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...

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Skyland Resort on Skyline Drive, Virginia

This is my last post from our Thanksgiving Trip of 2011... (No applause please!!!! ha ha)... If you are new to my blog (and I have had several new folks since 2012 began),  and IF you want to see any of those other posts,  you can click HERE.  There are 10 posts total --including this one.  OR---if you want information on the Skyland Resort where we stayed,  you can click HERE for more information.

It took us three days to get to Skyland Resort that week, since we stopped so much and did many more things along the way.   BUT--we finally got there.   As usual for us,  we had alot of rain while there that week.  We did get out and take some pictures --but most all of our pictures this year were taken during the rainy, foggy conditions...

Hope you enjoy our pictures from Skyland.  This is a neat resort with a great restaurant (we had our turkey dinner there)---so we highly recommend it to you.   Be sure and enlarge the pictures for larger views.




This is a picture of us in our room.   I must admit that I was miserable when that picture was taken,  with an incredibly painful stiff neck.. (It went away when I got home and got some muscle relaxant pills from my doctor.)  As you probably know,  I had had hernia surgery in October and was still recooping from that.  I assume this trip --as much as I enjoyed it--was a little too much for me so soon.  BUT--it was great and we did have a good time. 




Here is our room (building) from the outside.   We were on the top floor to the right of the room with the light on...  We had a wonderful balcony in the back with a view of the Shenandoah Valley below.  VERY nice!!!!!




Anytime we got out to take pictures,  this is what we saw!!!!   The fog was thick and stayed with us during our stay there.   The good news about the weather was that it gave us a chance to stay in the room,  relax and read a good book!!!!!  Life was GOOD.




Here's one more fog picture that George took....  We both love taking pictures of trees ---so this one is neat,  surrounded by the fog...  




Because of the fog,  we didn't have much of a view of the Shenandoah Valley this time,  but as the fog lifted and clearer skies took over one night,  George went out on the balcony and took a picture of the lights in the valley below.  Pretty,  don't you think?




I love this photo of the sky ---when we left Skyland and headed home.  If we could have stayed another few days,  we may have had some sunny skies there.  But--it was time to go home!  Isn't that a great picture of the SKY that morning???




Finally,  when we got home to our beautiful Cumberland Plateau,  this is what we saw right before we drove into our driveway...  I think that sunset was welcoming us home.  Pretty,  isn't it????

Hope you enjoyed our pictures.  It was truly a fabulous trip ---and if you haven't traveled on the Blue Ridge Parkway or Skyline Drive,   please do it!!!!!  It's AWESOME.

Have a great day.

Hugs,
Betsy

58 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very pretty pictures, Betsy. So glad you enjoyed a good meal and some reading time. The sky photos are beautiful!

Ms. A said...

That morning sky photo looks like an awesome painting! Wow!

eileeninmd said...

Hi Betsy, great post on Skyland. My favorite trails.. White Oak waterfall trail and the Limberlost trail is near Skyland. I enjoyed all the photos and the last two of the sky are my favorite. What a beautiful sky, great sight to see. Have a great day!

diane b said...

A sore neck and poor weather but you still had a good time. That shows character.The view at night is awesome and the whispy sky colours are so calming.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

Those views are incredible, especially from the mountain tops.
Glad your stiff neck went away, that can be awful painful !
~Jo

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Love all the fog. It sure can roll in up there.

pam said...

I love taking pictures of fog.

Arkansas Patti said...

Sorry you had to be so uncomfortable. Seems Nature was obviously telling you to just relax and enjoy the views and each other. It certainly gave you a grand welcome home. Glad you finally got relief.

Tabor said...

That second to the last with the lovely sky looks like a painting.

From the Kitchen said...

You know I love that area in any season or weather. I can just imagine how cozy your cabin was in the rain and fog! Your header photo is breathtaking!!

Best,
Bonnie

MadSnapper said...

enjoyed my arm chair traveling with you, i love those wooded areas and would also like to see the Shenandoah valley

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Oh, I love the photos of the lights in the valley and of the beautiful morning sky. What a pretty place to visit.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Even with the fog the pictures still look great. Fog gives a quietness to the scene. I like that. Have a wonderful day.

penny said...

Now that you have started my day with a scenic Skyline Drive.. I feel rejuvenated by your beautiful photos, Betsy.
Thanks and hugs,
Pam :)

Karin said...

Looks like a very pretty place - so peaceful! Great photos - especially the night lights and that beautiful sky! Glad your painful neck has healed. Have a great day Betsy!

Lady Di Tn said...

Looks like you could have just stayed at home and enjoyed your view. Another great set of photos that you shared with us. Again thanks for taking us along with you. Peace

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Even with the fog, your night time view of the Shennendoah Valley is beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, I hope to get to go there sometime this year. I have never been to that area. Have a great day today!

Sylvia K said...

What an awesome place and your captures are superb! Particularly love the foggy shot and the two sky shots are fantastic! Looks like a wonderful trip for you both! Hope your week is going well, Betay!

Sylvia

Connie said...

Those last two sky pictures are gorgeous, Betsy! Wow!

TexWisGirl said...

the sky scenes are just beautiful!

imac said...

Great shots and enjoying trip - but those skies and wonderful Betsy.

Rose said...

This is a case where I want to encourage everyone to click and enlarge the photos...the smaller ones just do not do them justice. I love that windswept sky...and the welcome home shot as well as the night lights...heck I just love them all.

As to what quilt I am making, it is Roger it is a log cabin. I went down there about 2:00 a.m and cut till after 4:00 a.m--doesn't that sound like fun???

Unknown said...

What great shots those last two are! Love them, and the second to last one would be beautiful hanging on a wall!

Ginny Hartzler said...

The last picture is AWESOME!!!! That's my fave, and the two before it. You really saved the best for last! The minute I laid eyes on you in this picture, I knew something was not right. I love that tree in the fog, too!

Anonymous said...

The sky pictures are gorgeous. I would like to stay at Skyland Resort one day.

happyone said...

A beautiful place! Too bad you had so much fog. Fog makes for some good pictures though.
Your sky picture is terrific. Looks like a painting.

Serenity Cove said...

I know how you feel. We were there a few years ago and only had one day in Shenandoah and it was fogged in.Bummer!!
Your photos are lovely though, even the fog...Love the sky shot.Gorgeous!!

Neal said...

Very nice! That night scene really is pretty isn't it?

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous skies! Sorry to hear you had trouble with your neck. Hope all is well now, Betsy.

HolleyGarden said...

The picture of the night lights is very pretty. And how special to be greeted home by the sun showing off its colors! A very sweet welcome home!

Fred Alton said...

Beautiful pictures, Betsy! You did a good job smiling through your pain - and then the last two pictures were my favorites! What a beautiful sky from the Blue Ridge - and then the Sun-down snap was awesome to welcome you home. I'm so glad you are past that hernia op. I'm still doing good here. God is too good to me. But I'm enjoying being one of His kids.

Terry and Linda said...

WOW! Look at that sky!!!! I agree your sky over the Cumberland Plateau is just as beautiful if not more so.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Ann said...

Great pictures and that looks like a nice place that you were staying.
The morning sky is gorgeous as is your welcome home sky shot

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I enjoyed this group of photos, Betsy. Sorry you weren't feeling up to par on that trip. The photo second from the end is just stunning. Beautiful sky!! Wow!!

Diane said...

Thanks for sharing Betsy. The pictures of the sky are amazing - especially the first one - it looks like a watercolor! Diane

Chatty Crone said...

I was just thinking - who takes your picture when it is you and George? Dah - a tripod right?

Glad you are feeling better.

sandie

country life said...

I have a question, since you have been to a lot a places maybe you could give me a couple of ideas. My hubbys boss offered us an all paid for trip anywhere in the US. Both of us like history, old towns, beautiful country side, I love crafts, we both like the ocean, no big citys. got any ideas? We have until May.
Kim

Becca's Dirt said...

I bet ya'll were so tired by the time you got home. What a nice welcome home to see a sunset. I love that sky pic - absolutely awesome. The colors are so perfect.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I like the fog pics (especially the tree) It did look like a fun trip to remember

Buttercup said...

How beautiful. This is a trip I'd like to take, especially in the autumn.

Angela said...

You are George are too cute wearing the same shirt! I think the mountains are beautiful any time and every time of the year that you go there! I love the sky pictures and the tree with no branches.

Hugs,
Angela

SquirrelQueen said...

I love the sunset photo from your driveway, that is gorgeous. Skyline Resort looks like a beautiful place even with the fog and clouds. I can tell you two had a great time there.

Anonymous said...

What great photos - love that foggy tree and those sky shots too.

Cuby said...

This trip was wonderful as your photos show apart from the fog however relaxing and reading how good is that?

Beth said...

Hi there, Betsy. I'm so sorry you were in pain on your trip, but glad you're feeling better now. I've had severe neck pain before, and it's no fun. Thank goodness you were able to still enjoy your trip and even to bring back some lovely pictures from it. The lights in the valley are so pretty, and I love the glory of the morning sky. Thanks for sharing your journey.

Sandy said...

Your photos make me feel like I am there with you ! Great shots of the fog. (o:

Anonymous said...

You're not kidding, that's a very beautiful sky shot, love the coloring in the clouds... both of them!

Hopefully, your next trip will be more 'photo friendly' & it won't be so foggy.

Have a great week, Betsy! =)

Out on the prairie said...

the sunset topped off a very lovely share

Photo Cache said...

it did look like an awesome trip. i'd have to go back and check out the rest of this series.

have a lovely day.

Sharon said...

Hi Betsy, found your blog from our mutual friend, Buttercup, and can't believe I've never seen it before. After all, we are fellow Tennesseans! I have read your posts from the Virginia trip and can't wait to go back and read from the beginning. I know Fairfield Glad VERY well, so will enjoy getting to know you better. Sharon

Glenda said...

Awesome pics, Betsy . . . awesome beauty!

Donna said...

What a great trip! We're going to see that countryside someday! Gotta quit working first, LOL.

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

Such great pictures! Sounds like a really relaxing trip.

Sally Wessely said...

The night sky is like a painting. All of these were beautiful, as always.

Carletta said...

Hi Betsy,
I always enjoy 'going along' on your trips and enjoying the sights with you. I like the quiet and introspective of foggy days (we had one here today)and inside reading a good book would also be a vacation for me.
I LOVE that sky shot! What amazing clouds and colors. It really does look like a watercolor painting. You should frame that one for sure.
:)

Pat Tillett said...

Very nice Betsy! You take some great trips!

Twilight Man said...

The photo of the sky was indeed beautiful. It looked like a palate of colors moving out. When I was a kid, I used to gaze the skies and clouds by lying on the garden swing. So heavenly!