RIP Ranger Rick

I'm not sure how this news will be received by any and all who read my blog, but this afternoon I had my first hunting "encounter". I am unsure as to whether or not it even qualifies as hunting, but the end result is the same: a dead critter.

Now before everyone goes and gets all animal activistic on me, the animal was sick and I was putting it out of its misery, per the game warden's instructions. However, the fact remains the same that I did, in fact, shoot a racoon this afternoon. Mark it down. Here's how it all came about....

This morning when I woke up, I decided it would be a good day for some target practice, since it was almost seventy degrees today. So I drove to the property where we've been working all week and took my gun down in the woods to shoot. I was perched on a stump and aiming at a coke bottle when I heard some leaves rustle behind me. I knew it couldn't be anything really big or scary, but I was a little startled. I turned my head to see this coon sitting on a log, not two feet off the ground. I shot a couple more rounds off and he didn't move at all. I thought that was odd so I started climbing the embankment towards him to see if he was hurt or something like that. It's extremely odd for a wild coon to be out in the daytime for one, and not run away after hearing gun shots for another. Once I got to the top of the hill and was about ten feet away from the thing and it still didn't move, I knew it had to be hurt or sick. Now, by this time my boss and his son had arrived on the scene and they agreed with me that something had to be wrong with it. I mean, my boss at one point was petting the nasty beast! So we called the game warden and told him what the situation was and he explained that the coon was sick and needed to be killed and buried. So.....that's what I need. I shot it and it is now in the bottom of a hole in Pickens County. RIPRanger Rick!

The picture was taken before I shot it, obviously, but I was able to get about two feet from it to take the picture. I thought it would be best not to post the "after" picture. It wasn't a pretty sight, but then again dead things usually aren't aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I know this may change the opinion that some of you have of me, but I wanted to share my experience with all who will listen. And before you go getting worried that I've turned into some redneck, I've just got to say one thing......"GIT R DONE"!!!!

Stumphouse Tunnel

In the early 1950's, construction began on the Blue Ridge Rail Line project in an attempt to connect Charleston, SC to Knoxville, TN. By the late 1850's, the line reached Anderson, SC, but Stumphouse Mountain proved to be an obstacle. Irish immigrants began working 12 hours a day, six days a week, trying to get through the solid granite rock. Crews were digging at both ends of the tunnel, going merely 200 ft. per month, and cut 1600 ft. into the mountain when funds ran out in 1859. The economic crisis in post Civil War South Carolina meant there was no money available to complete the project and it remains unfinished to this day.

We found this little roadside gem completely by accident, but it turned out to be the coolest part about the day. We had to run back to the car and get a flashlight to go into the tunnel because it was so dark in there and even then it was a little freaky! The tunnel is huge, large enough for a train to fit through, and I was fascinated by the story behind it. One of the most interesting facts about the tunnel is that it remains 56 degrees, with 85% humidity, inside the tunnel year-round.

One last hurrah!

Since Leslie is leaving next month for her Appalachian Trail through-hike, we decided to go out on one last adventure. This is the first falls we hiked to and tt was a fairly easy, one hour hike. This is us at "Hidden Falls".
The final falls we hiked to was "Station Cove Falls" in Oconee Station State Park. This is me and Leslie at the base of "Station Cove Falls".
This is me at "Issaqueena Falls". There is a really cool legend behind this falls. It was actually named for a legendary Indian maiden. The falls are a 100 foot drop and one of the coolest falls I've seen yet.
I saw this tree and just had to hug it. I'm a little sore today and wishing I would have stretched out before I did it, but it was hilarious and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a real-life tree hugger!

Still sweating....

This past week I continued to work like a dog on the concrete patios, all three of them, and also putting in the rock pathway above. Some of the rocks were ginormous and carrying them down that hill was a little tough, but I think it turned out pretty well. The final stages on the patios are to scrub the rocks with a wire brush and get all the dried concrete off of them. Now there's a forearm workout.....I could crack a pecan in my forearm I think! I guess it's a valuable skill to know, should I ever need to install my own concrete patio. The final stages at this job are the landscaping and the top picture is the first phase of that: the front of the house. I continue to learn about and be thankful for the good gifts from my Father!

At Kristin Marcuccilli's request:

This is a pic of "Triple Falls" in North Carolina. Very cool!
This is "Looking Glass Falls" and it is actually right on the side of the road as you're driving through Pisgah National Forest. It's not just anywhere you can pull your car over and see something like this. And for the record....It was freezing down there at the base of the falls and Leslie didn't give me a countdown or anything before she took this lovely shot!
This is "High Falls" and was honestly one of the prettiest waterfalls I've seen to date. We were able to hike to the very top and sit pretty close to the edge. Leslie was gonna be brave and climb even closer to the edge, but after a little slippy slip on the rock face she decided against it. Smart girl!

He hideth my soul.....

The picture is a bit humorous, I know, but it really brought to my memory this old hymn...

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of his love,
And covers me there with his hand.

There are so many things in this world that threaten to steal my joy and my contentment, but it is refreshing to know that no matter what I am going through; no matter what comes into my life; no matter how low I feel.......my future is in His hands and His nail-pierced hands covers me and shield my life. And like my Daddy always taught me, "Nothing ever comes into my life that does not first pass through the permissive will of God".

A wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Lord.
A wonderful Savior to me!

One of our many adventures

I'll have to admit that I never cease to be amazed by the beauty of God's creation. Even if it takes you eight hours to be able to see it, it's worth every drop of sweat and cramp you have on the way!



After hiking for six hours straight, sometimes you just need to take a break and survey your surroundings. We call this one....."Lewis & Clark"!




I made Leslie take a picture of this mother of a mountain before we began our trek to the top. And let me just say that they don't call it Hospital Rock for nothing. Whew!

His perfect timing

After one month of unemployment, I'll have to admit that I was getting pretty discouraged about ever finding a job. I found myself pretty depleted financially and I was seriously beginning to worry about how I was going to make ends meet. Just when I found myself completely drained emotionally and extremely frustrated with my whole situation, my Abba stepped in and proved himself to me in a way that I have, up until then, never experienced. He opened a door for me to beginning working for a landscaping company here in Greenville and it was clear that He opened the door. He waited until the last minute to step in and show me that He was still in control and was looking after His child.

The picture above is of a stone patio that I helped install last week. We layed all the stones out and I grouted the whole thing in by hand, using a large concrete pastry bag. I am still paying the price of handling concrete with my bare hands....they're peeling like mad. I'm not sure I've ever worked so hard in my and that's taking into account all my years of bailing hay and shoveling horse manure. I am just overwhelmed and amazed by my Father's love and care. He knows exactly what I need and exactly when I need it. It talks about His looking out for us in Matthew and I can honestly say that I've seen it first hand. Our Heavenly Father knows what I need and wants to give me good gifts. I find rest and comfort in knowing that I can rest in my Father's care. Oh how sweet to trust in Jesus!