You Rock ...

“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.”

    ~ Theodore Roosevelt

       ~ 1858-1919

  ~Naturalist & Conservationist

 ~ 26^th President of the United States of America

       ~ 1901-1909

I found this painted rock with the phrase “You Rock” along the Saucon Rail Trail, Hellertown, Pennsylvania, on a beautiful summer afternoon in late August.

This painted rock is likely part of the The Kindness Rocks Project, which was founded by Megan Murphy of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, who wanted to spread encouraging messages to strangers by writing them on rocks she found on the beach. The practice spread and launched similar projects across the United States.

The grassroots project encourages people to leave rocks painted with inspiring messages along the path of life. People are encouraged to take one, share one or add to the pile. You can see just how much impact she’s made when looking up #TheKindnessRocksProject. Learn more about how to join the movement at http://thekindnessrocksproject.com.

“You Rock” is a slang phrase of praise or encouragement conveying “You're awesome (at something)” or “You can do it!”

New York Freedom ...

“We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter, and we will not fail. Peace and Freedom will prevail.”

           ~ George W. Bush

                 ~ born 1946

  ~ 43^rd President of the United States of America

                      ~ 2001-2009

Splashes of morning light on a perfect April day shine on One World Trade Center – The Freedom Tower – and the new Oculus sculpture that tops the World Trade Center Transportation Hub in Lower Manhattan, New York City, near the Memorial Pools.

One World Trade Center is the main building of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex. With 104 floors, it is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth tallest in the world. It opened November 3, 2014.

The Oculus sculpture – bringing to mind the bold, rising wings of freedom – is the creation of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Climb That Mountain ...

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that … mountain.”

                       ~ Jack Kerouac

                            ~ 1922-1969

While walking on the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D&L Trail) at Lehigh Gap on a late May evening, I looked across the Lehigh River and spotted this man hiking along the Kittatinny Ridge, also called Blue Mountain.

In the shadow of the Kittatinny Ridge, the Lehigh Gap in Slatington, Pennsylvania, is a crossroads where the Lehigh Gap Nature Center’s trails connect two historic trails – the Appalachian Trail and the D&L Trail. 

The Appalachian Trail, a foot path, follows the ridge on both sides of the Lehigh Gap, running 1,245 miles south to Georgia and 930 miles north to Maine. Running from Wilkes-Barre to Bristol, the D&L Trail passes through the Lehigh and Delaware rivers and their canals in Pennsylvania.