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, August 19, 2019

More Beauty from Skyland and Skyline Drive, Virginia

Yellow Wildflowers Blooming most everywhere we went that week;  This batch was taken on our walk around the Skyland Resort area where we stayed.
Dear Friends,   I have so many pictures from our latest trip to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia...  SO-today,  I  will share some from only one of our days there,   August 7, 2019...  Hope you enjoy seeing this beauty!!!!!!!

There are two groupings:  1.  around the Skyland Resort where we stayed;  2.  Overlooks along Skyline Drive (between Skyland Resort  and Front Royal, Virginia).


Our view of the Shenandoah Valley looking from the balcony of our room at Skyland Resort



As we walked to dinner one evening through the resort,  I just had to take a picture of a beautiful Butterly enjoying the Thistle Bloom.



On that same walk,  we saw more pictures of the Shenandoah Valley below.



I'm always impressed by the HUGE Fir Trees on our walk at Skyland Resort.   This picture doesn't really show the overall vastness of that tree.   Amazing!



More yellow wildflowers along one of the maintenance roads at Skyland;



In last week's Blog Post,   I talked about the hike we took UP UP UP to Little Stony Man overlook, and the gorgeous views we had up there... This picture, which was taken on the opposite side  of the mountain from where we hiked,  shows another part of the Stony Man overlooks.... Maybe the next time we are there,  I can hike to this part of the mountain.  However,  it is a much longer and harder hike....Bet it's even more beautiful up there though than where we were at Little Stony Man!!!!



Since last week's blog post was ALL about ME --and my BIRTHDAY,   I must show some pictures of my Sweetheart,  who made this trip possible for me.   George is standing at one of the overlooks along Skyline Drive.



I loved seeing all of the cloud formations.... We had a beautiful day to visit that area.



Every Overlook gives us different views;  I loved seeing the shadows in this picture.



More beautiful mountains and pretty puffy clouds



More shadows --and a different look as the sun plays Peak-A-Boo with the clouds



This is my favorite picture from the overlooks...  I loved the clouds,  the shadows and the sun peaking through.... 



Anyone who visits the overlooks on Skyline Drive ALWAYS has to stop  (us included) and take pictures from the rocks... Who is that handsome man climbing up on those rocks to get more pictures???
WELL---that's enough for today....  I have one more  August 7th post from our hike on the Limberlost Trail --but that will come later!!!!!!

Hope you had a great week...  We certainly did!!!  After getting home from our big trip on August 10,   we had three very special get-togethers  with family/friends this past week... On August 13,  we met good friends, Judy and Charlie,  at Cades Cove in the Smokies  for lunch and a visit.   Then in late afternoon that day,  we met two of our sons  (Bert and Mark) in Townsend for dinner at the Trailhead Restaurant...  Then,  on Saturday, August 17,  the other son,  Jeff and his wife, Dawn,  came to see us here at home.....  SO--as you can imagine,  it was a terrific week!!!!

Have a good one,  and remember to get some exercise and stay hydrated!!!!!!!!

Hugs,

25 comments:

Ann said...

What a beautiful place. Those views are spectacular.

George said...

You sure got some beautiful pictures from Virginia (except for a couple of some old man!). I’m ready to go back!! Are you??

Fun60 said...

Oh what a delightful place. Spectacular views and scenery,

LV said...

You are both so blessed to be able to do all these interesting trips. Treasured memories.

linda m said...

Those are some gorgeous sights.

Ruth Hiebert said...

Oh what absolutely gorgeous views! Those clouds are some of my favourites.

David said...

Betsy, Beautiful views in a beautiful part of the USA! I'd love to be getting more exercise but it looks like knee replacement is in my near future... Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Betsy said...

That is such a beautiful place Betsy. Thank you for sharing it all with us.
Blessings,
Betsy

Sandi said...

Breathtaking!

Arkansas Patti said...

Wow, those views are just beautiful. You sure got a keeper in George. He sets the bar high for thoughtful hubby.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Oh I love this part of the country! Love that your sweetie leaves a comment too! Wish you could both pick my up on your way! heehee! I'm just a little 'out of the way'! Hugs!

William Kendall said...

The views from the high ground are incredible.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Gorgeous pictures. And we are so blessed to live right HERE!

Shug said...

Always a great week with family and friends.. So many gorgeous views that so few people get to see. You are Blessed. I always enjoy your vaca's.

Judy said...

beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Chatty Crone said...

The views look like a little piece of Heaven to me. ♥

Linda P said...

You're blessed to be able to go on these trips with your loved one. Gorgeous scenery.

Lady Fi said...

How very beautiful!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Such gorgeous views...I am so glad y'all got to take this trip, especially with the heat that we are experiencing now. I am anxious for fall so that I can get out and hike some. I can't handle the heat very well. Have a blessed week, you two!

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello Betsy
Another wonderful post. You and George are blessed to be able to enjoy these wonderful trips. I'm so pleased you share them with us. Your photographs are a joy to see, those views are spectacular.
So pleased you had a fun week when you got back too, always good to see family and friends.
Hope the week is going well for you.
Take care, and my good wishes.

All the best Jan

Happytrails said...

Betsy, such a beautiful place that you and George enjoyed. When comparing the western mountains to the blue ridge mountains, I call the Blue ridge Mountains the gentle giants. You have taken some incredible pics and made some fantastic memories.
Thanks for sharing.

Dee said...

Dear Betsy, the Shenandoah Valley is so vast and so beautiful. Sort of breath-taking. I can hardly imagine what it must have been like for the first settlers back in the last 17th or the early 18th century coming across the mountains and finding this gorgeous landscape.

I'm so happy for you that your health has greatly improved and that you are being able to walk and hike and resume your wonderful life. Peace.

Jeevan said...

Absolutely loved this series of photos going through wonderful views of mountains, valleys and pretty skies and the play of light and shadows across the mountains! I could connect these easily as myself visit mountains yearly I could feel the specialness for these views. Glad it was a super duper week for you meeting friends and sons.

Happy Weekend Betsy

Connie said...

Amazing and beautiful scenes! What a lovely trip.

My Tata's Cottage said...

So peaceful and beautiful. I really love your photos. I always admired all those gorgeous photos on your calendars. :-)
We are going to travel to Holly and Lamar, Colorado on Sept 7. MY hubby's late brother Mike wanted his ashes spread at the phamily farm. So my sister-in-law has them and we will travel there together.
I am anxious to see all the stars lighting up the sky. It is so peaceful and quiet there.
Jeremy and Brittany are waiting for baby boy to be born and if he does not arrive by Sept 3, they will induce here so they can not go with us. Noelle and Roger spend every minute they can at the hospital with baby Logan. He was born 3 months to the day early. But that little boy is growing and is up to 4 lbs. 8 oz. It is hard on Andrew and Tarrah as they have the two boys at home and one in school full time. They live so far from us. But the support they have is great.
Always enjoy visits here and must return. Thank you for sharing LOVE to you and George.