When Less Is More
Table Rock Mountain has been voted one of the top leaf peeping destinations in the Southeast. Click here for more information. Wherever you go, you will see a colorful burst of yellow, red, orange, brown, and vibrant green.
Enjoy!
A pink glow radiated in the evening sky in South Carolina from Hurricane Ian, as it touched down in Florida on that frightful Thursday. The outer-bands of the storm hovered high over our cabin. The leaves on the trees had a fluorescent green glow from the pink clouds. The woods became eerily quiet as the birds and small woodland critters prepared for the storm.
I hunkered down and nervously watched the weather forecast. The uncertainty of where the storm was headed in South Carolina was gut wrenching. On Friday, the storm had returned and pummeled the beaches of the South Carolina coast. The trees were bending from the strong wind gusts and there was a slight chill in the air.
The sun shyly peaked from the clouds on Saturday morning. Luckily, there was no damage in the area, just a few tree branches on the ground.
I’m deeply saddened by the destruction Hurricane Ian left in Florida and South Carolina.
Here are a list of reputable organizations that accepts donations for those severely impacted from the hurricane. (Click on the links below to access their website.)
These disasters are a constant reminder to love and hug everyone around you and to appreciate the present moments. Things might change forever within the blink of an eye. Life is always uncertain. The only thing that is truly certain is what you hold dearly within your heart.
With Love and Gratitude,
These majestic birds get their name from the humming noise their wings make in flight. Hummingbirds flap their wings 10 to more than 80 times per second. Here in South Carolina, we have four species of hummingbirds, the ruby-throated hummingbird, rufous hummingbird, black-chinned hummingbird, and calliope hummingbird. The most common one I have seen in my backyard is the ruby-throated hummingbird. The ruby-throated hummingbirds’ wings flap about 53 times a second. The males have ruby-red throats and the females have white throats.
Overall, research indicates that the hummingbird can fly 23 miles in one day. Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backward. They can see ultraviolet light plus RGB (Red, Green, and Blue) due to the fourth cone in their eyes. Hummingbirds can see red and green colors very well. Plus, hummingbirds can recognize humans that feed them and change the contents of their feeder. They are in desperate need of nectar in the fall season for energy to fly back to Mexico or Florida for the winter. A few remain in the winter along the coast. In the spring many of them fly over the Gulf of Mexico back to the U.S. in one non-stop flight.
If a hummingbird crosses your path, or visits your home, know that it is a blessing. Throughout history, hummingbirds have been associated to be a symbol of light and joy.
A misunderstood animal that is harmless and quite interesting is the opossum. Opossums are not aggressive and will run away if they encounter a threat or play dead. Opossums are resistant to venom and prey on snakes such as copperheads and rattlesnakes. They can benefit your garden by consuming small insects such as beetles, slugs, and snails that damage gardens.
Kind Regards,
Debra & Kurt Roinestad
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Throughout time moths have been a symbol of rebirth and transformation. Although, some may have negative connotations with moths such as death and dying or simply having holes left inside your expensive sweaters. The moth is a reminder for us to lighten up and not to take life so seriously. The Hopi Tribe uses the moth as their power animal and displays this mystical insect in decorative pottery and dance costumes.
Since I moved to the woods in South Carolina, I have spent two years compiling photos of these magnificent moths that have briefly stopped by for a quick visit at my front door.
May the magic of the moth spark a light within you everywhere you go.
Warm Regards,
Debra Roinestad
They are found in the woodland and love to eat oak leaves. Both males and females are bright orange with a white spot on both sides of their wings. The white spots remind me of the ‘evil eye’ that symbolizes protection.
The clymene moth is rare and is thought to be a spiritual sign of a ‘blessing’ for those who come across this beauty. They are known for their gorgeous markings of the cross on their wings that extend inwards.
A lovely combination of yellow and brown. Its main purpose is to reproduce. This beautiful moth has a lifespan of one week because it doesn’t eat.
Geometer moths are small to medium in size and have slender bodies. They are also known as the pepper and salt geometer or peppered moth because of the light and dark bands on their wings. The adult size range from small to medium.
When I saw this moth, I thought it was a piece of stick that got caught onto the front of the cabin after a rain storm. 😂 Their wingspan is 32-45mm and the markings have tiny black dashes with light grey wings. They eat wood and lay their eggs on the wood.
A very large moth with large chunky wings that can fly 12 mph. They are called sphinx moths because when resting their turtle-like heads retract and resemble the symbol of the sphinx. These moths need to raise their body temperature to 96 degrees F to fly.
The rosy maple moth is known to be one of the most beautiful moths due to its vibrant pink and yellow colors. The females lay 10-30 eggs on the underside of the leaves. Their wingspan is 3.4-5.2 cm. These moths have thick and fuzzy bodies with long antennae that allow them to detect pheromones. Mating adults are looking for partners in the early summer through fall. In South Carolina, mating occurs in March-October.
I saw this one on my way to the local supermarket, Ingles. It was hiding on the white cement wall by the entrance. The leopard moth is recognized by its white wings and black spots. Their wingspan is 5.7-9.1 cm. The underside of the belly is a bright blue.
Pretty Place, the name that holds to its promise. The breathtaking views of the Southern Appalachian mountains at Pretty Place are stunning! Many people have experienced a sense of solitude and comfort and leave refreshed after visiting this peaceful place.
The chapel was built in 1941 by Fred W. Symmes and is part of the YMCA Camp Greenville.
Even though it was a cloudy day when I visited, I left with a sense of wholeness. A word of caution, check their website due to its popularity, the chapel is closed to the public for weddings and private events, and days and times are subject to change at any time. So, make sure you have a backup plan if the chapel is booked with an event.
Warm Wishes,
Hi Friends,
It’s so rare to capture a hawk on a trail camera. We feel very lucky to have captured footage of this guy (on the right) that landed at the back of our cabin. I love the attitude and entitled stare at the camera. 🥰 To read more about hawks in South Carolina visit Wild Bird World.
Warm Wishes,
Debra & Kurt
Bonus
Hey Everyone,
Here are videos of a cool coyote that showed up at the back of our cabin. This guy is fearless and hunting for prey. Coyotes don’t hibernate and remain active in the winter and throughout the year! To read more about coyotes visit Wildlife Boss.
Enjoy the videos!!
Debra & Kurt
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Adorable fawns have been hanging around our backyard. We are happy to have captured this footage and excited to share this with you! 😀❤️👍 By the way, did you know that fawns are well camouflaged and have very little odor? This self-defense mechanism helps them hide from predators. Fawns instinctively lie motionless when approached by a predator. This behavioral adaptation has helped the white-tailed deer survive for ages.
For more information about fawns click here.
Enjoy the trail camera videos!
Kind Regards,
Debra & Kurt
“What do you call yourself?” the Fawn said at last. Such a soft sweet voice it had!
“I wish I knew!” thought poor Alice. She answered, rather sadly, “Nothing, just now.”
“Think again,” it said: “that won’t do.”
Alice thought, but nothing came of it. “Please, would you tell me what you call yourself?” she said timidly, “I think that might help a little.”
“I’ll tell you, if you’ll come a little further on,” the Fawn said. “I can’t remember here.”
So they walked on together through the wood, Alice with her arms clasped lovingly round the soft neck of the Fawn, till they came out into another open field, and here the Fawn gave a sudden bound into the air, and shook itself free from Alice’s arms. “I’m a Fawn!” it cried out in a voice of delight. “And dear me, you’re a human child!” A sudden look of alarm came into its beautiful brown eyes, and in another moment it had darted away at full speed.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
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Table Rock Mountain is ever-changing. Here are some stunning views of the 350 million year old granite mountain that the Cherokee considered sacred.
“We cannot lower the mountain, therefore we must elevate ourselves”
– Todd Skinner
Warm Wishes,
Debra Roinestad 🌿
