When I need to find some peace and solace in this crazy world I like to go to the top of the ridge behind our house.
The journey isn’t very long, but it is very steep.
As I climb up the steepest parts I’m always reminded of trying to climb up the slide in elementary school instead of going up the steps like you’re supposed to.
I love the stillness that I find up on the ridge. It seems like I’m far away from the world and all its troubles.
The photo at the top is what I found when I was returning from my trip up the ridge…Chatter coming to look for her momma 🙂
In my latest video I take you with me to that high peaceful ridge.
I hope you enjoyed the trip! Do you have a favorite place to go when you’re hunting for peace and solace?
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Thanks for sharing Tipper! This was great.How relaxing and a great place to go to clear your mind and get closer to God.Blessings
What a sweet video. And what wonderful girls you have Tipper.
I don’t have the woods our mountains to go to for peace but I do have a quiet happy home thank God.
Speaking of God, He is exactly who I go to.
He is my mountain.
I cannot go to my mountains easily. Hundreds of miles away. This brought back such sweet memories. I do have a “happy place” here. It’s the barn where my horse lives. There’s something so whole and real about just sitting in the barn when the horses come in for the night. The only sound is that of horses eating their grain and their hay, drinking water, softly blowing, or even sometimes “recycling” all that food and water. When my big guy catches me looking at him, he sometimes nickers softly to me – his way of begging for a carrot or a treat. I still long for hearing the wind blow up the valley and the occasional call of a raptor soaring above, but quiet time with the horses is sweet solace.
Really enjoyed that. You could hear the leaves crunching but so peaceful. I was raised in the mountains and there is no other place like it. You can’t get that no where else. Thanks Tipper.
Again, the Bible verse applies – Psalm 46: 10. “Be still and know that I am God…”
You mentioned Sassafras. I haven’t had success in transplanting the small ones. The tap root is so long and strong. It smells so good. Now they say you shouldn’t drink it because of the harm it can cause to your organs.
That is quite a steep hike. I think coming down is harder than going up when it’s steep. Lots of leaves on your trail. I’ll be it’s beautiful when the Laurel blooms. My woods and high places have always provided solace.
Sharon, I am not try to be a smart aleck or a smart donkey ( think about that one) when I say this, but have you ever known anyone to die from drinking Sassafras tea. People have been drinking this tea for hundreds of years. If we worried about everything that the exspurts ( that’s the correct spelling) tell us is bad for us we wouldn’t eat, drink or get out of bed. I have drank well water, water from creek, and from a hose pipe or water hose, lived in house with asbestos siding and lead paint and other things that was going to kill me all of my life and I am still kicking. How much of these things do you have to consume before it hurts us? I heard a man say one time he ate 6 eggs every morning for breakfast and he knew it was bad for him and would kill him one day. He was 90 years old and still getting around like a young man.
Thanks for taking us to your favorite spot on the ridge. I’ve never had a ridge , although growing up our farm was surrounded by mountains on three sides. But I always enjoyed walking in the woods. This time of year my sister and I would be anticipating looking for dog-toothed violets in a low spot along the branch. Everyone needs that place to find peace. For me now it’s on my porch or on a frosting morning like this it’s at my table looking out the window over a field. I can barely see traffic zooming by about a half mile away on the 4-lane but here I only hear the birds. It seems like your girls know where to find you and are aware of why you go up the ridge. That’s so sweet to be so concerned that your daughter would look for you in her house shoes! You are definitely blessed and we are blessed that you share your life.
I enjoyed many treks through the woods and over little streams following my Daddy as he was squirrel hunting. I still enjoy the woods but for some reason I love to go sit by a flowing stream. We have one not far from us, although I need to drive to it, but water for some reason just is so peaceful to me. It was precious seeing your daughter come looking for you:}
When our boys were little they would be all over the house but just at the time I would step in the bathroom for a minute by myself, here they would come, and I would hear – Mother where are you? We all need those little spaces of time in respite to refuel and breathe in deeply. You are so blessed to have a place that you can walk out the back door and hike to it.
I love a good hike in the woods as long as someone was with me. That is defeating the purpose but I’m so afraid of snakes, ticks, coyotes and bobcats that are everywhere on the farm. If either of my girls worried enough to come looking for me, they would never let me live it down for not telling them where I was going. Chatter looks happy she found her momma.
You post today reminded me of the song “Lift Me Up Above the Shadows”. We all need that from time to time. My go-to place is the woods always. I can’t just go out the door as you can, though Lord knows how I wish I could. I drive over to Don Carter State Park and go off trail. But those are not Mountain woods; no white pine, rhododendron and only two clumps of mountain laurel in the whole place, not to mention lots of loblolly pine. Those woods are way too open and it isn’t easy to get out of sight of the trails.
I have never read anything much or seen any maps about mountain ridgetop trails in pioneer times. But as you mention, I’m inclined to think they were more common than anybody now knows. There are some big advantages; high ground against enemies, no creek crossings or boggy ground, ability to ‘turn off’ into different watersheds, long views of what is happening below and what you mentioned about being able to hear well. The worst drawbacks are what the AT hikers know, no water handy and exposure to the wind. And for a farming lifeway the ground is often rocky, dry and not much flat in any one place. But it made for mountain pasture.
We all need a quiet place to reflect and do nothing for a few moments. I still remember a spot I found in the woods where an old logging trail made a dip, creating a small, secluded glen. I can still recall the sound of the wind blowing through the trees and somewhere the screeching sound of a guinea hen.
People need such places to clear their heads and get grounded with reality.
I think you hit on something Ms Tipper,
If everyone could unplug and get back in touch with the outdoors I think the world would be a better place.
Enjoyed the video, I have always wanted to have a log cabin and live in the mountains. When I was able, I enjoyed walking through our woods and just sitting in a quite place or getting on my old tractor and just piddling around on the backside of my land when I was troubled by something. I often said 5 gallons of gas and that old Farmall tractor did me more good than going to a head doctor – can’t spell the correct word they are called) when something was bothering me. I have ran a lot of gas through that tractor since my daughter’s death 8 1/2 years ago. I now get very nervous when any of my family does not get home from work when I think they should or they are gone longer than I think they should be. I can understand Chatter’s concern. I have done a lot of praying while in the woods.
Every sane individual needs a place of solace. When you’re there, it’s aloneness with God and His creation. One may think or choose to NOT think for awhile, only taking in nature and the stillness therein. It always makes you feel rested and cleared out mentally. It’s a RENEWAL of the spirit and mind!!! You have a nice place to go. Katie came to see about her mommy, didn’t she? Without you, Momma Tipper, home is just a lonesome box. I know you make the world a better place just by living in it and sharing your blog!
Thank you for giving me a sweet reminder of my NC woods and mountains. I am currently in WI, caring for my aging, dying father. I so miss my mountains, the trekking my husband and I enjoy, and yes, the quiet solitude. Thankfully, God provides beauty and peace even in a quiet cup of early morning coffee!
Aw, your girls are so precious and sweet to the core! It touched me the way Chatter came looking for her Momma and was so worried about you. I enjoyed climbing the mountain with you by way of the video, and it reminded me of this song – I’ve always loved it & enjoyed the video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC4C3_99XzY
It also reminded me of just yesterday. The day before, Kevin & Zach had gone on a 4 1/2 mile mountain hike along the creek near our house. They came home so excited and told me about a “surprise” they had discovered and were so anxious to show me. So, yesterday we drove to the opposite end, so I could walk the short distance necessary to reach the “surprise.” There, to my utter delight, was a gorgeous waterfall!!! After showing me, Kevin & Zach opted to walk back home the whole way, and as I walked back the 1/2 mile or so to our car to drive home, I stopped at one point when there were no other people along the trail in front of or in back of me, and I stood there and talked to the dear Lord. Like you, being in nature always makes me feel so close to Him & I often break out singing “How Great Thou Art.”
That was a great video! Thanks for the upbeat share!!! I enjoyed it!
I love the woods with tall old trees, it’s so soothing to the soul to sit in the quiet among silent giants. They know all but only whisper their secrets in total silence.
Exploring the mountains always brings peace to our spirit. I can no longer explore or walk up to those high ridges, so my back porch and a comfortable chair have to do. I loved when that sweet child came looking for you, because that made it the perfect day.