More Lake Susan

Not a problem today!

The Mandarin Ducks took off, getting away from my threatening camera immediately

Mr. & Mrs. Mallard know how to deal with cold winds.

Today's quote:

Even in a world that's being shipwrecked, remain brave and strong.

Hildegard von Bingen

Finding the Ducks

A few weeks ago I met in person a man who has long been a source of great information here in Black Mountain.  Jim Polling leads wildflower walks as well as bird walks in our nearby woods...but I've never made it to one yet.  Sleeping-in most mornings is my excuse.

And he told me the Mandarin Ducks were up at Lake Susan now.  I used to see them at Lake Tomahawk.  So I took Sunday afternoon to drive the couple of miles up to Montreat, NC, and was the only one walking around the windy cold lake.  But there were ducks over on the opposite shore.

As I walked around the lake, the ducks moved into the middle of the lake.  They weren't eager for a picture, apparently.  I tried lots of zooms, and got a few shots.  Nothing like what I hoped for.

 

Quote for today:

When we understand how precious each moment is, we can treat each breath, each moment, as a newborn baby.

Michelle McDonald

Dam at Lake Susan

Gazebo at Lake Susan

As you walk along the dam at Lake Susan, it's nice to see a sweet little gazebo.  Many of the stone pillars are given plaques which speak of memory of someone who donated to this structure.

Lake Susan

All the buildings you see here belong to Montreat College, in Montreat NC [elevation 2,615 ft (797 m)].  The lake is dammed up and gives overflow of Flat Creek, which comes into it from higher elevations, then flows down to Black Mountain at a slightly lower elevation [2,405 ft (733 m)] 

Tomorrow, the dam.

Clear waters

Snow is melting above these waters...they have the great clear tint of turquoise every once in a while that is different.  It surprised me, reminding me of the colors in icebergs.  Nowhere near us!

I see it on the outside of the white water flowing into the pool. 

Public Works workers did it

Added to the Memorial Gardens at the entrance to Montreat, is a new sitting arrangement.  One stone is in honor of a Public Works Director. The blank stone across from it, and behind the two sitting benches says "In Memory of Those who have Served the Town of Montreat."  It is blank below that heading.

You might like to know that Montreat has more retired Presbyterian ministers than imaginable, as well as a Christian College.  And I guess that the people who have moved these huge flat stones into this arrangement must have been public works workers.  They get to make the town beautiful for all the people who visit and live there.  So to have a special spot for the people who have served it's public works says a lot for the town.  I'm impressed.

Flat Creek in winter

Honor the tradition but expand the understanding. That's what religions must do right now if they hope to be helpful to humans in the years ahead.

Neale Donald Walsch
Tomorrow's God