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, January 16, 2012

Cades Cove in the Smokies

Besides visiting with special friends in Gatlinburg in December and seeing all of the gorgeous Christmas lights and decorations,  George and I also took time while we were in the Smoky Mountains to make a quick trip to one of our favorite places,  Cades Cove.

I love Cades Cove during all seasons ---and one of these days,  I need to share different photos from each season for you in one blog post... BUT--today,  I'll share some WINTER photos taken by us in December, 2011.

The picture above shows the John Oliver cabin in the distance ---along with the mountains in winter AND the beautiful blue sky.   Wouldn't you love to have a cabin like this in the mountains somewhere????  I'd LOVE it!!!!!

Be sure to click on the pictures to enlarge them!!!!




We took one of the dirt roads across the cove ---and stopped to take pictures of the valley and the mountains.




This is my Sweetheart ---also taking pictures in Cades Cove.  Isn't the sky just gorgeous on that mild December day????




You can see the little dirt road we were on that day... There's just no place like Cades Cove in the Smokies!!!!!  (I'd love to see it with snow on the ground sometime!)




We saw several deer out and about the day we were there.   I snapped this picture with my long-lens---and didn't realize until I got home and put it on my computer that there was a little one lying there near his mother....  Neat, huh?




We passed by some turkeys eating (and paying no attention to us) in the field.




I had to show you this side of the turkey so that you could see some of his pretty colors.




Here is one more beautiful photo of the SNOWY Smoky Mountains, from beautiful Cades Cove.   Be sure to enlarge this picture.   Such an awesome place!!!!!

Have a wonderful day.

Hugs,
Betsy

78 comments:

Ms. A said...

I still see some green and the weather looked wonderful. I, too, would love to see it with snow!

Cuby said...

You have access to some amazing parts of America and sharing them is fabulous as I don't imagine I will make it to them. I do love the little cabin by the woods - we have stayed in some brilliant wooden cottages by lakes in woods miles from anywhere in Finland and it is just so special as I imagine this one would be too.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Beautiful.I love it when things like that young deer show up on pictures. These are such neat surprises.

diane b said...

A beautiful part of your country. The weather looks amazing for winter. I love the shot with the dirt road disappearing into the photo.

Mr. Bill said...

Thanks Betsy...for reminding me how good we do have it here in East Tennessee.

happyone said...

Beautiful photos - every one of them.
Ken and I are working on having a little cabin in the hills! : )

eileeninmd said...

Betsy, beautiful series on Cades Cove. I remember riding around these roads years ago too. Your photos have brought back great memories. Your photos are wonderful, I especially love the last shot.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I've never been there. It is beautiful. Great turkey shot!

Catherine said...

With all this white stuff we have gotten this weekend, I was missing the greens and the blues. I hope they come back soon.

Lovely photos Betsy!

Have a terrific week.
xo Catherine

Arkansas Patti said...

That is my favorite place in Tennessee. Thanks for the great shots of a beautiful place where the wildlife does not fear man.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the visit to Cades Cove Betsy! I think this picturesque little “cove” has to be one of the most scenic areas in America.

John and Ellen
connectedtothevinephotography.blogspot.com

Tracy said...

Betsy, those photos truly give meaning to the phrase of the song, 'for purple mountains majesty...'
absolutely gorgeous!

pam said...

Everytime I go to Cades Cove it's cold and foggy!

MadSnapper said...

wild life and smoky mountain views and fields of green, nothing better.

Big Dude said...

Nice shots as always Betsy. In my younger days, we would occasionally go up for a picnic in the snow - can't remember why I enjoyed it though. If you look at my Facebook page, there is a shot of my first wife and three kids from a winter Cades Cove - we put on our Christmas cards.

Larry said...

It's been so long since we were in Cades Cove... thanks for the remembrances! Larry

Fred Alton said...

Always loved Cade's Cove, Betsy! That 11-mile loop is a great hike too. You captured great photos of the deer and turkey.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Exquisite views!

TexWisGirl said...

really beautiful! those winter grasses have such gorgeous, rich color!

Shug said...

Morning Betsy...you took some really good pictures here. We have a "Cade's Cove" just about a mile from our home.
It is a cove off of the lake and the people who own it have the last name of Cade! how neat.
Have a wonderful day!
Shug

Anonymous said...

Really pretty pics and I love seeing the deer and turkey. Enjoy your day, Betsy.

Sylvia K said...

Such a lovely place to spend time, Betsy! I do love your photos, particularly the deer and the beautiful skies! Hope your week is off to a great start! Enjoy!

Sylvia

Out on the prairie said...

I remember traveling along this road, some lovely shots

Unknown said...

A beautiful place to visit for sure. the mountains are gorgeous.

Neal said...

We really like that area also. We walked up to that cabin when we were there in October. We also saw a couple bears up in a tree but it was so crowded that we didn't stop.

Angela said...

Wow! What a beautiful place! Such a beautiful blue sky for a December day too! I love the mountains around it too. Very nice!

GreatGranny said...

As I've said before, I think, that TN is beautiful and you've captured it so beautifully. I love the sky and mountains.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Ah, Betsy. These are beautiful pictures of one of our favorite places. Makes us want to pack up and head down there.

Anonymous said...

It's odd to see George wearing just a shirt in December. I guess it wasn't all that cold for you, though I probably would have shivered. Lol.

The name Cades is a famous one in Hawaii. The Cadeses are well known attorneys, philanthropists, and one of them is running for US Senator. Hope he wins!

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, I have been to Cade's Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park once. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and would return - just not in the very crowded summertime. Have a wonderful day - rain on the way & hold on to your het! : )

Dorothy said...

Beautiful pictures, Betsy!! We love going to Cades Cove, too. Great pictures of the Turkey!!!

country life said...

Hi, just ran across your blog its very interesting! Love your pictures :)
Kim

From the Kitchen said...

I love those mountains in all seasons too! My uncles used to hunt and we sometimes had wild turkey on the table. They were, alas, tough and dry!!

To answer your question, all of the siblings are gone now. Most of them lived to ripe old ages (30 years difference from the oldest to the youngest). As an aside, my father was an only child!!

Best,
Bonnie

Anonymous said...

Nice winter pictures of Cades Cove. The photograph that blows me away, though, is your header photo. One word comes to mind when I look at that picture -- rapture!

Connie said...

These are lovely photos, Betsy. It looks like a peaceful spot. I really like the turkey pictures. :)

Ginny Hartzler said...

My favorites here are one and four. I love country roads, just driving down them to see where they go. They are like a present all ready to open.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

These are wonderful photos of a beautiful area. I'm always struck by the thought of how big this country is when I look at your scenic photos. Have a great day!

Beth said...

Beautiful, Bets. I esp. love the deer picture. It's always a delight when I download and then find an 'extra' in the photo that I didn't know was there!:>)

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

The skies are so gorgeous...blue perfection!!! Love the deer and turkeys also!!1 Have a wonderful week Betsy!

Glenda said...

Seeing these beautiful pics of one of our favorite places is a wonderful way to get myself back into reading my favorite blogs! I think I would never tire of the beauty in Cades Cove!

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers recently. John David is recovering well, and we are thankful!

DeniseinVA said...

Hi Betsy, from all your marvelous photos of Cades Cove, I am eager to see it for myself one of these days. Thanks for sharing these beautiful places.

nanny said...

Sure would love to visit your part of the world.......
So beautiful!!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I can see why this is one of your favotite places, Betsy! The turkeys looked well fed.

Thank you for your kind words of condolence -- they were very comforting to me. {{hugs}}

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

We enjoy visiting Cades Cove too. We usually have to wait to enjoy it in January or February when there aren't too many tourist and we can go out and play in own backyard ;-)

penny said...

I would love to visit there someday. I enjoyed looking over your shoulder in the mean time, Betsy.
Thanks for sharing the beauty.
Hugs, Pam :)

Chatty Crone said...

Okay I agree it is a beautiful place - quite Heavenly - but for me and my personality I don't think I would like to live out there in a cabin - alone - I am a city gal. But it is beautiful. sandie

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

The owner owns all the land and the mountians and the deers and the wild birds?

Jane said...

Your pictures are so pretty,we went back in November,and Cades Cove is always a must see,we love the cove! Blessings Jane

imac said...

Beautiful Wide open spaces here Betsy.

Diane said...

Beautiful place Betsy. I'm sure it's even prettier in real. Nice shots of the deer and turkeys. Diane

CottonLady said...

Absolutely beautiful, Betsy!! Thanks for sharing them.

Blessings!

Ann said...

oh yes, I would love to have a cabin like that. So beautiful and all that wide open space and the wildlife.

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

Absolutely goregous, Betsy! Thanks so much for taking us along on your journey!

Susie Swanson said...

Cade's Cove is an awesome place, I haven't been in a while but I never get tired of going there.. you made it all come to life with your beautiful pics, thanks for sharing..Susie

Rose said...

I sure wish I was there now...I love the one showing the road that you were on! Great animal shots, too.

Rohrerbot said...

This really looks like a nice place to hang out. I can't believe the temps some of the states have right now. But who's complaining?:)

Kay said...

What a pretty place.

Kay

Annesphamily said...

Oh what a pretty place! I am thinking about visiting with you and sharing that genealogy search! What fun! We are getting some snow here! It is very cold! Hugs Anne

Lady Di Tn said...

Funny we were just telling our son at dinner tonight that he needs to go visit Cades Cove. Another great set of photos. Peace

carolina nana said...

Cades Cove is one of my favorite places also. Those are some beautiful pics.
Today was a cold day here now we are supposed to warm up also and get rain. Crazy winter weather for sure.
Blessings
Marilyn

Carletta said...

Cades Cove is one of my favorite places too Betsy. I feel in love with it on my first visit. I like my visits to coincide when the bears might be out and about but your photos show much is to be enjoyd even in the winter.
Beautiful shots under lovely skies!

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Its like stepping back through time. I love your photos and I love the place. Ray bought me the book and I read all about the people who first went there.. A wonderful settlement.

Small City Scenes said...

Beautiful shots, Betsy. I sure like the third one with the road I am just itching to travel down. Something about dirt roads. Remember the song Country Roads--Love it. MB

SquirrelQueen said...

That photo of the mama and fawn is so sweet. Cades Cove has got to be one of the most beautiful places in the Smokies. I would love to get back there sometime.

We are under a Winter Storm Warning starting tomorrow night. We might actually get some snow this winter. Yay!

Harriet said...

Looks like you all had a great day. Thanks for sharing your pictures.

Michelle said...

Beautiful scenery!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Cades Cove is beautiful...so glad yall show us pics! If you saw it with snow, you may slide off the road:)

HolleyGarden said...

Just beautiful. Loved seeing the deer, and the turkey, too! You're right - he is pretty in the right light!

Photo Cache said...

Oh what a peacefully beautiful spot this is. I see why you love it so much.

Beatriz said...

Great photos Betsy!
They seem like our "cerrado" (savana) in Brazil, with some deers too and other different kinds of animals, but never with snow.....
Kisses
Bia
www.biaviagemambiental.blogspot.com

LV said...

That big bird played it safe for another year. As always, you make me think I have been right along with you and George.

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

What a beautiful day and beautiful pictures!

Splendid Little Stars said...

I love the Smokys! I haven't spent much time at Cades Cove, however.
The pattern of turkey feathers is really lovely!

Splendid Little Stars

Lynda said...

The mountains and fields almost look like you are out west again rather than in TN with their winter colors. They are still very beautiful. We live in the best state!

Lynn said...

Great pictures Betsy. Yes, the sky is beautiful. Love the deer. I miss the mountains. It would be nice if we could just take a day trip to see them, but even GA mts are 8 hours from us. However, we have our tropical beauty that is lovely too. Blessings.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I was reading your Facebook, about the very old tree that was burnt down. So very sad. Last night, a fire razed a factory here. In Sibu, where I was born, some shophouses were razed.

Fire is such a horrible thing when abused.

Serenity Cove said...

Cades Cove is an AWESOME place!!
That one overlook we always stop at we say we just want a cabin right there.

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, I am your newest follower :) I love your photo's of the mountains, absolutely stunning. Wouldn't mind living out there. Have a great weekend!

Greetings from Ireland,
Eva