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 25, 2011

More from the Smokies 10/11

Hope you saw my photos from our latest trip to the Smokies... If you missed it,  scroll down to the labels on my sidebar and click on Fall 2011.  We went to the Smokies on Friday,  Oct. 14,  and the colors were marvelous once you got up to the mid and upper levels of the mountains...  There are just some times in our lives when we go some place at the correct time... WELL---that was it for us that day.... The colors truly would just take one's breath away.

Here are more pictures taken that day from the Smokies... Above is another photo showing the sun as it pops through the clouds on that early morning.... I love seeing the rays as they shine down in the valley and mountains...  The largest mountain in the photo is Mt. LeConte... The picture was taken from the bypass around Gatlinburg. You can see a little bit of Gatlinburg below in the photo.   (Click for larger photos.)




This is another shot of the beautiful waters found in the Smokies.... Actually,  George found this new little waterfall that day ---as he hiked down to the creek on the Chimneys Hiking Trail...  Isn't this a gorgeous little area?   They built a bridge across the creek here for the hikers...




This shows more of the gorgeous colors along the road that day..  They were truly breath-taking!!!!!




Here is George at one of the overlooks between Newfound Gap and Cherokee.   Except for the cold and HIGH winds,  we could have stayed there for hours --admiring this beauty.




This shows you what a gorgeous day we had...  Aren't the colors ---both up close and at a distance---just beautiful?




There is nothing like being in the mountains on on gorgeous day---especially in Fall when the trees are showing off their Fall colors!!!!




George took this picture of me ---with the sticking-up hair on a very windy day!!!!!  Can you tell how much I loved being there????  It was too windy to get the tripod out --but that would have been a wonderful background for our picture together.




Finally,  here's one more... All of our pictures were taken from different overlooks ---so this will give you another picture showing the beauty in the Smokies...

Hope you live somewhere where the colors are marvelous in Fall....  I read that our winter this year may be very wet and very MILD.   Obviously,  that thrills George since he hates snow...   I myself like snow (as I'm sure you know!!! ha)---so am still hoping for a little bit!!!!!   I 'figured' that the winter may be mild here since our mast crop (nuts) is quite small this year,  compared to recent years..  That is a 'sign' they say!!!!!!  Well---good comes out of bad you know... George perked up and said: "We'll be able to hike more in the winter this year and see more WATERFALLS".... ha ha

Have a wonderful day!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

39 comments:

Beth said...

You feel about your mountains the way I feel about my hills. Love em! :>)
You surely got out with the camera at the exact right time. Gorgeous---God's miracles to behold!

Our temps are just now easing down and the hose are coming out along with regular shoes. The sandals have retired for the winter.

The paper last night warned us that Ohioans should brace themselves for a "brutal winter" with record breaking snowfalls and freezing temps. Maybe we should trade places?!:>)

eileeninmd said...

Betsy, the Smokies are looking beautiful. Gorgeous colors. And I lov ethe shot from the hiking trail and the cascades, very pretty spot. Great photos, have a wonderful day.

pam said...

Your pictures belong in a travel magazine!!!

Neal said...

You got some great colors again...better than I did. I have read that we will have a hard winter up here...hope not.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Oh the beauty. The first picture with the sunbeams,makes me think that God is smiling down on His creation.What's not to smile about with the beauty all around.I have the answer for your winter.George can enjoy the snowless winter,but he needs to take you to Manitoba for a visit,just to experience the snow. Just saying….

Tami AKA My Kid's Mom said...

I get homesick every time I visit your blog! Just beautiful.

Fred Alton said...

That first picture grabbed me! Beautiful, Betsy. Thank you for sharing the pictures and your feelings of joy as you visit these places.

Lisa said...

Wow those were gorgeous, amazingly gorgeous. Thank you for sharing Betsy. I love the first picture. No wonder it is called Smokey.

Christine said...

Betsy these are just beautiful! I don't always get to come to the Smokies during the fall.

I Am Woody said...

Wow! Those colors were incredible!!

Woolly worms are saying that the winter will begin cold, warmer in the middle, then end cold. I'm not a morning person so I haven't counted the days of foggy morns - so I have no prediction about snow. I love weather folklore:)

MadSnapper said...

gorgeous! stunning! fantastic! while i am thinking of words to say i am humming blue skies. the sky is so pretty behind the colorful mountains

Anonymous said...

I could never hike as much as you do, Betsy, so I love to visit your blog and do it vicariously. Beautiful colors!

Linda@VS said...

It surprised me that the distant mountains still look blue, even though they're no doubt as brightly colored as the ones in the foreground of your photos. What a splendid place to be!

TexWisGirl said...

these are so beautiful! as for winter, i'll take your snow as long as it'll melt! :)

imac said...

Autumn colours at their best Betsy.

Chatty Crone said...

Oh Betsy - beautiful photography as usual. So many wonderful views. Sandie

Rose said...

Oh, Betsy, I love that top one with the sun streaming through...but I love the others for their color. We really meant to get down there this fall and did not make it...

HolleyGarden said...

The leaves do not usually turn very pretty here. Just brown and drop. I am so amazed at the beautiful colors there. Just gorgeous. That waterfall picture could be a postcard.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

It looks as if the timing of your visit to the Smokies was absolutely perfect for hitting the peak colors. The photos are beautiful. Makes my heart sing. :)

Ginny Hartzler said...

Wow, these are just gorgeous pictures!!! I was all prepared to say that the first one was my very favorite, but then as I scrolled, they are ALL my favorites!!! Our leaves are nothing like this here. Only a very few here and there, and I have had to hunt for pictures this year. Did you walk across the little bridge? Your pictures from Grandview yesterday are amazing, I LOVE the one of the river winding all the way around the mountain!!!

Janice K said...

Those pictures are all so awesome/ breathtaking. Wow!

BreakTime said...

Betsy I love the Chimney's. My George and I have hiked it a couple of times. It's fun to go up there and then come down and eat at a nice restaurant and relax and then CRASH! lol We like to eat peanuts (cracking them out of the shell) up and down the hike. A great memory.
By the way - this is Sonya. I created a sign on for work when I'm on lunch. lol I don't like putting my passwords on company property.

Big Dude said...

Wow you sure captured the mountain colors - great shots.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh Betsy, those are the colors I yearn for!!! Your pictures are almost as beautiful as you sweetie!

Drought has stolen our colors here in the Ozarks. We've pretty much gone from green to brown. When the sun shine just right ya can pick up a little color but nothin' like we're noted for.

I've always wanted to drive through the Smokies this time of year. Thanks for the pics :o)

You have yourself a terrific Tuesday sweetie!!! :o)

Elettra said...

All photos are super amazing !!!!!!!!

Ms. A said...

Super envious of the beauty you two manage to see and grateful that you capture it... so I can enjoy it too.

trump said...

Betsy you have a gift of letting your beautiful pictures do all the talking, and i think your very gifted in telling that story. Richard from Amish Stories.

Ann said...

Such beautiful views and the colors are spectacular. Around here they are starting to fade out and a lot of the trees are already bare

Donna said...

Your pictures are gorgeous!!! I particularly like that first one with the dramatic lighting! Bravo, my dear. The colors here in Knoxville have been dull and dreadful. Most of the leaves haven't even changed yet! Most maples are brown, rather than red or orange. We are sorely disappointed with the fall colors this year. We didn't have a chance to go to the Smokies. The working stuff has tied me down too much this year.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Awesome photos, Betsy! The fall colors, the sky, it's all just so beautiful!

Dorothy said...

Looks like you were there at the right time! Wonderful pictures!

Glenda said...

I've really enjoyed your pics, Betsy! We've just come from the Smoky Mts, and I think we took photos from some of the same places! Wasn't the color just stunning this year?! We had the best time there, too, and we always look forward to going back.

Sally Wessely said...

I've got to make it there sometime in the future. These photos could be on calendars. They are just beautiful. I love how you two get out there and hike and take photographs. It is just wonderful.

Serenity Cove said...

Your Smoky Mountain posts are my favorite!! Your pictures are just gorgeous. I'm so sad I didn't get to go this year but hopefully next year I will. The Chimney Tops were one of the first trails we hiked.
Our leaves were early this year and didn't last long at all. It was a little disappointing.

Unknown said...

Betsy these are absolutely stunning!Views like those are a big reason for our move here. If we only had an ocean beach I'd sell the truck and never leave!

Mary said...

Your fall color is so beautiful! We have had very little color and not enough time to drive to some better color. Oh, well....maybe next year!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful photos, Betsy! The fall color in the Smokies is eye popping. We haven't had a lot of color this year in the Blue Ridge. I hope you are starting to feel better!

Lynda said...

Oh, Betsy - - - you all did hit the perfect day! A long time ago - - like about 20 years - - - we had a day similar to yours on Lookout Mtn in Chattanooga. I have never seen prettier fall colors. I said that day, "If I ever go blind (and of course hope I don't), I have seen the most beautiful carpet of colors on this mountain that I have ever seen." Praise God, I have been able to see more - - - and also other gorgeous sights in other parts of the world.

The Retired One said...

Awesome!!!