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...

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Cumberland Gap, TN


When George and I first went to Cumberland Gap last weekend, the first place we stopped was the Visitor Center. That is where we picked up lots of information about the area. Above is a picture taken at the Visitor Center. Below are more.



Here's one more picture from the Visitor Center. I love the little building and of course, the split-rail fence.




We drove to the historical section of Cumberland Gap, the downtown area. We didn't go in this store, but I would have enjoyed visiting the General Store I'm sure.




I loved seeing this beautiful old home... I'm not sure what it is used for now --but it looks like a special place!!!!! I'll ask my special friends NEAL and/or his sister ROSE if they know the history of this home. (Neal and Rose grew up in Cumberland Gap.)



Do you see the rocks sticking out at the top of this mountain---WAY up there???? That's where we were and where the last 3 posts were taken, the PINNACLE.




Another view of the Pinnacle ---taken from below the mountain at Cumberland Gap, TN; Cumberland Gap, known as the "Gateway to the West", now only has about 250 residents ---and is primarily a tourist town. They say that there is a fabulous restaurant there, named Webb's Country Kitchen. There are also craft shops plus an old-fashioned drug store with soda fountain. We ate at the state park --so didn't have lunch in the Gap, but the next time we go, maybe we will eat at Webb's.

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Here's another picture of our migrating visitor, a Red-breasted Grosbeak. Yesterday's post showed a male Grosbeak, so today, I'll show you a female. I'm so glad they are back!!!!! I always look forward to seeing them.

Have a great Thursday.
Hugs,

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very sweet photo of your bird friend and I enjoyed hearing about and seeing more of your trip. That General Store would be fun to walk through and you'll have to try the restaurant next time. I'd like to have a cherry Coke from the soda fountain too!

Cicero Sings said...

Still more things left to explore in The Gap -- all the more reason to return!

From the Kitchen said...

How did you get up to that pinnacle? I'm having a bout of vertigo just thinking about it!!

Every day I take my trusty new camera out and about in town and have not yet found one leaf turning!!

Best,
Bonnie

NENSA MOON said...

Hi Betsy,
My eyes are fascinated to see the 2nd pic above.
Actually what the little building used for? I'm just curious.
Thanks so much, Betsy...you're always spoiling us with your beautiful pictures..
Hope you always have a wonderful day, my friend!
hugs,
nensa

Fred Alton said...

Thanks for letting us visit Cumberland Gap with you folks. It's a really very interesting place. Your post made me want to take Frances up there for an outing.

Anonymous said...

First of all your header just took my breath away. It is just beautiful. I love the picture of the house, too. Wouldn't you love to go through it? Sounds like a great trip.

Arkansas Patti said...

That house would make a neat B&B.
I too love split rail fences. They wouldn't keep anything in or out but define property lines beautifully.

Peggy said...

I love passing on information from your trips to my daughters. Gives them new places to go and things to do as a family. We have had over 5 inches of rain so not many birds at the feeders. Enjoy seeing yours though! Have a blessed day

linda m said...

I love that old house. It will be interesting to find out what it is today - B&B, someones home, museum ? Fabulous pictures as usual, I just love split rail fences; thanks for sharing.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

I love that old fence,and the house,oh my goodness,that is a gorgeous place.
Blessings,Ruth

MadSnapper said...

thanks for more memories from the past with this post, added to my post today I am living a short time in the happiest part of my life.
this morning right at daybreak we were in the yard for am dog games and I said, what's that noise? it sounds like HONKING. just at that time right at the top of our trees and straight out over our pool was a flock of canadian geese, big ones flapping and honking. the thing is they were headed SOUTH as in to the tropics. does that make sense?

Susie said...

Sounds like a great place to explore. I would love to explore that general store too.

Reanaclaire said...

Reminds me of those wild wild west grocery stores.. :)

Busy Bee Suz said...

I adore that visitor center.
You could not have pried me away from the general store....*sigh*

Unknown said...

Did you find it a bit eerie that such a once prominent place in our settlers' history is now kind of a ghost town? I'm sure 250 back in Daniel Boone's day would have seemed at least prosperous.

Thanks for taking us on such a great trip!

RoeH said...

I've always wanted to go to Cumberland Gap TN. I don't remember where I ever heard about it but I'm going to have to make it there someday. Sooo pretty.

Anonymous said...

I love the grosbeaks when they arrive at our house. We'll have to wait until next Spring. Perhaps one of your grosbeaks is one that frequented our bird feeder :-)

Love Of Quilts said...

What a surprise to find out thoses rocks are the Pinnacle where you took all thoses marvelous pictures...did you have hike up there are did you drive. Trish

Ginny Hartzler said...

I hope that tiny cabin isn't the visitor center!! He he!! I don't even like to think about you and George up on those (loose?)rocks!! Now more my speed would be to go in the country store, craft shop, and soda fountain!! I am really glad that you are both fit and healthy enough to go gallavanting around, though!!! I love that brick house and the round brick steps at the one end of it!

Anonymous said...

1st of all, the birdie shot is so pretty! I love it!
2nd - I love that blue blue sky in the 6th shot & The Pinnacle pic is gorgeous!!!
3rd - the history is very interesting to me of the home & it's very beautiful as well, plus the lil ol building w/ the split rail fence - So cool!

Diane said...

I know I would not have been able to pass up the Cumberland Gap General Store. How fun. Love your female grosbeak, too, Betsy. Diane

I Am Woody said...

During our visit there, I loved hiking to the spot where the corner of TN, KY, and VA meet. I like the thought of being in three places at once:)

amelia said...

We had split rail fences when we lived in Toronto but they wouldn't keep our dogs in living here.

Lovely pics again Betsy!!

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Wonderful birdie photo...
I think this must be a very beautiful area, you got so many great photos!!!

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Betsy,
I just love your header. It's just stunning. What a wonderful trip. The visitor center and old store are incredible. The bird photo is great, too. Wow! What wonderful photos. I'm so glad you shared your trip with us.

I made a mistake and deleted your last comment on my blog. I'm so sorry, but I really appreciate very much your visiting my blog and making comments.

Have a great week.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

I adore the house and the view. Have abeautiful Thursday...m....

Kay said...

Beautiful as usual. I sure wish I could see some of these site.

Kay

Glenda said...

The grosbeaks are so pretty - and so is Cumberland Gap! Wow! The Pinnacle really is the pinnacle, isn't it? I like the look of all of the weathered wood in the buildings.

Elizabeth said...

Ah, I LOVE visitor centers! You've sure intrigued me with Cumberland Gap..the area is beautiful and rich with history (and split rail fences-ha!) I'm sure happy that you and George travel so well together, and are so willing to wander off the beaten path. Thanks for all your pictures and posts about your trips...and, of course, about your life on the Plateau.

Coolness has arrived, I think, in our southern states, and that means many birds will soon be looking at your feeders. Stock up on that seed, LOL!

Very fine pics of the Grosbeaks...(um, do you pronounce that word without the 's' sound? I never know!)

Take care.

Neal said...

Sorry Betsy but I don't know the history of that house. Cumberland Gap has changed quiet a bit since I lived in that area. Webb's Country Kitchen is a good restaurant. I've eaten there before and really enjoyed it. There's a cave right above Cumberland Gap that is really pretty....assuming that you like to go into caves.

Jane said...

Nice pics. Where does adventure lead you and George this weekend????
Jane

Connie said...

I love the pretty red brick house, Betsy. Cumberland Gap looks like a beautiful place to visit.

LV said...

Another breathtaking sight from your travels. I could never get as high up as you did. Heights just do not set well with me. You make me feel I take a vacation each week.

Beth said...

I so enjoy looking down from mountain tops and looking up from below---both ways remind me of the majesty of God and his creations.
Cute little bird friend you have there! I'm looking forward to living where I can feed birds again.

Karin said...

Finally getting around this week to catch up on your beautiful posts! Such lovely photos - sure wish we could come for a visit!! I love that visitor information center - that fence is so picturesque! Thanks for taking me along on the visit! Have a great week-end.

SquirrelQueen said...

It is really interesting to see the Pinnacle from below, no wonder the views from there were spectacular. That old house is really beautiful, the design reminds me of some old courthouses. I wonder what it was originally.

I love seeing your little grosbeak visitors Betsy. That little girl is so pretty.

mudderbear said...

Hi Betsy, I've missed seeing you for the last month or so. My husband and I downsized and moved into an apartment. It has been an enormous job. And I'm not connected to the internet yet, Your photos are quite breathtaking and I've missed the daily visits. Your header picture of autumn on the Chipohala Highway is just awesome. [Did I get that spelled right?] Steve and I lived in Northwest Arkansas for a short time and I miss the beauty of that country, which is what your picture reminds me of. It's nice to see you again. Hope all is well and I will see you again soon. Rosalie/Mudderbear

carolina nana said...

I love split rail fences also. That was truly a beautiful place.
Thanks for sharing the pictures.
It has gotten fall for sure here today and temps are going to the low 40's this weekend,can't wait.
Have a blessed tomorrow
Marilyn

ruthinian said...

Hi, I would like to thank you for always visiting my blogs and I want to apologize for not returning the favor. I have been really busy these days.... work! But I am not really complaining. I am grateful that I have 2. So here I am catching up with my comments.

These photos are really awesome. I love the little house with the split rail fence. The surrounding green background added some drama to the whole picture.

I am so jealous of you... I wish I had the time to do just like that. I want to see a lot of places.

Have a wonderful weekend ahead.

Small City Scenes said...

Beautiful photos, Betsy. What fun you and George have had. That Pinnacle Rock looks waaaaay up there.

The Grosbeak is so sweet looking. Thanks for the shot. MB

Carletta said...

Wow, you really were up high over town!
I love that house. It looks so homey! I'd love to sit on that porch with some lemonade or tea.
I'm trying to bird watch too. I really hadn't until this year and now I'm wondering what might just pass through. :)

Kirigalpoththa said...

Nice pictures as always!

Rose said...

as always beautiful photos. the colors are fantastic. i love the phoyo of the old house. i agree with you little acts of kindness is important to show to others. take care rose

diane b said...

The birdy looks very fat. The mountain looks higher looking down than looking up. That's photography for you, it always flattens hills.

Janie said...

Interesting to see the Pinnacle from below. It's way up there!
The little visitor center is cute.
Glad your grosbeaks are back. We see them here, too, but not yet.

Mary said...

I love those old rail fences! Nice house! Great to see the grosbeaks.

Rose said...

I don't know the history of the place either...we didn't actually live there. That was just part of our mail address. We lived on south two or three miles...in the country.

KathyA said...

Love that Victorian brick home!