Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Today is the fifth anniversary of the massive tornado outbreak that changed all of us in Alabama.  A few weeks ago, we drove to Hackleburg, one of the hardest hit areas on that long April day. The tornado's path is still clear; the hillsides are still covered with tin and twisted trees. Very few buildings in the old downtown area survived.  One of those left standing was the Bank of Hackleburg, although it was damaged and the roof was gone. Hackleburg is rebuilding, and a restaurant is now in the renovated bank building.  It is named The Vault Bakery Cafe, after the bank's vault that survived the storm and is now part of the restaurant. Pictures of the tornado damage are displayed on the original brick walls. The food is fantastic.  According to Hub, it has the best pork chops in the world. They have a Facebook page  here , where you can find their hours and menu.  We highly recommend this place.

Hub and I spent a few days last week visiting the Smoky Mountain National Park during their Wildflower Pilgrimage. We have many of the same wildflowers in our area, but we love to hike the trails in the park and see what we can discover.  The first part of the photos are from the Chimneys trail. The photos below were made at one of the pull-offs just before the Sugarlands entrance to the park. There are still lots of spring wildflowers blooming here.  Today would be a good day to take a walk and look for some.  

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and  renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not  thy holy spirit from me.  ~Psalms 51:10-11

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18   KJV

But they that wait upon the  Lord  shall renew their  strength;  they shall mount up with wings as  eagle s;  they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk,  and not faint. ~Isaiah 40:31

On our day trip Wednesday, we poked around Booneville, Mississippi, for a while, then started home.  We were not paying attention, and missed the turn onto Highway 365 that would take us to Highway 72.  We turned on the GPS (Missy) to help us get back on the right road.  Missy routed us through a county road that wasn't even paved.  It was very narrow, but thankfully, we didn't meet any vehicles going the other way.  Hub was worried that the branches near the road would put a scratch on his Jeep.  We were not happy with Missy at all until we came around a sharp curve and saw this.  I saw the nest first, then Hub saw the eagle .  It sat there, without moving, not caring that we had stopped to stare.  I'm sure it didn't identify us as a threat to whatever it was guarding in the nest. Hub kept seeing something white in the nest.  I shot this with the best lens I had with me, but I still can't tell if it is a little one or just some feathers in the nest.