Happy 4th Birthday Ace!

> Happy 4th Birthday Boy! You've gotten a little bigger since we got you!

Mountain Dog vacations at the Beach!

Who could have known that a dog who has grown up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, would be so at home at the beach? Here is Ace on our family vacation at Sunset Beach. The moment we arrived, this Golden Retriever ran right to the water and jumped in!

Little Red

Ace and I have found a dog. We have named the dog Little Red. The dog appears to be abandoned, and lives in the woods near a former school where we go to walk. The dog has been there the last 7-8 times we've gone there. Only recently has it let us get closer. Today we got close enough to see a collar. There seems to be a tag on it. We bring it bags of dried food and leave them in the woods along the trails it follows. I can't stand to think about it being cold at night. We'll make friends, if we have to go everyday, and we will find Little Red's owner. I have it on good authority.

The Adventure Box

 

I love this.  Ace never gets tired of "Loading Up!"

(Our term for going on a ride.)

 

 

Ace Conquers the Elk Knob State Park

 

Today, Ace and I made the 2 mile climb, up the snow covered rocky trail, to the top of Elk Knob State Park.  At 5520 feet above sea level, the views are panoramic and breathtaking.  Ace led the way, and could have easily hiked another 20 miles!

 

After the winter we've had, it did us both a lot of good to get out of the house, and help us both beat our cabin fever. 

 

(Above, this view is toward the north, and looks toward Mt. Rogers, Whitetop Mountain, and as far to the northeast as Pilot Mtn.   Below, to the south, you can see Grandfather Mtn, Sugar and Beech Mtn, and all the way to Mount Mitchell and Tennessee. 

 

 

(The photo below shows where our hike started, and where we were when we reached the peak.  What a blessing this was to stand atop this mountain, and experience God's glory with Ace.)