Devon Hunter

It was a glorious day: The colors were vibrant, but just past their prime, and there were icicles everywhere. There had been a snow storm the night before, so the symbolism was perfect. There was beauty everywhere, though it sometimes seemed a bit browbeaten.

The earth is going to sleep for a spell. And we are on the cusp of rest and temporary death.

The sky was incredible – the colors in the clouds were gorgeous. I trekked up to the top of Mount Mitchell (at +6,800 ft it’s the highest point in North America east of the Mississippi River), and it was really amazing. That night I did the ritual itself on KITTEH’s screened-in sniffing parlor at my apartment. Grampa liked Port, so I used that, rather than a simple wine. KITTEH helped (KITTEH has strong magick). Grampa loved cats – sometimes I think he preferred cats to people (and I can completely relate to that).

But yes, it was a beautiful Samhain, even it it was the first time I had to do a ritual for the dead. It gave me a better sense of closure, and (for my part) I sent Grampa off on his long journey with love, friendship, peace, and joy. Happy Belated New Year!

“Au fur et au mésure que je connais mieux les hommes, je préfère mon chat.” (The more I know men, the better I like my cat.)

“C’eux qui s’amusent aux chats peuvent pas maudire les giffres.”  (People who play with cats should not curse the claws.)

OMG! OMG OMG OMG

So… who knew that 48 hours in the mountains could fix almost everything in the world? It was just spectacular. I’d not been there in a full calendar year (since the July 2009 trip to Biltmore with Steve), and it was amazing. The weather was dynamic, going from calming showers to dramatic thunderstorms to bright sunshine all in the space of hours each day.

I went out on the lake at least four times, and got to go swimming (something I haven’t enjoyed in about 20 years). And I got to see so much wildlife, right there in my friend’s backyard! From smallest to largest, I saw a walking stick, a bossy humming bird, several funny ducks, a flock RAFTER of about 30 – 40 turkeys playing leap frog (is a group of turkeys a flock?? No, it’s called a RAFTER – thanks, Joe!), a blue heron, and deer all over the place.

What was particular impressive about the deer on the first evening: I got up to take pictures of the sunset, which was hot pink, purple, and peach, and the cicadas were really loud. The scent of rain and tree resin was on the air, and then, under the two apple trees under the balcony, I notice a doe. The moment she stepped into the glade hundreds of fireflies started sparkling all over the yard. It couldn’t have been any better choreographed. Utterly fabulous.

We grilled most of our meals, and it was a very relaxing and cleansing experience. Next time we go, my friend suggested taking my car, so that we could drive with the top down under the trees. If you have never seen the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the forests near Elizabethon, TN around Watauga Lake, you really should make the trip.

So, I have been saying I need to rest more. And I am going to commit to that. I also need to be more adventurous. What I want to do is take a weekend off each month and either really rest or go do something really fun. Just for me. I’m going to add a new category for Adventure and Rest. Perhaps it will grow into a travel journal? That’d be fun. For August, 2010 break I will be in Minneapolis with a friend, so I already have two entries!

Last month I took the weekend of my birthday and the weekend of July 4 off in a row. It had been my intent to take a real good rest, but it ended up not being restful at all (so it didn’t count as a vacation). Blog drama and family illnesses countered out the vacation factor. LOL

This weekend I am going to the mountains. I haven’t been since last July, and it’s been far too long. I will be going up with a friend who has a lake house and a boat. I don’t remember the last time I was on a boat. It’s been a while. I’m not scared of water. I’m scared of what’s in it. This will be fun though: A true getaway. When I get home I’ll update with details.

I hope you do something this weekend that replenishes you or gives you some sense of gratification. xoxo

Each week I drive somewhere. Occasionally I take a weekened off. And that’s what I’m going to do this weekend. A friend of mine is flying down from D.C. on Thursday night, and we’re going to head over to Asheville, NC. I’ve never seen the Biltmore Estate, and that is a problem that will soon be remedied. In all my visits up and down the Blue Ridge Parkway I’ve never stopped there. Well, this year it is finally happening.

Friday we’ll head over from Charlotte to the Estate. Saturday we’ll drive a bit on the Parkway with the top down on the convertible. We’re also going to go see “Bruno” at some point. Then he’ll fly back on Sunday.

It is so time to get up and see some Western Norff Cackalacky! That place always recharges my battery. It’s like getting a soul scrub.

This has nothing to do with exotic dance. Autumn is my favorite time of year, and the Blue Ridge Parkway is my favorite part of the United States. I’m driving to Boone, NC to see the leaves as they come into their full colors. I go to Boone and drive the Parkway down to Asheville, NC once each season every year. I love it there so much – one of my goals in life is to have a log cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, Tennessee, or Northern Georgia with a 100-mile view of wilderness. That is just about as close to the Goddess as you can get in this earthly realm. Happy Fall to you all!!