Bear Visitors

Photo from the Asheville Citizen Times.

We have had many black bear sightings in the mountains here this spring and summer. This one was taken by a man visiting a nearby construction site. He headed back to his car and who was in the driver seat but this mom and two cubs. He made loud noises and they got out of the car and left. Unfortunately the seats were all muddy and covered in drool!

Our screen porch was ambushed by one fellow a couple of months back. He smelled the dry cat food we leave out for the kitties and tried to get inside. Thankfully we lined the screen with hog wire just in case a wild animal wanted to come in. My husband ran out with a flashlight, pelting him with golf balls and banging on pots and pans to scare him off. It worked but now we don't keep any food items outside at all at night.





A neighbor had a bear break into his mobile home recently and trash his kitchen looking for his dogs' food. Where were his two dogs that night I wonder? Bears can enter homes through unlocked doors and screens - so be forewarned.

The Beaver Lake area of Asheville is being harassed by a gang of several yearling male bears and my friend Emily ran into one while out walking a few weeks ago. It was dusk and she was almost home when a young male cane out from between two houses and headed towards her. She backed up slowly to the nearest door. She pounded on the door yelling "Let me in. There is a bear out here."

A little old lady opened the door a crack and Emily asked her if she could please come in. "There is a bear behind me." "Yep I can see him," the older woman replied. Emily slipped inside quickly and slammed the door on the bear. Who would think taking a walk in your neighborhood could be dangerous?


Bears at Grandfather Mountain Wildlife Area.

It seems there have been more sightings in our area possibly due to more cubs being born this year. Also the new Tiger Woods golf course is under construction at the Cliffs in our town - possibly driving the bear population to other areas like ours. Hopefully when that quiets down, the bears will head back up there!

For more posts about animals of all kinds visit Camera Critters.

UR Light Center Labyrinth, Black Mountain

I love to walk labyrinths as a form of meditation and seek them out wherever I travel or live. This one is just a few miles from my house in the mountains and quite lovely.



The United Research Light center itself is a nondenominational center for prayer and meditation. It is housed in a white dome building surrounded by forest and gardens. I have attended many concerts here in the upper dome part of the building which has great acoustics.

The Light Center Labyrinth, located behind the dome building, is a Classical 7 circuit design. This one looks to have a metal frame of sorts with white pebbles lining the walkway. It is nestled in a sunny spot surrounded by trees with a bench for sitting before or after the walk.




Walking a labyrinth helps me be still and to go within. It is a form of meditation or prayer and can be used for many things - to intuit answers to life's questions, to ask for guidance or healing, to pray, or to just enjoy the feeling of peace.

For more information on labyrinths or to locate one near you visit Labyrinth Society online.

The Light Center also has a Light Chamber - a circular room with comfy seating around the perimeter for meditating. Panels of lights sit below the ceiling and shine for 5 minutes at a time. Beautiful music plays during the 35 minute session. I have not done this yet but it does look peaceful and interesting. You can find the Light center off Highway 9 just south of Black Mountain. For more information visit UR Light Center or call 828.669.6845.


(This photo from the UR Light center website)

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