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...

Monday, March 14, 2016

Arkansas Skies --February 2016


I told you in THIS blog post that I would share more sky and sunset pictures from this year's wonderful vacation to Mt. Nebo State Park in Arkansas.  Except for one day --we had fantastic weather the entire week.   AND---the skies gave us colorful beauty almost every time we were outside --both during the day and in the evenings.

The neat thing about SKY pictures is that the sky is ALWAYS different from one day to the next.  Sometimes,  there are lots of clouds around and other times,  not so many...  Hope you enjoy seeing some of the beauty we saw while in that cute little cabin on top of the mountain!

The picture above was taken from the back of our cabin on 2/22/16,  our first night there... I just watched it and cried with JOY while seeing such glorious beauty.


This photo was taken on 2/24/16 from Mt. Magazine (where we saw all of  the SNOW).   I love seeing the sunbeams popping through the clouds,  shining on the Petit Jean River in the valley below.



A very clear sky with no clouds on 2/24/16--as opposed to 2/22 and 2/25;  



At almost the same location,  here was our sunset on 2/25/16;  This was my favorite sunset simply because I love seeing all of the colorful clouds... You????



After the sun disappeared on 2/25/16,  the sky was still showing off all kinds of beautiful colors.



Another shot from 2/25/16---showing the trees around our cabin PLUS the clouds/sun;



Here's another picture from our 'clear' (cloud-free) sunset --2/24/16;



Here's a daytime view of a pretty sky on 2/25/16 taken  at a viewing area on the other side of Mt. Nebo.



I like this picture with the trees framing the sunset on 2/25/16.



Before the sunset on 2/25/16,  we enjoyed seeing the sunbeams lighting up the mountains in the distance.



Here's another one from 2/25...  I chose a vertical one to get the tree branches as a frame.



Daytime picture from the back of our cabin on 2/25/16;



Going--going-------  almost gone!!!  Sunset on 2/25/16;



Here's another picture showing some of the sky colors after sunset on 2/25/16



Here's one MORE on our last day in Arkansas,  2/25/16; 
Well Friends.....  I could show you a million more I'm sure --but you get the idea of how gorgeous the sky was while we were there.  Here in Tennessee,  we live down a hill --and would have to get to the top of the hill in order to see such beauty.  And even there,  there are mountains and trees in our view.  However,  when we walk on the golf course early early in the mornings,  we can see beautiful sunrises similar to these sunsets.

One of the neatest things to think about is when I am watching a sunrise or sunset wherever I am,   YOU may also be watching them too!!!!   That makes me feel closer to you.  A blog friend,  Jo from Memorable Meanders, in South Africa  walks on her nearby golf course every morning there --like we do here.  She will post sunrise pictures like we do... Makes me feel as if she is NOT that far away!!!!!  Neat, huh?

Well---I hope I brought a smile to your face today!!!!   My hope is that all of you can get outside and enjoy nature including beautiful skies all around!!!!!

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes to George... We had a great week celebrating and I will blog about that trip soon.  

Hugs,

47 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello Betsy, lovely post and beautiful sky images. Skywatching is a simple pleasure I enjoy too. Sunrises and sunsets are the best. Gorgeous photos. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

Jo said...

Hello Betsy, what a beautiful post with magnificent photos of your skies and sunsets. Thanks for sharing. Blessings Jo

linda m said...

Wow, those are some awesome pictures. You really did an excellent job of capturing the sunrise/sunset beauty.

Connie said...

These sky photos are stunning, Betsy! I love how they are different every time you look at them too. So much beauty!

The Furry Gnome said...

What an amazing group of sunrise pictures!

Linda G. said...

These are gorgeous sky pictures. Like you said each one is different.

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Each time I thought I'd found a favorite, I'd go on to the next one and have to change my mind. They're all simply gorgeous. I do have a special fondness of the one with the tree frame, though. :)

Jo said...

Hi Betsy, I read your whole post about the beautiful skies and MISSED that you mentioned me. Thank you dearest Betsy. I think of you every day when the dogs and I walk on the course. It certainly makes us feel closer, doesn't it? Blessings Jo

Linda Kay said...

Betsy, the clouds seem to make the sunsets more stunning, indeed.

George said...

You did a great job of capturing the beauty we saw every day while we were in Arkansas. The sky (and the photographer) is amazing.

Betsy said...

It would be almost impossible to choose a favorite from these gorgeous pictures. I'm like you though, and like ones that have a few clouds in them. They're all stunning. Thank you for sharing with us.
Blessings, Betsy

David said...

Betsy, Beautiful sky photos! Laurie loves taking photos like this as well, always trying to capture the beauty above us... Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

LV said...

Your post is better then any travel book. I truly enjoy your trips through your lens. No other way could I see. Sorry, I missed George's birthday.

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, I love Arkansas for its beauty and friendly folks! Bad Spring weather though which is why we did not choose Arkansas as a place to live. Great to visit there. I have never been to Mt. Nebo but certainly want to see it some day. Hope your Spring bulbs are on the way to flowering. I do miss Spring flowers. We have a different climate and bulbs are all forced here. Have a great coming week and enjoy your lovely yards and the golf course!

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

What gorgeous sunsets! No wonder you love to go there.

Ruth Hiebert said...

All of these pictures are wonderful and I am glad I don't have to pick a favourite.Nature is so gorgeous and it is free for us to enjoy,wherever we are.

Arkansas Patti said...

Wow, what awesome skies you saw and captured. Like you I don't live in an area that has good sunrises though sunsets are better. I really love that one framed by the trees. That is suitable for framing.

Fun60 said...

You are so right about looking at the same sky and it always being different.

Anonymous said...

Wow - what fabulous shots! And a contrast to those gorgeous snowy shots in your last post. Hope George had a great birthday.

Ann said...

All of your photos are beautiful. One is as pretty as the next. I always love seeing how the sun paints the evening sky

Susie Swanson said...

Oh I love these. Such beautiful photos . I've always wanted to visit Arkansas. Happy Belated Birthday to George. Blessings and Love, xo

Chatty Crone said...

Okay you do get the prettiest sun rises and sunsets - I think to me when I take the time to look at them - I see God. Love the one where the sun shine breaks through the clouds down to earth.

Devilish Angel said...

Stunning pics...

Jazzmin said...

Truly enjoyed visiting you today and coming along, feeling like I'm in the scene with you in your as always AMAZING photos. I can't pick a favorite, but goodness- the cotton candy kind of colored sky and the sunset framed by the two trees are SO picturesque and beautiful for lack of better terms, haha.

This is making me wish I was back on a trip to this amazing state :) It's been too long.

Belated birthday wishes also!!

Have a wonderful day!
Jazzmin

Ms. A said...

Each one of these is magnificent and unique. Such beauty.

Big Dude said...

Looks like another fine trip to Ark with some great shots.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Betsy!

I am situated like you --we live right up against the foothills of the Rockies, so we don't see sunsets unless we drive east. Your views of the glorious sunsets from Mt. Nebo were all magnificent! It is hard to chose a favorite!

diane b said...

Fabulous skies. I love the ones with trees framing or a silhouette in the foreground to give depth to the shot. You certainly had a fantastic view from your cabin.

DeniseinVA said...

All gorgeous skies Betsy and a happy belated birthday to George! :)

Lux G. said...

These are such majestic and stunning photos. So lovely.
Have a wonderful day.

Jeevan said...

Absolutely brilliant sunsets... and the variation in the settings of sun passing each day make watching, as well as life in interesting. I always look for variation and differences in things although we go through it daily. I loved the various point of views on the sunsets and the sunlight making its way through valley.

Kay said...

Oh WOW! You have really captured the beauty of your spectacular skies. The colors are just awesome!

Janie said...

Oh, wow, you sky pics are so beautiful! Love all the sunsets, and your header view, too.

Shug said...

Hey Sweet friend......I sure enjoy seeing your photos from Mt. Nebo. There seems to be so many gorgeous views. Some of our friends, plus Sam and I, have been discussing making a trip to that area.....Hope it all works out so that we can.... Hope you have a great week...

Small City Scenes said...

I love the sky and clouds are also a favorite of mine. We live surrounded by woods and at my house we live in the woods but looking south there is a beautiful view of Mt. Rainier. Since I am not there as often anymore I miss 'my mountain'. but I am only a few miles away. Actually walking distance.
You guys take care and enjoy the outdoors.
MB

Anonymous said...

wow - gorgeous!

Velva said...

You definitely brought a smile to my face. The sky is a beautiful thing. It has a way of bringing the world in perspective with each sunrise, and sunset.

Thanks for sharing.

Velva

Elizabeth Edwards said...

gorgeous shots, Betsy!! what a fun post. i tell you ... you & Ruth have such great sunset/sunrise shots. mouth drooling sorts. so pleasing to the eyes. we have had a change in our schedules ...so that means no longer month long vacations, the hubby has started 3 or 4 day times every so often. not sure of them yet but he thinks the more often vacations will be better for his stress levels. it was too much saving it for all in one lump sum. we will be staying in our neck of the woods or at least not having time to get over to the west coast. which makes me sad cause i love it out there, but times will change i am sure, but we have to go with what makes the hubby happy and at ease. hope you and George are both well & taking it easy. we had some snow saturday, this start of spring has been really odd. so strange. i would love some warmer weather soon. i love everything popping out bloom wise. so pretty! take easy. thank you for stopping by. ( :

Optimistic Existentialist said...

These beautiful skies certainly make the heart happy, my friend <3

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Oh, Betsy, these sky photos are awesome! I sure love the splendid sunsets and skies. How lovely!
Have a happy Easter!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Hi Betsy, I enjoyed your pretty sunset photos. As you know, I love sunsets and am blessed to live here where I have a wonderful view of them, and sunrises too, from my windows. I have always said to BG that no matter where we live, I MUST have a view from my windows! The skies are a bit cloudy today, so we most likely won't get to see a sunset this evening. But, you never know! The clouds might break apart to allow for a gorgeous one. Hope you're having a sunny and wonderful week! Happy Easter!

Rose ~ from Oz said...

I've heard people say on various blogs that they tire of continual sunset pics etc.... how CAN they? no two are alike... they are all individually different and beautiful. Stunning collection Betsy! Really beautiful. Easter blessings.

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Yes you brought a smile to my face! I love traveling with y'all! I agree the sky is always breathless and changing....beautiful. I will check out her blog

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hello,

Fabulous photos and the sun sets are amazing.

Sometimes I sit on the marine drive walkway and watch the sun set over the backwaters. When the sky is clear the sun goes down the horizon like a huge blazing ball of fire with a crimson red and orange glow. After the sunset the sky changes into a myriad of color which is an amazing sight to watch.

Best wishes

Rohrerbot said...

Hello there!!! So I see all your things on Facebook BUT I have not been getting your blog updates! I don't know what happened, but I adding the link back into my blogger part. That is so bizarre! I finally have had a chance today to sit down and edit blog posts I'm receiving. So bizarre. Anyhow, soon it will all be fixed. Facebook is so much better! Although I do like the writing part on the blog. Anyhow, hope you both are having a great week. Hugs Me:)

Rose said...

I would never be able to pick just one of these as my favorite...I love each one for different reasons. They are all so glorious.

Rose said...

Forgot to say I love the header shot!