Tombstone Tuesday ~

"Betrayed in Love
Then the rains came,
And things were never the same again."

Sure makes you wonder what this poor soul must have endured.....

Roan Valley ~ Final Resting Place

The Roan mountain is a place of magic on earth, for me . There are thorn-free roses growing, up high on the mountain. There are lots of botanical wonders that are normally seen in much more northern , and very high altitude, climes.

Rare and beautiful flowers and plants, growing wild and free on the Roan.

A hiker’s dream. A mountain lover’s paradise.

Just plain "heaven on earth" for this gal.

I had heard about a cemetery that is situated up high on a knoll, nestled between the rolling ridges that are called the Roan. Up in the Roan Valley, this is a place of pure beauty. I was captivated at my first glimpse. I am forever hooked.

When the world starts to close in on me and I need a quick moment of escape, I know just where to go.

I will let my mind wander, back to a place where the air is sweetened by wildflowers and the birds with wide wings soar effortlessly, silent and free, overhead.

This special place, where the only sounds are the crickets in the tall grass and the wind through high branches, is where my heart resides.

I will let my mind wander 'back to the Roan'.

The souls buried there are in a most beautiful place.

We drove up from the town of Bakersville and followed the directions onto a side road that looked more like a gravel drive than an actual road. We wound our way, around the houses and horse pastures. and onto a grassy lane, between the fences.

It sits high up on the knoll, surrounded by a split rail fence. The view just went on, and on. The beauty of the place will cause you to pause and slowly take it all in.

I think I know why the Arrowood’s homesteaded in this area.

The Roan area is just something else.

In this cemetery are souls long passed, Civil War soldiers, and more recently departed as well.

I could find no surnames that tie in directly to our line, but there just about has to be connections somehow, someway, to our family. I think I will adopt them all anyway. Grin.

There are benches on the top of the knoll, under a massive ancient shade tree, just inviting you to sit a spell and enjoy the view. We did just that.