Optimistic About the Future

 

In these tumultuous times, we need to be, more than ever, optimistic about the future.

We need to be and stay positive; we need to look at what's good in life.

When I look around where I live, I see entrepreneurs opening businesses, like the new milkshake and baked goods shop in Abingdon, Virginia, named Shaked!

Love the Logo!

Love the Ice Cream, Too!

FYI-Shaked!, 284 W. Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia

Also in Abingdon, a new convenience store, Royal Farms, is now being built.

A couple of days ago, Greg and I visited Warriors Path State Park in Kingsport, Tennessee. While there, we saw the newly renovated marina with a new restaurant and upgraded boat docks. Lots of other people were also there. They seemed happy, enjoying the warm weather.

Greg on the Deck of the Marina

While there, we took a stroll around the park,

"And what is so rare as a day in June?"-James Russell Lowell

and we were lucky enough to see this deer-

that didn't seem to mind that people were around.

Last month, for the first time, we visited Grayson Highlands State Park, about an hour's drive from our house in Southwest Virginia.

The altitude is so high there that most of the leaves were not out yet, but it was still very picturesque-

Black bears and even wild ponies reside there. 

The world is so beautiful. We just need to take time and enjoy it, by ourselves and/or with the people we love.

Also, when you look for the good, you are bound to find it.

I'm optimistic about people because, for the most part, they know what's really going on.

I was recently in a beauty shop, and the people there were discussing current events, and they seemed really savvy about things.

"...know the truth, and the truth will set you free."-John 8:32

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."-Abraham Lincoln 

Many people are attending church or watching services on television or on the Internet, and they know the power of prayer.

I just like to always remember that love overcomes hate, light overcomes darkness, and that positive is more powerful than negative.

We are truly in a spiritual battle of good versus evil for our souls and for the soul of our nation and even for the soul of the world, but we are winning. 

Good always wins!

Thankfully, we have a bright future ahead of us. We just need to keep the faith!

Positive thought: "The greatest power that God has given to any individual is the power of prayer."-Kathryn Kuhlman

Thanks for visiting! Until Saturday, July 1, 2023, Becky

 

Picturesque Abingdon, Virginia

Welcome!

Greg and I had a very busy Labor Day weekend (as I'm sure was the same for many of you), so I'm running behind on my projects, including this blog post!

This is a post that I believe you will really enjoy. It's about a place, a town, that you may or may not have ever visited. If you haven't yet been there, you might want to put it on your to-do list of places you'd like to go and see.

The name of this town is Abingdon which is located in Southwest Virginia.

Abingdon is beautiful, very picturesque.

It is the epitome of art and culture.

Which can be seen on the streets...

as well as at the annual...

 which is held in August.

There are high-quality arts and crafts galore.

There are several refreshment stands with delicious food.

A strawberry smoothie, anyone?

Right next door to the festival is the elegant Martha Washington Inn...

which is also known as...

The grounds are lovely-

You might want to just relax and enjoy,...

the sights and sounds of Abingdon,

or you might want to play a rousing game of croquet.

Later, you could have a tasty supper there, and even spend the night in one of the beautiful rooms.

Before turning in, however, be sure to take in one of the excellent professional productions at the famous Barter Theatre which is just a stone's throw from The Martha.

The Barter Theatre

The Barter has some wonderful productions. "Wait Until Dark" which starred Audrey Hepburn in the movie version is coming soon. Greg and I are planning to go see "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" in October which is one of my very favorite tales of all time. The ad said it was for children of all ages. That's good, because Greg and I are just overgrown children at heart.

(Remember to be true to yourself. Be who you are! You are unique! Don't try to be someone you are not.)

(Please support the Barter, especially right now, as they are going through some financial difficulties.)

FYI

www.themartha.com

www.bartertheatre.com

Positive thought: From a painting on a car parked in Abingdon, Virginia-

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, October 6, 2019, Becky

.

Our Visit to Fall Creek Falls in Tennessee

Welcome!

A few weeks ago, Greg and I made a little journey to a park in Spencer, Tennessee, several miles from where we live. The park we visited was Fall Creek Falls.

On the way, before we went to the park, we stopped for lunch in Pikeville, Tennessee. We'd planned to go to a restaurant we'd researched online, but we couldn't find it after we got there. I remembered that it was supposed to have been near an ice cream parlor, which we easily found. I went in and asked where the restaurant was, and the girl that worked there told me that it had just recently gone out of business. A customer there said that he was sorry about that, because it was a really good restaurant. I thanked the girl for her information, and I told her that we might be back later after we ate lunch somewhere.

As we drove through the small town, we went by a restaurant that looked very attractive so we decided to try it out. 

It was called Pig-N-Catch.

On the sign outside, it said that they had barbecue, catfish, and steak. That really got Greg since he loves barbecue!

(I decided to get chicken tenders which I'd never before had. They were delicious! A few weeks later, I even worked up to chicken and waffles which I had thought was a weird combination, but now, that's my new favorite occasionally when we eat out.)

We were really lucky with this restaurant, and for dessert, we decided to go back to Ember's Ice Cream Shoppe in Pikeville where the girl had been so helpful earlier.

Ember's Ice Cream Shoppe

Delicious Again!

So far, this had been a great day, and we hadn't even been to the falls yet!

Fall Creek Falls State Park was so pretty!

There were several waterfalls to see. What an adventure!

To me, this was the most picturesque of the falls-

Fall Creek Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States at 256 feet-

We got plenty of exercise, walking around and seeing the waterfalls and other beautiful scenery.

Time for a Break! (Notice the waterfall between the trees on the left in the distance.)

For those who love being in the water, there's always swimming here in the park. 

Some people even jumped into the water from the large nearby cliff!

FYI
Fall Creek Falls State Park
2009 Village Camp Road
Spencer, TN 38585
423-881-5298

Positive thought: "Blessed are the flexible, for they will not be bent out of shape."-Anonymous
Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, August 4, 2019, Becky