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...

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Visit with Cousins at Fall Creek Falls

On Sunday,   George and I drove south of Crossville to one of our favorite places,   Fall Creek Falls State Park.  We met two of my cousins and their extended families for a delicious buffet at the park restaurant.  Besides eating,  we sat around and chatted for a couple of hours.  It was a great time.

Above is a picture of the nine of us...  Seated on the left is my cousin Carol --and John (hubby) behind her. They live in Michigan.  Seated on the right is Marvin and wife Carol behind him.  You know George and I in the middle with our 'matching' shirts... ha ha .....  Behind us is Dar and Wes.   Dar and Carol (the Carol on the right) are sisters of  my cousin Carol's husband John.   The two sisters and hubby's live in Sparta--which is southwest of Crossville.   And my cousin Bonnie (in the white blouse) lives in Florida with husband Dave (who was not with us since he is hang-gliding this week).   Below are more pictures...




Here are the 3 cousins:  Bonnie,  Betsy and Carol.   Bonnie and Carol are 1st cousins since their mothers were sisters.  I am a 2nd cousin since my mother was a sister of their grandmother.   Got all that????? ha ha .... These two gals are like my sisters --since I never had one!!!!!   Don't you love the SQUINTS???  We were looking STRAIGHT into the sun...




After dinner,  George and I just had to take time to drive around the park searching for Fall colors...  Even though it's been very dry here this year,  we did find lots of color to share with you.   The picture above was taken from inside the car---looking out of the front window... The roads all around the park were dotted with Fall colors --and just so pretty... It was a beautiful day to be there.




This is a picture taken near Cane Creek Waterfall --which was mostly dry... Can you see how dry the creek is in the picture above????  We have NEVER  EVER seen this small amount of water in this area---and you know that we have been to Fall Creek Falls a trillion  million times.  ha.... I keep talking about how dry we are this year in this area---but seeing no water at the Cascades or Cane Creek Waterfall just about blew my mind!!!!




There was a little water coming over Fall Creek Falls (not pictured)---but not nearly as much as we usually see.  However,  the Fall colors near the falls,  and on the nearby bluffs and gorge were really pretty.  Don't you agree?




This is always one of my favorite pictures of  the mountain ranges surrounding Fall Creek Falls State Park.  It was nice to be here on a beautiful Autumn day in Tennessee.




Finally,   a sweet lady took our picture together since George took theirs...  Hope you enjoyed experiencing Autumn in Tennessee. Even with the drought,  we truly enjoyed our day at the state park.

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I will be taking a blog break for the rest of the week.   I 'may' do a blog on Friday--but probably will wait until Monday.  I will catch up with your blog posts next week.  Hope all of you have a fabulous week.  Enjoy yourself and get out in nature---that's most important.

Hugs,

58 comments:

Anonymous said...

How nice that you were able to visit with your cousins on such a pretty afternoon! I love seeing the photos of everyone and the mountain views and colors are so pretty. Have a very nice week Betsy!

T said...

just lovely and I'm so glad you had time with your family.

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Beautiful scenes.I always like to see you and George,you look like such a perfect couple.May you have a wonderful time,I'll miss you and the cheerful posts.:)
Blessings,Ruth

MadSnapper said...

I got so caught up at the cousin story and pics i almost missed the color photos. i just went to a cousin reunion, there were 11 of us cousins and we did not ever figure out 1, 2 or what we were. lots of fun
we will miss you

Dorothy said...

Great pictures and great to get together with family!! Enjoy your break;-)

PCovi said...

I wish I could make it rain...it is sad to see those river beds so empty.
I hope you guys have fun in Maggie Valley! I remember how my breath was taken away when I drove upon that valley one fall.

Susie said...

Thanks for showing us the park pics. Looks lovely.

Glad to see you got to visit with family too. How nice!

Karin said...

Cousin socials are so much fun! What a great picture of the whole bunch! You do have very clean car windows - that's a pretty picture of that drive. I miss those kinds of places - we hardly have any tree lined lanes, roads, highways except further in the mountains. Have a wonderful break and enjoy the season. God bless! Hugs!

Snap said...

Looks like a wonderful time was had by all! Lovely color.

Busy Bee Suz said...

What a fun and lovely visit with family Betsy.
Love all the photos too.
Have a nice break...see you soon.

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, Great reunion pictures! It is wonderful that you had a nice visit with your cousins.

Have a fabulous day today!

Diane said...

Nice people pictures as well as the landscape. Have fun on your trip, Betsy. Diane

Ginny Hartzler said...

All great pictures! You and Carol look just a bit alike. You and George sitting in front of the pretty fall leaves, and your shirts are fall leaf colors, too! The two of you rival the leaves in your joy and beauty!

I Am Woody said...

Such a wonderful visit in such a wonderful place. I just love Fall Creek Falls!

Kay said...

Looks like a fun time. Several of my cousins got together while I was up at my brother's a couple of weeks ago so I didn't get to attend.

Pat Tillett said...

It sounds (and looks) like you had a great trip and visit...
great photos Betsy!

amelia said...

I seem to remember the same ladies from last year, am I right? Or maybe the year before!! Time flies anyway.

You all look as if you are having a great time and the colours are beautiful.

Arkansas Patti said...

Definitely see the family resemblance between you an Carol.
Kind of sad that it is so dry. For someone who lives for waterfalls, this must be of concern.
You do have better color than us however. Maybe next week????
Enjoy your break.

Becca's Dirt said...

Good looking family Betsy. It's so good to get together with family for a short visit. I usually like the short ones best. Amazing that there is so little water in the park. But our weather man was saying this morning that of the last 8 months 6 have been the driest setting some new monthly records. In Jan-Mar we received most of our rainfall that we've had this year. If we don't get any rain the rest of the month we will break a record set back in 1824.

Becca's Dirt said...

Good looking family Betsy. It's so good to get together with family for a short visit. I usually like the short ones best. Amazing that there is so little water in the park. But our weather man was saying this morning that of the last 8 months 6 have been the driest setting some new monthly records. In Jan-Mar we received most of our rainfall that we've had this year. If we don't get any rain the rest of the month we will break a record set back in 1824.

Unknown said...

Beautiful! I am so glad you found a kind soul to return a favor by taking your picture. We do rely on the kindness of strangers sometimes! Looks like the color is kicking in, and how fun to enjoy it with great family!

Janie said...

Looks like a great reunion. It's so nice to get all the cousins together.
Your fall colors are wonderful. I hope you have a wonderful break.

Rose said...

thanks for sharing the photos. looks like a great time. love the photos of the area. thanks for your commenton my post re horses, glad they are safe. we will be here when you return. rose

Sharon said...

I guess I really should have gone up there when I was better, it sure is beautiful! Glad you had a great time with your extended family!
I can see by your (our) radar why my net service is so bad! Maybe we will get some rain!
Have a good rest of the week!

carolina nana said...

It's wonderful to see out of town family for a visit and looks like you all picked a picture perfect place for your little family reunion. Hope you have a wonderful week and are blessed with great weather.
Marilyn

KathyA said...

How nice to get together with family and in such a beautiful area.

Lynda said...

I love your pictures. I agree we are used to seeing the brilliant reds, etc. but the muted pinks are pretty, too. I don't remember seeing pinkish hues ever. The drought has been disturbing this year.

D said...

Family, food and fun... now that is what we all need more of. I hope you are enjoying your trip... of course you are! How could one ever doubt it. XOXO

Fred Alton said...

I love being with my family whatever the occasion. You were blessed with wonderful weather and you (as always) captured the moments masterfully with your camera!

Paige Thomas King said...

besty, Found you through your comment on Blisitydoodah. As I am also in TN, your comment caught my attention. Then I read your blog "tag line" and was hooked! I love your positive outlook. I'll be following your blog from here on out!
paige

ruthinian said...

it's nice to meet your family. family is a treasure that cannot be stolen from you. and your part of the world is simply breathtaking.

Connie said...

Must have been great to spend some time with your family and visit for a while, Betsy! As always, your pictures are fantastic! Such lovely views. :)

Catherine said...

Have a good week off!
xo Catherine

Beth said...

Hi, Betsy! I'm so glad you got to visit with your family---they all look to be lovely people in what is a truly lovely place. I can see why that state park is one of your favorites; it's beautiful even in the dry weather. We are getting a bit of welcome rain here this morning---I hope you are, too.

Enjoy your time off---see you again, soon!

Sunny said...

It sounds like you had a fun visit and the scenery is so pretty. A lot of our leaves are on the ground - must be why they call it fall- haha!
Enjoy your blogging break.
☼ Sunny

Together We Save said...

Thanks for sharing the photos!!

Anonymous said...

I'm glad you had a nice visit with your family. The pictures of the park were pretty.

Unknown said...

Ohhhh, BETSY! What exquisite photos on your travels ... love the beautiful family share. We see things thru your trips & eyes that we wouldn't capture or ever see without your generous sharing ...

THANK YOU! Have a lovely break ...
Have a beautiful autumn eve ~
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

Leovi said...

Very Very Very nice!!!

Twilight Man said...

Hi Betsy, I am now a follower of your blog. Your lovely photos made me wanna cry, simple, I miss America so much! I always told everyone that the most beautiful time in North East US is around late Autumn when it's colorful and cool. Have a nice break!

NENSA MOON said...

oww... I love to see you all happy on those pics!!
And the scenery on the road was so beautiful.
The color of leaves were also looked happy and beautiful..
And the last pic is my fav...

Thanks so much for sharing all the story and pics!
hope you enjoy your trip, dear Betsy friend!
will waiting you back safely!
hugs,
nensa

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, That is a wonderful picture of you and George with the red trees in the background. I enjoyed hearing about your lunch and visit with relatives. Have a great weekend.

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

Blogland sure is quiet these days!!! :-)

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Hi Betsy,

It is so nice to see families getting together! Glad you had such a nice time.

Your photos are great and I'm enjoying the beautiful fall colors since we're not experiencing very much of it here in Missouri. I'm not sure of the reason, but the colors aren't very good this year.

Enjoy your blog break. We'll be happy to see you when you return.

Cheryl

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Betsy,
How wonderful you could visit with your counsin and have such a great time on such a lovely fall day. I love the photos. They are splendid. Have a fantastic fall day and wonderful weekend.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

http://annsnowchin.blogspot.com/2010/10/outdoor-wednesday-farm.html

This is an invite to you and George to visit New Zealand.

You and Carol, your DNAs are so strong, instead of second cousins, you look like sisters.

The last one of the lovely couple is the best.

Anonymous said...

I like the last photo. You are such a very beautiful couple!

Mary said...

Looks like you had a wonderful time. The fall color is really pretty there. Enjoy your blog break.

Kirigalpoththa said...

Love to see those fall colors again!

Tipper said...

How nice to get to spend time with your cousins!! I swear you'd all pass for sisters : )

Beth said...

E enjoyed 'meeting' some of your family. Staying in touch with cousins is more difficult with the parents are all gone (my situation)---it's wonderful that you all have that comraderie.
I love the fall colors and am blessed to have plenty in southeastern Ohio--partly makes up for sometimes brutal winters.
I still enjoyed seeing the mountains' color display.:)

imac said...

Great meeting, great place and scenes Betsy.
Glad you time was enjoyment.

Wendy said...

Your pics are just stunning! And nice to have family to enjoy good times with. You are making fun memories to treasure as time goes on.
Have a good week.

Tammie Lee said...

yea, it all sounds like great fun and so much beauty.

SquirrelQueen said...

How fun to get a chance to catch up with cousins and family. It looks like you all had a great time.

Those are some beautiful colors but I have a feeling you are going to have some really spectacular shots for us when you return.

I have been having lots of trouble posting comments for over a week so I am really behind with everyone's blogs. Hopefully I have solved the problems.

Hope you had a fun week,
Judy

Rajesh said...

Beautiful shots of the woods. The autumn colors re very lovely.

Ida said...

I think you have the most beautiful autumn colours in the world!! (((Ida)))

Velvet Over Steel said...

More Beautiful picture Betsy!! I love the fall colors, they are much more vibrant then here in the midwest where I'm living. So nice to be able to see and visit with your cousins. I don't have a sister either and have a friend who also doesn't. We have and continue to be each others sisters! We love it & decided that we are 'soul' sisters that God brought together. :-)

Enjoy your week and blog break, Betsy!!
Blessings & Big Hug,
Coreen

P.S. How far away from Murpy, N.C. are you? I have in-laws that I am still very close to that live there now. Saw them in June and they said they were extremely close to TN. :-)