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...

Friday, September 17, 2010

Shenandoah Valley


You are probably VERY tired of hearing me talk about my August Birthday trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. This will only be my 14th post from this trip... Yipes!!!! BUT--the good news is that there is only one more post after today...

It was a fabulous trip--and if you are new to my blog, I hope that you will go to my sidebar, scroll down to labels and click on Birthday 2010.

In today's post, we are finally OFF of the mountain (came off of the Skyline Drive near Front Royal, VA) ---and are driving through the fabulous Shenandoah Valley. In the above picture, you can see the beautiful valley ---with the mountains (which we had just been on) in the distance. Below are more pictures of the 'valley'.





In this picture, you can see Skyline Drive (where we were) on the mountain. It felt strange being in the valley--after being on the mountain for two days.





Like we always do, we drove on all of the 'back roads' in the valley--so that we could enjoy seeing the farms and communities along our way. This is a little church (Limeton Community Church) which we saw. I didn't realize until after I took the picture that there was a power line in the picture... Oh Well--it's still a pretty, little church.




The Shenandoah River wanders in an "S" shape throughout the valley in this area. Since I wanted a picture of the river, I tried to take one from the car --while we were driving That didn't work--as you can see. But---out of all of the pictures we took that day, this is the ONLY one we have showing the river.... SO---Close your eyes and just think of this picture as an 'artsy' one!!!! ha






All of my life, I have heard about the beautiful Shenandoah Valley... The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's version of "Shenandoah" has always been a favorite of mine. Dotted throughout this valley were many gorgeous homes and ranches and farms. This is one I'd love to see up close!!!





This is one of my favorite pictures of the valley because most of you know how much I love seeing little country churches. The location of this one is fabulous I think...

AND--the highest mountain in the background just happens to be near where we had spent the night the night before, Skyland Resort... It was fun looking up and comparing how different things look being down in the valley instead of looking at the view from above.

IF you ever get a chance to visit this area, please do so. I'm sure it is fabulous in the Fall--but like the Smokies, the traffic will be much worse then.

Have a wonderful weekend. I'll be back on Monday morning.
Hugs,