Come to Jesus....We have Crafts!

Let me just start off that when I was growing up, my family and I went to church 3 times a week, every Sunday morning and night and Wednesday evenings. I don't know why but I never was much impressed with it. I would see the preacher speaking on how to be a good Christian and then seeing people behaving and treating each other in non-Christian like ways outside of the church's walls. When my family and I moved away because of my Dad's job, we continued to go to church. My family knew the preacher and therefore was comfortable in going to a new church. The church seemed more at ease and peaceful than the one we came from but also I think that maybe we hadn't been there long enough to hear all the gossip and get caught up in all the drama that can sometimes swirl around families and get brought to the church. I understand that the church is there to help with family that fall on hard times and the difficulties when people loose there way and need a little guidance in their lives but when the church parking lot becomes a gossip fest and when church becomes a fashion show on who can wear the most expensive clothes and drive the nicest car then I think the message of Christianity has missed it's mark. We then moved twice within the next 2 years and my family stopped going to church. Maybe it was because we didn't know very many people where we moved to or that there wasn't a denomination close by that was of our type of service, but we just didn't go. I have to say that I really didn't miss it. I didn't feel like my up bringing was delinquent in any way. I knew of church and the Bible and the stories in the Bible. To this day I can still recite the books of the Bible in a little diddy that was taught to me in Bible school when I was five. After a few years I find myself as close to an adult as I think I will get and a few years ago my parents decided to move back to where they were raised and they have embraced their religion and church deeper than I have ever seen them before. Unfortunately the preachers that were there were even less of a Christian than most people in prison. The first preacher they had seemed to like to break the 8th and 9th commandment when it benefited him and the other seemed to believe he had a higher calling to the detriment to the church he was currently preaching. Let's just say that with what the church was when I was a child and now as an adult hearing of the failings of preachers that is supposed to lead by example, my confidence in that religion is shaky at best. Don't get me wrong I respect the church and all the good that it does for people personally, socially and globally but I also know that religion as a man made and regulated concept has a pretty crappy track record.ie. Crusades. I guess I am not trusting enough in my fellow man to make the right decision and that is my short coming, that I can let go of what I think is a perceived control of my life and believe that something I can't see, hear or touch has a plan and direction for my time on this planet is a concept hard for me to swallow....Maybe that's why they call it faith. You just don't ever know for sure, you just trust in it. I guess that just isn't good enough for me and my inquisitive mind. I believe in evolution over creationism. I believe that the Bible is a collection of stories collected by man to help people live productively in a civilized society. I also believe that for some people they need a "hell" to "make" them do good. There also are somethings done by certain religions that I don't agree with. I don't think that God needs your money. I don't believe that God needs an ornate building to worship in. I don't believe that you need someone else help to speak to God and no amount of money paid will remove the mark of sin. I believe that your "God" and my "God" are the same god be he or she called Buddha, Allah, Jehovah or Vishnu. I think people get so hung up on the label of things that are fundamentally the same thing and they argue the differences as small as they might be instead of seeing and understanding the similarities in concepts and beliefs. I also don't believe a religion should go to another civilization, country or people and give food, clothes and aid with the stipulation that you worship a certain religion. These things should be given selflessly without stipulation or conditions. I believe you can preach your religion and if the people want to listen or participate in your faith then fine but God doesn't need worshipers that are bribed into the faith. I know my "God" doesn't. Religion and faith can be a very touchy subject and I understand that peoples beliefs are very strong and can vary greatly. So much so that if you even have people of the same faith discuss their beliefs that they will vary in some way for every individual. That is why the Christian faith has been dissected into so many different faiths. The Christian faith started out so simply, it's just when people started to create so many rules and regulations that the religion started to twist, pervert and complicate the original simplistic religious concept. Maybe that it why my belief doesn't fit into other common belief systems. It's like trying to fit a round peg into a hole that has so many sides I just don't know what you would call it. I call it complicated. So with saying all of that, when I came home today there was a post card stuck in the door frame. The side showing said "You are invited!" in big black letters with festive colors. Was it a Birthday party or maybe a invite to go on a trip. When I removed the card from the door and flipped it over to see what exactly I was invited to, I read the words radiating like spokes of a wheel. Puppets, Crafts, Music and Games, these words were radiating out from a central name, a name of power and meaning and the name was Jesus. I appreciated the thought and generosity of sharing your belief but I don't need puppets, crafts, music and games to entice me to worship in the same manner as you. Thanks but no thanks.

PS. When first read the postcard it stated only a time 10am.... At first I thought, well what day is it on? Then in the process of the question forming in my mind I just started to laugh. Maybe I do need to go to church.

Carolina Hills

This is a time lapse video of the hills across from our cabin while vacationing in North Carolina. The video was taken over 10 hours which is condensed into 2 minutes.

We're Home.

The last day of our vacation we decided to run into Asheville and do a little last minute shopping and eating. We ended up going to Jack of the Wood. They seemed busy but I would have to say the service there had a lot to be desired. It only took us 2 hours to get out of there. The food was good but I would have to say that I don't need to return. After the disappointing eating experience we jumped in the car and made or way to the Blue Ridge Parkway and drove a short way up the parkway and stopped at a couple of scenic view areas. After that we needed to shag butt back to the cabin as we were having company in the form of Ragged's family. Before long our guests were showing up and with 4 children and several adults talking, chatting and sometimes screaming the evening was certainly entertaining and the food was fantastic. After our guests left, Needles, Cynical and I had a last dip in the hot tub. We watched TV until late and finally went to bed. This morning we got up dark and early. I wanted to be on the road by 7am local time...that's 6 am central. We all worked like well oiled machines to pack everything we owned into every nook and cranny and then slipped down the steep driveway one last time and locked the gate behind. Ahead of us we had 500 miles of twisting and winding roads. The first few hours went without a hitch until we hit Nashville, TN. We experienced game day traffic and it took us 45 minutes to travel and mere mile and a half. After the delay we ended up getting to O'town to drop off our traveling companions around 2pm and then after a quick goodbye we were on the road home. We got home just a little before 4pm. I think for the vacation we had a total of 25 hours on the road and well over 1500 miles. I am tired and ready for bed so I think I will leave it there. We had a great time.

It's almost over.

Vacation is coming to an end with today being our last full day before heading back early in the morning. I guess I should catch up from where I left off. Last Wed. was a stay at the cabin and do nothing kinda day. We literally stayed at the cabin and relaxed and napped and soaked in the hot tub. Thursday morning we got up early to spend the day in Asheville. We stopped in at a book store awaiting for some of the shops to open and then made it to Earth Guild where we found out that Bill Clinton was going to be in town speaking just a few blocks from where we were standing. We had about an hour to waste so we went to Mayfels to eat and then on to where Mr. Clinton was to speak. We got right in and got a ticket to the limited area just behind the press. We got up very close, I would guess about 60 to 70 yards from the podium and waited, and waited, and waited. Finally about an hour and a half late Bill showed up. Of course of all the days to leave my 300mm zoom lens at home. I had my 55mm lens and it just had to do. I got some pics and I am glad I got to see and hear him speak. He is the first president I ever got to see live. After we listened to his speech we made our way to the craft show at the Civic Center. There was a lot of very neat had made expensive things. Anywhere from pottery to blown glass, wood work, paintings and materials arts. After wandering through we were feeling tired and ready to grab something to eat and make our way back to the cabin. After Ragged talked with her family it was decided we would split up and they would go to see her family and Needles and I went back to the cabin. After a nice soak in the hot tub we were all relaxed and ready for the next day. Before long Cynical and Ragged was dropped off and we all sat and discussed the days events. It was fairly late before we retired for bed. The next day we got up earlier than I would have liked. The ladies had plans to go to SAFF. A fiber festival that is held yearly here. We drove down and dropped them off and made our way back to the cabin. We had plans to pick them up around 6pm so a little after 5pm we left to be on our way. We got caught up in a little traffic on our way so the usually 40 minute trip took a little longer. We picked up the weary gals and their fibery purchases. We then made our way to Chili's for supper and then on to Target to pick up a few odds and ends. We made it back to the cabin well after dark and settled in to relax. Today we are still deciding on what to do our last day. Do we get out and about or stay and relax. I guess only time will tell.

Vacation Update.

Monday we explored the town of Weaverville and stopped and ate at a local bakery. It was called the Well Bred Bakery and the food was great and the dessert was amazing. After eating we did some grocery shopping and on the way back to the cabin stopped in at some scenic areas. We wasn't at the cabin long until it was time to head back to Asheville to meet up with Ragged family for a late supper. The food was fantastic and the conversation even more so. Their home was very eclectic with splashes of vivid colors which makes me think about repainting every room in my own house. The cozy living room with a small wood burning stove in the corner gave a welcoming warmth to the home and loved the coffee table which was an old converted pinball machine. Everywhere you look there was interesting things to excite the eye and ponder. Before long it was time to head back to hour cabin in the hills and say good night to our wonderful hosts. The evening ended with a very late dip in the hot tub and a little TV watching. The next morning we didn't get an early jump on things as we leisurely prepared for a day in Asheville. We started at the All Souls Crescent area. We stopped at a yarn shop for the gals and then wandered in and out of the shops until hunger diverted us to a local Mexican place called the Neo Cantina. The food was good and a lot of it. Of course I was able to finish off everything but the black beans. While filling our stomachs we made plans for what we wanted to do with the rest of the day and week. We opted to do the Biltmore home tour. We followed the GPS to the gaits and went into the place to get tickets. The audio tour was the best option for us so we drove the 5 miles to the entrance to the home and the beginning of our tour. We were given our headsets and instructed on how to use them. We followed our numbered map and pressed the corresponding number of the room into our headset and began hearing the narrator tell us about the home and all its many luxuries. After the home tour was done we walked out to the southern terrace and down to the gardens and Conservatory. Since we got a late start a lot of the people and school kids had already left and the lighting in the garden was less harsh than in mid day. We left the home and returned to the car for another 5 mile drive back to the Antler Village and Winery. There we signed up and started the winery tour and ended up with a tasting. When we finished the tour it was dark and we were hungry so we decided to find a place to eat in downtown Asheville. Upon deciding on a place we found that finding a parking spot to be very frustrating but after about a dozen wrong turns and a few broken laws we finally made it to a parking garage close by. We decided to eat at a local noodle house called Doc Chey's. After a short wait we were seated and enjoying the food. It was too much so we all had to take home dogie bags which is unusual for me to say the least. We got home last night at a round 10pm local time and Needles and I took another dip in the hot tub to soak the soar muscles from all the walking the day demanded. It was a nice way to end the day.

Vacation so far.

We arrived at our cabin after running into Asheville for a late lunch and a little grocery shopping. We didn't get a lot since we didn't have a lot of room to put it the car still packed with luggage. We followed the GPS's directions and the hill just before you get to the turn off is a decent grade. I could definitely tell the car was laboring to get up the hill with 4 people with luggage, the groceries and such. When we turned off onto our road we snaked our way back along the twisty turning roads and before long we were at the locked gait to our cabin. After unlocking the gait and crossing the bridge we had a pretty steep drive way to go up to get to the cabin. I put my foot into the accelerator and with very little spinning made it up to the back of the cabin. The inside of the cabin was very warm, open and accommodating. We then lugged in all of our luggage and groceries. After deciding on bedrooms we then settled in to do a little relaxing after the seven hour drive. We finished off the evening with a late dip into the hot tub out on the deck. The water was nice and warm and after a nice long soak we decided to get out. The only problem it that it was 50 degrees outside and when we got out of the water the coolness nearly took our breath. We watched some TV and before long it was time to go to bed. The next day we had plans to go to LEAF (Lake Edens Art Festival). After we checked in we took a bus into the camp grounds. We walked through all the tents with hand-made items of all sorts and health type items. There was live music and food booths of all nationalities and preference. I got a drink called Buchi fire and it was very spicy. I believe it contained quite a bit of ginger. I guess it is a drink fermented but not alcoholic. Imagine very spicy apple cider without the sweet. For lunch I had a chicken pita that was very good. I think Needles had a mushroom and garlic crepe. We shared a lemonade and later on enjoyed a funnel cake for dessert. We watched part of a play and then watched contra dancing (think square dancing) and then some live music. By then it was starting to get dark so we wandered on into downtown Asheville to a neat lace to eat. The Early Girl Diner was a place we enjoyed the last time we were in Asheville. With the heavy Sunday crowd you could tell they had been busy as the floors were somewhat slippery from the deep fryer grease in the air. The food was warm and good. When we finished we headed out and on our way back to the cabin. When we arrived I don' t think I was in the cabin a minute before I changed and slipped out onto the deck and into the hot tub for another relaxing soak. The day to an end we went to bed still warm from the hot tub. This morning was a morning to sleep in. After getting up and a nice breakfast prepared by Cynical, Cynical and I did a quick hike up a over grown trail behind the cabin. It appears to be an old logging road that has long since grown up. We walked up the hill until we were well above the top of the cabin and could see a little ways across the valley we are nesselled in. We hiked back to the cabin for a morning dip in the hot tub and then settled in the living room to relax and enjoy the morning with no plans. I think we will be getting out this evening to do a little more grocery shopping and visiting with Ragged's family.

Leaving Tomorrow.

Tomorrow after work Needles and I are heading South to the land of Cynical and Ragged for a night and then we are all packing up and head to Asheville, North Carolina. We have been there before but loved it the first time and can't wait to get back there. While there we are staying at a secluded cabin and since we are there for peak leaf peeping, I imaging I will have the camera glued to my face for most of the trip. I will try to post some pics as the vacation progresses. Also while there we are going to attend an arts festival and the rest of it we will just take it as it comes. Hopefully the next time you hear from me I will be in Asheville.

Later

This morning Needles and I made our way to "L's" and I took my old deer stand down and replaced it with my new deer stand. After rolling around in knee high poison ivy we finally got the stand together and put up in the tree. After eating lunch and visiting with Needles family we came home to get showers to hopefully keep from getting poison ivy. Not long after that we got a phone call from my Mom saying they were 30 minutes out from getting here. We gathered the food and ll the things to take out to them and went out there for a visit. After eating way too much we went with them out to Rudy's for my parent to see the finished up stairs. While there we also looked over the Halloween decorations. On our way back we stopped out at the Dairy Dee and got some of the good stuff. We stayed out at Mom and Dads until just after 8pm and decided to come home and get ready for the work week. If you want to see a couple pictures from the trail cam check out my hunting blog. After I got home I received a phone call from a co worker. She told me that a part time EMT that works for the place I work was killed last night while responding to a car accident. Apparently when the Ambulance pulled out from the scene a truck crashed into the ambulance and the EMT which was in the back of the unit was ejected from the vehicle. He was transferred to a local hospital where he coded and didn't make it. My heart goes out to his family and If nothing else, please whenever you see emergency vehicles, slow down and pay attention and don't drink and drive. Something as easy as this could have saved three lives last night. There has been 66 EMS deaths so far this year. 93 last year. If you want to know more about the accident click here.

Busy Weekend.

Tonight Needles and I prepped 3 chickens and a pork loin for the smoker tomorrow. We have plans to go to Needles Mom on Sunday. While we are there I will be putting up my deer stand for the 2010/ 2011 season. I will also be checking on the trail camera. Sunday afternoon my parents are coming up from Kentucky for a visit. I will post more later.