings were sweet, the views excellent, and the family welcoming. 

It's August in Virginia, and the coneflowers are blooming! They make me jubilant enough to sketch a fun picture and head to our family's favorite ice cream parlor. Upon returning home, I began researching a summer blog post about the coneflower, Echinacea purpurea. A member of the daisy family would make this flower a friendly addition to sunny gardens. It likes to have 6 hours or more of sun but may survive along the sunny edge of a gently wooded garden. These flowers add color and texture to a border or as an accent within the garden. These hardy perennials are drought-resistant and withstand heat and humidity. It is easy to grow and may be divided in fall or spring. This plant has beauty and magic. The coneflower has medicinal properties, cultural significance, and spiritual symbolism. Some refer to the Coneflower as America’s favorite wildflower. The American Indians considered the Coneflower a sacred plant because of its healing powers. It is symbolic of strength and healt...