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, June 25, 2018

OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 6/23/18

George and Betsy at Craggy Pinnacle,  6/23/18, on our Anniversary!!
Dear Friends,   George and I celebrated our 17th anniversary on Saturday by going to Asheville, North Carolina,  for a little romantic getaway...  We drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Craggy Gardens and back.  What a gorgeous day we had!!!!  

We are SELDOM on the parkway when it is as clear as a bell --but this was the day!!!!   No haze/no clouds/ no rain---but LOTS of puffy clouds which add to the beauty of photos.  The weather was a photographer's dream!!!!  

AND---it was cool up there...  The average temperature both days was about 70 degrees (enough to have the windows opened in the car--which I LOVE) --but when we were at the Craggy Pinnacle (elevation about 5500 feet),  the temperature got down to 65 degrees --with a cool breeze... AWESOME!!!!

Hope you enjoy my pictures from our special day...  Most of the pictures were taken on Saturday, the 23rd,  but a few of them were on the 24th.  Please click on the pictures for a larger version with more details...


A panorama taken at an overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway



Some little wildflowers in bloom along the Blue Ridge Parkway



So much beauty all around!!!!



We loved the cloud formations as much as the mountains!!!



Us the next day (6/24/18) along the Blue Ridge Parkway heading south!  (You can see that we had another gorgeous day.)



Taken on 6/23/18 while we were at Craggy Gardens



The Rhododendrons were gone for the season,  but we saw LOTS of Mountain Laurel in bloom.



We enjoyed taking photos of the shadows in the mountain ranges --caused by the passing clouds!



George eating dinner the evening of 6/23/18
As many of you know,  George and I LOVE seafood.. Our favorite place to go is Dockside Restaurant in Calabash,  North Carolina.   This spring we didn't get to visit that area...  SO--we opted to visit another good seafood restaurant in Asheville  (Harbor Inn Restaurant)...   We both got the Combo-Platter with fried shrimp, flounder, clam cake, crab cake,  oysters, hush puppies,  baked potatoes and slaw....   We had enough food for an army --but the good news is that we brought a bunch of it home for more meals!!!!  YUM....


My Anniversary Gift from my Sweetheart
George took this picture last year in August  when we were at Skyland Resort in Virginia,  off of Skyline Drive...  The picture,  taken at SUNRISE,  was while we were at the Thorofare Mtn Overlook along Skyline Drive.   Isn't it just gorgeous?  It is now hanging in our office/computer room --where I can stare at it ---and remember that special birthday I had last year.

Thanks to my Honey for such an awesome ANNIVERSARY this year... I have more pictures to share from another day along the Blue Ridge Parkway --but that will have to be another post.


Thanks be to God for US and for God's awesome creation that we so enjoy!!!
All I could think about when sitting here on top of the world at the Craggy Pinnacle was "The Heavens  Declare the Glory of God".....  WOW!!!!

Hugs,

37 comments:

Big Dude said...

Happy 17th guys. You are lucky to get a clear day this time of year. What did George eat after he finished that plate of food?

Connie said...

Gorgeous photos, Betsy! Sounds like you had a fantastic time. Happy anniversary to you and George!

George said...

You got some great pictures of our drive along the Parkway. I'm glad we made the trip, and I'm even happier that you married me 17 years (and two days) ago!

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Wishing you a belated happy anniversary and prayers for many more. You certainly did have an amazing day on the Parkway! Unbelievably clear.

Ann Thompson said...

Happy anniversary. Love all your photos. Such a beautiful area. That dinner George has in front of him is huge. I'm pretty sure that would be 3 or 4 meals for me

linda m said...

That must have been an awesome trip. The pictures sure show God's Glory.

Fun60 said...

Happy anniversary. You chose the prrfect day for your visit as the weather was just right for taking those beautiful photos.

Shug said...

What a Blessed day you both had....the weather, the clouds, gorgeous views, cool temps, a delicious meal, memories made, and precious time spent together. So happy for the two of you....

Silver in AZ said...

congratulations on 17 years and a fantastic anniversary trip! Great photos!

Betsy said...

Happy Anniversary to you and George! I am so happy that the two of you found each other. May the Lord grant you many, many more years and special trips together. You are an inspiration to us all. Such beautiful photos.
Blessings,
The “Washington “ Betsy

David said...

Betsy, Happy anniversary to you and George! Lovely photos...what a clear sky up in the mountains. I've never been that lucky yet. Amazing platter of seafood! Even I would have had to brings some home... Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Ruth Hiebert said...

These photos show the beauty all around you, but not only that, they also show the love in your hearts for each other and for the Creator of all that beauty. Happy Anniversary.

Chatty Crone said...

Happy anniversary - I can't believe how bigt that meal was! lol

Happytrails said...

Happy Anniversary to you both...what a wonderful place to go to celebrate 17 years of marriage. The mountains are so gentle and calming tinted with a blue haze. You took some really good pictures and thanks for sharing them.

Linda P said...

Belated anniversary wishes. What a good way to celebrate by going to a beautiful mountain area! Wishing you many more years of happiness together.

Jeevan said...

It looks such a beautiful day for you to enjoy the anniversary at the lap of mountains and in company of pretty sky and puffy clouds to turn the landscape wonderful with the fall of shadows! I enjoyed all these views and the last one is pretty cool in blue including you both in blue tee… hehe

Btw. Happy Anniversary Betsy

eileeninmd said...

Hello, what a great trip. I enjoyed the views and your beautiful photos.

Happy Anniversary to you and George. Enjoy your day and new week ahead!

Dee said...

Happy 17th Anniversary!! Love your pictures, Betsy! Gosh it must have been in the 1980's that we took an extended weekend to travel Skyline Drive. Our boys were 6 and 10 and enjoyed it too. We saw a lot of baby deer with their mothers and hiked to some beautiful waterfalls. The views are absolutely spectacular! Our boys enjoyed Luray Cavern and also the tour of Monticello. Your pictures make me want to take that Skyline Drive trip again.

Busy Bee Suz said...

What gorgeous photos of your anniversary trip and celebration. No one does it like the two of you!
Wishing you many more happy years. XOXO

Dee said...

Dear Betsy, thank you for sharing your 17th anniversary with us. May you and George enjoy many more anniversaries and many more visits to the Blue Ridge Mountains! Peace.

Judy said...

Happy anniversary! I'm glad you had such a special weekend together.

Sandi said...



BEAUTIFUL!

Happy Anniversary!

Marcia said...

Looks like it was an incredibly happy anniversary!

Arkansas Patti said...

Happy Anniversary Betsy and George. The couple who got it right. I can always feel your happiness throughout the post.
Keep it going kids.

Susie Swanson said...

Happy Anniversary to you both and I wish you many more happy years together. You are an inspiration to us all. Love and Hugs.

Betsy said...

Happy Anniversary to you two. Such lovely pictures. Those wildflowers are so beautiful. I would love to have those teensy daisies massed in a flower garden at my house.
Surrounded by those gorgeous cloud formations. Heavenly.
"The Heavens Declare the Glory of God" - Amen to that!
betsy

Linda said...

Happy anniversary! Glad you had such a beautiful day!

Lady Fi said...

Looks like you had a wonderful time! Here's wishing you both many more happy years.

Pam said...

Happy Anniversary! Great pics also.

Anonymous said...

Happy anniversary! Sounds that you had a wonderful time and enjoyed each and every minute.
Amazing shots:)

Nancy Chan said...

Happy anniversary to you both! Your photos are beautiful. Love the beautiful scenery!

Lowcarb team member said...

Many belated, and happy, anniversary wishes to you and George.
Loved seeing all of your photographs, you were so fortunate with the weather.
It looks such a beautiful area.

Here's to many more years together.
My good wishes

All the best Jan

diane b said...

You sure had beautiful weather for your anniversary trip. The mountains look awesome.

Dar said...

Hi, Remember me? I just HAD TO stop to wish you two lovebirds a very Happy Belated Anniversary. What a WOW day you had. Spectacular scenery! I haven't blogged for a year at least........must return. I found you via Chatty Crone and am so glad I did. Do you still hike the waterfalls?
love n' hugs
Dar

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

What a lovely post. I love the trips of romance and nature‘s beauty you take the time to enjoy. I hope we find a way to reset our email issues re comments.
Thanks for stopping by.

Lady Di Tn said...

The Angels must have put your Anniversary on God's calendar and he made it especially beautiful weather for the TN Love birds. I love those breathtaking views and the temp was Heavenly. Tell George he did an excellant job with his gift. Kind of reminds me of some of the sunrises from the hill. That last photo of y'all is just perfect to show how happy you two are together. Peace

Twilight Man said...

My jaws dropped in disbelief that you bought could eat the whole platter. I smiled when you mentioned taking them home for more meals.

Happy Anniversary George and Betsy.