In Light Of Today’s Supreme Court Decision…

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People Of A Certain Age Don’t Need A 20-Year Warranty

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Fan-Made Original “Star Trek Continues” Third Episode

fairest_of_them_allOver the years since the original Star Trek series aired on TV and was adapted to the big screen in several movies, fans have paid homage to the Enterprise characters with stories and fan-made videos, something that has especially exploded in the past decade with the advent of the Internet to spread those efforts.

I’ve been following the work of a particular effort known as “Star Trek Continues” which describes itself as “a fan-produced web series continuing the original mission of the Starship Enterprise.”  They recently released their third episode “Fairest Of Them All’ which follows up on the Original Series episode “Mirror, Mirror” in which the Enterprise discovers an alternate reality where the Enterprise and it’s crew are part of an Empire instead of a Federation and are not as heroic as the crew we know. It is a logical (pardon the Spock reference) extension of what we saw in that first TV series episode and is supported, as are the first 2 Star Trek Continues episodes, by excellent performances of the actors portraying our much-loved characters AND attention to detail of the ship and series itself.

If you enjoyed the Original Star Trek, you might want to give Star Trek Continues a look. Odds are that it will take you back to those days when we used to “Boldly go” out into the universe each week.

 

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Alone At Wolf’s Haven

This morning we put Amber and Abby on a plane back to Orlando, concluding their 10-day vacation with us here at Wolf’s Haven. Amber wanted to stay busy visiting various places in the area and that is what we did. Cindy and I are worn out, but I think everyone had a good time while visiting. I’ll continue posting photos and videos from the remainder of their visit over the next week or so.

When we came back I stripped the guest room/bathroom linens, remade the bed and laundered the sheets and towels, helped Cindy finish loading the car with her candle wares so she could go to a show in Maggie Valley, then pressure-cleaned the front deck, stairs and plate-glass windows and finally did a lot of cutting back of brush growth around the cabin that had crept back up while I was occupied the past 2 weeks.

I’ve spent the rest of the afternoon and evening relaxing and even snuck in a 45 minute nap. But I’m still exhausted, lol.

Tomorrow we start packing for Florida and we’ll be leaving here early Tuesday morning to drive back to Orlando for a few weeks.

But for now the cabin is quiet; we’re missing the laughter of Abby and the presence of Amber. A slow, steady rain has been falling the past 2 hours and for a while a light, ethereal fog that gives the Smoky Mountains their name rolled in, making it feel like there was nothing else in the world but us and our cabin. It was a different feeling after the past 10 days.

 

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Cliffside Recreational Park – Abby Swimming And Diving

After we left Dry Falls on Tuesday, we took Amber and Abby swimming at the Cliffside Recreational Park which was just down the road.

It's a beautiful mountain lake, and it looks just like the setting of one of those teen camping horror movies.

It’s a beautiful mountain lake, and it looks just like the setting of one of those teen camping horror movies.

Amber and Abby in the cold mountain lake water.

Amber and Abby in the cold mountain lake water.

I hear creepy horror movie music playing in the background...

I hear creepy horror movie music playing in the background…

Abby was brave and jumped off the floating platform like a big girl!

Abby was brave and jumped off the floating platform like a big girl!

I didn't get the shot of Abby landing in the water on the previous jump, so she did it again for granddad. Unfortunately, mommy wasn't looking at her when she jumped.

I didn’t get the shot of Abby landing in the water on the previous jump, so she did it again for granddad. Unfortunately, mommy wasn’t looking at her when she jumped.

This time I got the splash landing while mommy got a surprise face full of lake water, lol.

This time I got the splash landing while mommy got a surprise face full of lake water, lol.

And they're both OK!

And they’re both OK!

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After the swim, Abby had fun on the nearby swings.

After the swim, Abby had fun on the nearby swings.

 

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Throwback Thursday – Abby Enjoying Ice Cream In Maggie Valley 2012

Amber and Abby are wrapping up their 10 day vacation with us here at Wolf’s Haven in Maggie Valley this year. One of the things we did (twice!) was have ice cream at a couple of nice ice cream shops here in Maggie Valley.

I thought it would be fun on this Throwback Thursday to look back at Abby enjoying ice cream when she was here 2 years ago in 2012.

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Dry Falls Waterfall – The Waterfall You Can Walk Behind

After going to Bridal Veil Falls – The Drive-Thru Waterfall, we drove to Dry Falls and enjoyed a picnic lunch before walking down the steps to view the waterfall.

Although Cindy had previously read about this waterfall we had both forgotten one of the more exciting points about it; you can walk behind this massive waterfall. It’s not exactly “dry” as you do get covered in blowback mist, but considering the amount of water and that the force of it falling on you would drive you into the gorge below, it’s relatively dry.

One of the best views of Dry Falls.

One of the best views of Dry Falls.

The BEST view of Dry Falls!

The BEST view of Dry Falls!

Just playing around by doing a black and white version with a slow shutter speed to make the falling water look smoother.

Just playing around by doing a black and white version with a slow shutter speed to make the falling water look smoother.

Cindy, Abby and Amber, up close with Dry Falls.

Cindy, Abby and Amber, up close with Dry Falls.

Grandma, Abby and granddad, courtesy of Amber using my camera.

Grandma, Abby and granddad, courtesy of Amber using my camera.

Cindy behind the falls getting a shot of the falling water.

Cindy behind the falls getting a shot of the falling water.

I'm standing behind the waterfall getting a shot out through the falling water.

I’m standing behind the waterfall getting a shot out through the falling water.

After walking behind the water, I got this shot from the other side of the area behind the falling water.

After walking behind the water, I got this shot from the other side of the area behind the falling water.

And another shot from even farther on the other side.

And another shot from even farther on the other side.

Amber, Abby and Cindy after walking behind the waterfall and emerging on the opposite side.

Amber, Abby and Cindy after walking behind the waterfall and emerging on the opposite side.

This is the gorge that Dry Falls feeds into. You can see a bit of where the water hits in the bottom left hand corner.

This is the gorge that Dry Falls feeds into. You can see a bit of where the water hits in the bottom left hand corner.

 

Here’s a video I shot of Dry Falls.

And a video with it in slow motion.

And finally, video of Cindy, Abby and Amber behind the waterfall and the gorge that Dry Falls feeds into.

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Bridal Veil Falls – The Drive-Thru Waterfall

On Tuesday we drove down to the Highlands area so Amber and Abby could see some more North Carolina waterfalls and do some swimming. First up was Bridal Veil Falls, an unusual waterfall in that you can drive through it. We did just that, to Abby’s delight, and then parked the car and walked behind it.

Cindy, Abby and Amber.

Cindy, Abby and Amber.

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I slowed down the shutter speed to get this effect with the water.

I slowed down the shutter speed to get this effect with the water.

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Lunch At The Cataloochee Ranch In Maggie Valley

Monday we took Amber and Abby up to the Cataloochee Ranch for lunch and a chance to see the horses they keep at the ranch.

After lunch, Abby had fun in the fields behind the ranch.

After lunch, Abby had fun in the fields behind the ranch.

What kid can resist a swing in a tree?

What kid can resist a swing in a tree?

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Grandma and Abby.

Grandma and Abby.

Abby by the flowers with mountains in the background.

Abby by the flowers with mountains in the background.

In the stable, Abby got to pet several of the horses.

In the stable, Abby got to pet several of the horses.

The best part of all, at least for a few seconds, was that Abby got to sit on a real horse.

The best part of all, at least for a few seconds, was that Abby got to sit on a real horse.

Thanks very much to the great staff at Cataloochee Ranch for making our day such a fun one!

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Western North Carolina Nature Center

On Sunday we took Amber and Abby over to Asheville to visit the Western North Carolina Nature Center, see the various animals and enjoy a picnic lunch while there. Here are some photos from the visit.

Abby, in the reptile display, crawling through a log like some snakes, lizards and turtles do.

Abby, in the reptile display, crawling through a log like some snakes, lizards and turtles do.

Abby watching the box turtles.

Abby watching the box turtles.

At the Otter Center Abby gets to watch one of the otters swim up to where she is watching.

At the Otter Center Abby gets to watch one of the otters swim up to where she is watching.

Abby brushing one of the Angora Goats in the Petting Zoo.

Abby brushing one of the Angora Goats in the Petting Zoo.

Over at the Farm, near the chicken coop, Abby pretends to be a chick breaking out of a giant egg shell.

Over at the Farm, near the chicken coop, Abby pretends to be a chick breaking out of a giant egg shell.

A bee doing its thing.

A bee doing its thing.

Abby, ready to plow a field with this tractor.

Abby, ready to plow a field with this tractor.

Granddad, Abby and Grandma, courtesy of Amber.

Granddad, Abby and Grandma, courtesy of Amber.

 

 

Abby, making a homemade bird feeder with cardboard, yarn, peanut butter and bird seed.

Abby, making a homemade bird feeder with cardboard, yarn, peanut butter and bird seed.

Abby displays her handiwork.

Abby displays her handiwork.

 

We also were able to see a bear, deer, a red falcon, a horned owl, a bobcat, a cougar, a gray wolf, a red wolf, coyotes, raccoons, a fox, and many other animals while visiting. If you ever get the chance to visit the Western North Carolina Nature Center, I highly recommend it.

 

 

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