Grandkids at the park...T

"There is nothing that makes us love someone so much as praying for them." -William Law

Grandkids...they are the best!  Hands down.  They bring such joy to our lives, and I hope we bring an equal amount of joy to their lives.  We have taken advantage of the warmer weather to take the grandkids to a couple of creeks that run through the parks around here.  They play for long periods of time in and around the water.

"A boy's story is the best that is ever told." -Charles Dickens

The pictures speak for themselves...it is fun, fun, fun!

They took their cars to play with in the water, but they were so light they floated downstream a lot

Small waterfall=fun

He had just rescued the car in his hand...

At one of the parks a couple of big trees have split, and fallen.  It is truly a sad sight to see.  The boys were very interested in the fallen trees.  This one was hallow.  It fell right on top of a park bench and smashed it to pieces.

This one, the boys liked because they could climb up on it...

Here's what they looked like after being in the creek... pretty dirty, but happy!

He always finds sticks...his favorite thing...

Cleaned up... and looking pretty handsome.

Park adventures are the greatest...

God thinks so too!  Shining down His glory!

Be blessed!

Photography field trip...

The steam-engine I call fire-demon and great; but it is nothing to the invention of fire. 

— Thomas Carlyle

The camera club of Hendersonville went on a field trip to Bryson City to photograph the old steam engine they have there.  It is quite the attraction and fun to ride.

See the drops of water falling around the train....

I had to get a picture of me in front of the train...

I liked the interaction with the conductor and the little boy...the girl seemed in a world all her own...

A real cutie pie for sure...love her boots...she's a girl after my own heart!

Checking his watch to make sure the train will leave on time...

Ready to roll...

About 10 minutes before the train left the station, we all got into our cars and drove to the trestle the train would have to cross.  It was an excellent place to photograph the train when it went across.  Some of the photographers stayed below the trestle, while others climbed up the side to get to the top to be on the same level as the railroad track.  I was one of the ones who chose to climb up for a better photo.  It was a rather steep climb.  I don't have a photo of someone going up, but I do have one of someone coming down...

treacherous for sure

Here's the trestle from below...

And here's the trestle from the track view...

Here comes the train...

first in color...

Then edited old time black and white...

I was glad I made the climb.

After the train, we went to an area where they do whitewater rafting...

And of course, waterfalls...

There are always fun photographic finds along the way...

loved this old VW

We found some vehicles covered with Kudzu...it's called "the vine that ate the south."  It grows about 2-3 feet/day.  It's very invasive and hard to get rid of...

pictured left to right...a backhoe, two school buses.  This probably grew in a matter of days.

It was a great outing with lots of fun photos, adventures, good eats, and great company.

by for now...

I think I'd like to visit this area again... to do some shopping.  They had some interesting looking shops.