Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, December 5, 2011

Peaks of Otter ---Part II

Here are a few more photos of the gorgeous Peaks of Otter,  on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Roanoke, VA.  George took the picture above when he was wandering around in front of our lodge room.

That is Sharp Top ---which we visited the last time we were here (August, 2010).   On that trip,  we took the Sharp Top bus up the mountain part of the way and then hiked to the top.  What a great view we had from the top.  (Be sure to enlarge pictures by clicking on them.)




This picture was taken in 2010 when we climbed up to the top of Sharp Top Mountain.  George went all the way to the 'top of the world' ---and I stood down one level and took his picture.




And this one was taken from the TOP ---looking down on the Peaks of Otter lodges/facilities... Aren't they pretty?  (Remember that these two pictures were taken in August of 2010 when we were here the first time.  I remember the hike up Sharp Top well---since I had just had knee surgery in June of that year.... Yipes!!!)




I love seeing the reflections in the lake in this picture.




Look who is standing on the balcony ---outside our room!!!




Here is another picture of some of the gorgeous grounds at the Peaks of Otter.





Lastly,  here is a picture of the other side of our lodge,  along with Sharp Top Mountain!!!  We were getting ready to leave ---so George took one last picture of the lodge... If you expand the photo---you can see the sign.


Hope you enjoyed seeing our pictures from the Peaks of Otter.    If you want to see more pictures from our August, 2010 trip here,  click HERE  and HERE and HERE.   Those posts will give you more history of the area --along with more photos.  This truly is a beautiful place to find peace and relaxation.

Hugs,
Betsy

52 comments:

Anonymous said...

Such a majestic setting! Thanks for sharing these photos, Betsy. Hope you have a nice week.

Beth said...

The cat George and I are sitting here enjoining your photos and words, Bets. I'm late rising today: 5 instead of 4:30. Several days last week your posts weren't up yet when I was blog reading, so I missed them, and I haven't yet caught up.
Beautiful photos of a beautiful area. You make me want to come that way even more.
Quite a wonder woman to have made that hike on a recently operated knee! You are a very strong and determined lady!:>)
Blessings--Beth♥♥♥

Jo said...

As always your photos are EXQUISITE, Betsy. I love the reflections and I, too, loved being "on top of the world" for photos. So thanks for sharing this post. Have a wonderful day, Blessings, Jo

Catherine said...

Very pretty Betsy!

Wishing you a wonderful week ~ I hope you are having nice weather!

xo Catherine

I Am Woody said...

I seriously need to visit there!!

Dorothy said...

Looks like this would be beautiful any time of the year. I would like to be there in the Fall or Winter.

MadSnapper said...

love that first photo, the angle you shot is perfect and pleasing to the eye. like those old stone steps too.

Anonymous said...

Great shots! I love reflections in water too, especially in the autumn!

From the Kitchen said...

Andrew left his glasses on Sharp Top a few years back and had return to retrieve them. That took awhile!! Nevertheless, he loved the Peaks as much as I do. I've been many, many times in all seasons. Loved seeing your photos.

Best,
Bonnie

Connie said...

Looks like a beautiful place to visit, Betsy. My knees hurt a little just thinking about climbing to the top, and I haven't had any knee surgery!! haha! Happy Monday to you!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Gorgeous scenery. The reflections in the lake are perfect. Have a wonderful day.I get to bake with my favourite assistant today,Kai.

Shug said...

Such a gorgeous view from anywhere you stand....
This place looks so relaxing and beautiful. I am sure getting a lot of vacation ideas from you...Have never been to this part of the country, so maybe it is time...
Hugs Betsy
Shug

TexWisGirl said...

the lodge looks quite large, but the lake keeps the setting very peaceful! love those steps in the mountain. :)

Linda@VS said...

I love the sky and the flow of natural light in that top photo of Sharp Top, and the lake-reflection photos are especially beautiful. With the lodge being as large as it is, I'm surprised you didn't have tourists cluttering up the gorgeous scenery.

Karin said...

Would love to spend a week or two in a peaceful, pastoral place like this! Just looking at the photos make me breathe deeper and relax! Thanks for sharing Betsy and George! Have a great week.

Am recuperating nicely, but hubby has to go in on Thursday for his biopsy and then a bunch of follow-up appointments. It's a challenging season but God is good!

Rose said...

A beautiful place, for sure. I really like that first shot and also the one of the lake reflections...beautiful!

Busy Bee Suz said...

What a beautiful area....love all the photos.
You will cherish the memories of this trip for a long time!!!

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

It looks as if you picked a perfect time to go. The colors were pretty well gone from the trees, but it appears that you pretty much had the place to yourselves. That's not a bad trade off. :)

Ms. A said...

Have mercy! I admire your hiking abilities, I don't think I could do it. Just knowing how long it might take to be rescued, would make me have second thoughts. I do so enjoy your photos and stamina!

Chatty Crone said...

Again your photos are so beautiful - love the deep blue water and the feeling of the fresh air. sandie

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, Looks so nice. I love the view. Have a wonderful evening and stay dry!

LV said...

If it is peaceful and quiet, I should move there. Too old for a lot of racket anymore. A truly lovely area.

imac said...

Great holiday shots Betsy, just uploading mine phew, its a long process lol.

HolleyGarden said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous! Wish we had mountains around here. What a view!

Small City Scenes said...

Beautiful shots of a wonderful place. You look so happy. MB

Ann said...

Such a pretty place. So many wonderful views.
Hope you had a great day

Fred Alton said...

Betsy, I never tire of seeing the pictures you have taken, especially of the blueridge area. BTW thanks for the nice comments on my blog. I really am doing great and am believing that I'll get in at least one more opportunity to harvest that venison! ☺

CottonLady said...

Awesome pictures, Betsy!

amy @ Life in Pink Hi-Tops said...

Great pictures Betty--such a beautiful vista!

Out on the prairie said...

What a nice place to stay

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Looks like a pretty place to visit. You're looking great in the photo, Betsy, hope you're feeling great. Take care and have a good week!

SquirrelQueen said...

Oh Betsy, I love the cloud formation above Sharp Top in the first photo.

I just looked over at your weather widget. It says 59 degrees, are you folks having a heat wave? It's just below freezing here at the moment.

Hope you are feeling better.

Unknown said...

It's nice to simply see blue skies in your pictures! Life on the farm has been crazy with two birthday girls running around, 80 new (to our farm) calves to tend to, and baking for last week's Christmas Bazaar at school. Hope to catch up with everyone this week before round two of craziness hits!

Hugs!

diane b said...

It sure does look a wonderful place for peace and relaxation. The evening light plays beautifully on the lake. You look like you belong on that balcony.

happyone said...

I like those stone steps.

Ginny Hartzler said...

You're too close to the edge of that balcony, get back!! And George way up there, what an unusual and frightening vantage point!!! I love the lake reflections best, and that little tree out in the pond!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

They used to do a really great Friday night buffet at the lodge that we'd sometimes drive up for when I was a kid :-)

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Such beautiful photos, Betsy. This is a magnicient setting. Thanks for sharing the trip with us. I love your header photo!

Janice K said...

That sure looks like a wonderful place to stay. Hope your health is continuing to improve.

trump said...

I really love your images Betsy, we must have the same taste because i just love anything with a mountain in it. Richard

Mary said...

Looks like a great place to stay. Very beautiful!

Janie said...

Beautiful scenery, Betsy!
I love your header, too. Your house looks ready for Christmas.

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Gorgeous shots Betsy...and you look so happy!!! I've missed seeing all my bloggy buddies for the past couple of weeks ... I have lots to catch up on!!! It's cold here in NW Tn today...

Glenda said...

You've been blessed to visit some beautiful places, Betsy!

Hope you are feeling well and have a good week!

Andrea said...

I will echo Glenda above, 'you are so blessed for visiting some beautiful places' and waterfalls. You look slimmer in that photo outside your room. All the views are magnificent, i wonder how it looks like when fully covered with snow!

Diane said...

With snow on the ground here that looks so pleasant and GREEN. Very nice shots of your great trip Betsy. Diane

Carletta said...

Lovely shots as usual Betsy!
Your reflection shot looks so soothing. Such a peaceful scene.
The only thing I can say about Sharp Top - it looks so far up that mountain but wow, what a view!

A Colorful World said...

Oh, Betsy, your comment on my blog just gave me chills! It was a sweet story, and I appreciate you sharing it with me.

Neal said...

That 3rd picture from the top is something special! That is a very beautiful place....have to put it on my list. :)

Twilight Man said...

The aerial view is fantastic like being shot from a helicopter! Both of you are truly blessed to visit so many exotic places without having to fly out of US!

Kirigalpoththa said...

That is a lovely vista! Excellent vantage point.

Kirigalpoththa said...

That is a lovely vista! Excellent vantage point.