Take Time to See the Beauty ABOVE!!!!

From Abbott Lake in the Peaks of Otter on 8/5/19;  Love seeing the clouds reflecting in the water!

Hello Blog Friends/Family...  Hope you are all doing well!!!!   Today's post is a compilation of pictures from two recent trips... I love watching the SKY --so when I started working on pictures,  I enjoyed finding pictures from those trips to share with you... Whether I am looking at sky reflections in water,  OR puffy clouds with a pretty blue sky,  OR clouds that look like 'critters in the sky',  OR clouds before or after sunrises or sunsets  OR just a beautiful clear day with a gorgeous blue sky----- I just love it all!!!! Hope you enjoy the pictures today. There's just so much beauty all around us ---if we LOOK.   (NOTE:   I think that you will enjoy these pictures SO much more ---if you click on them in order to see the details.)

Another reflection picture from the Peaks of Otter, 8/5/19;   This is when you can enjoy seeing the clouds/sky without looking UP!!!!! ha

After sunset at the Peaks of Otter, 8/5/19,  We took a long walk after dinner --and enjoyed seeing this beautiful area.  Again,  the reflections in the lake were awesome.

On 8/7/19,  we drove north from Skyland Resort (where we were staying) and stopped at several overlooks along the way.  This picture was taken from the Thorofare Mountain Overlook, elevation 3595'.

Crazy Critters in the Sky as we waited for the sunset;   Skyland Resort--8/7/19, which has an elevation of 3710';  

Clouds are so gorgeous as the sun begins to sett!!!   We were at Skyland Resort off of Skyline Drive on 8/7/19 when this picture was taken.

On 8/8/19, we took a hike to Little Stony Man Overlook (elevation--3642').     I love the mountains and those pretty clouds from that overlook. Our elevation gain on that hike was about 450 feet.    Can you see the road (Skyline Drive) below?

From the Crescent Rock Overlook (elevation 3550') along Skyline Drive (south of Skyland) on 8/8/19

Another gorgeous sky with the Shenandoah Valley below;  Taken along Skyline Drive, at the Timber Hollow Overlook,  elevation 3360',  8/8/19

A picture of the sky/clouds taken after sunset from our balcony at Skyland Resort, VA --on 8/8/19

All of the pictures above were taken on my Birthday Trip to the Peaks of Otter and Skyland Resort  from 8/5-8/8, 2019.   The pictures below were all taken on our little trip to Pisgah Inn on 9/25 and 9/26,  2019.

On 9/25/19,   we headed north on the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Craggy Gardens area.   The elevation here is 5497'...   As I've said,  I love being at the higher elevations along the parkway.  This year,  I was thrilled to see the Mountain Ash Trees in bloom  with lots of little red berries... Mountain Ash trees LOVE higher elevations.  SO pretty!!!

On 9/25/19,  we continued driving north on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Mt. Mitchell State Park.  We hiked up to the summit for some great pictures.  The elevation here was about 6700 feet.  I love seeing the Balsams and of course the layers of mountain ranges..  There weren't many clouds in the sky on this beautiful day!

After our day on the Blue Ridge Parkway (9/25/19),   we headed back to Pisgah Inn --just in time to see this marvelous sky after sunset...

The next day (9/26/19)---our journey took us south on the Blue Ridge Parkway.  This picture was taken near the Looking Glass Rock Overlook,  Elevation--4492'

The wildflowers along the Blue Ridge Parkway Overlooks were gorgeous this time of year (9/26/19).  This picture was taken at the Caney Fork Overlook,  elevation 5650'.

The higher we got,  the more beautiful Balsam trees we saw... This picture was taken (9/26/19) at the Haywood Jackson Overlook,  elevation 6020'.

WELL--I hope you really liked this post...  (At least you can tell me you liked it!!!!!!! ha ha )  I have spent more time on this one than most others in a long time.... Working on two trips at the same time isn't always easy --especially when I have SO many pictures to choose from.  Then I wanted to see where the pictures were taken --so had to research that,  etc. etc. etc.   GADS---sometimes I try to do too much since most people (me included) don't have time to even read what another person writes....  'Tis the busy lives we all have.....

Have an awesome day ---and THANKS for taking time to read my posts!!!!!

Hugs,

Emoticons

Peaks of Otter, VA (8/5/19) -Part II

Looking up to SHARP TOP peak;  We didn't have time to go to the top of Sharp Top this trip--but we will stay an extra day next year so that we can get back up there!!!

Dear Friends,   Since last week,  George and I have taken another short trip.   We enjoyed staying at the Pisgah Inn along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville,  North Carolina,  for a few days.....  We had terrific  weather there with some cooler temperatures up on that mountain.  Loved it!!!!

BUT--today I am going to share Part II of my pictures from the Peaks of Otter on my birthday (8/5/19)....  IF you missed Part I,  click HERE to see those pictures first....

Hope you enjoy Part II from this amazing place!!!!

This is a close up of the top of Sharp Top Mountain.   They provide a bus which takes us part of the way up that mountain --and then we hike the remainder in order to get to the top.  (OR --you can hike up the entire mountain!!!!)

This is us taken from the peak of Sharp Top ---taken on a previous trip to the Peaks of Otter...  We opted to take the bus up and then hike the rest of the way....

Our view from the top of Sharp Top---looking down at Lake Abbott.  You can see the lodge housing down there... Isn't it gorgeous from up there???   That's why we want to do it AGAIN next year.

A view from our balcony of  Lake Abbott

One of our TWO walks around Lake Abbott on the day we were there... We were coming out of our lodge building and heading down to the walking path... 

As we walked around the lake,   I took this picture of the main lodge building  (check-ins and restaurant there).

Love the reflections in the water in this picture;   The Peaks of Otter is a great place to just RELAX... People here were enjoying the big campfire!!!

The Birthday Girl on our walk across the lake.

Lodging at Peaks of Otter;  Our room was on 2nd floor in Building 1 (on the left)

I took this picture of George on our walk around the lake.

Walking around the lake gives us so many pretty views from all directions.

A big dinner for the Birthday Girl;  That Pork Chop was INCREDIBLE --but too big for one meal.  We took a bunch home with us for more dinners!!!!!! 

After that big meal,  we just HAD to take another walk around the lake (1 mile)!!!!    AND---this time we stopped and enjoyed the FirePit for a little while.... NO---I'm not on fire ---even though it looks that way!!!!! ha ha 

A beautiful sunset across Lake Abbott --after a beautiful day...

Good Night from the Peaks Of Otter!!!!!  Hope you enjoyed all of my photos...

Have an awesome week!!!!!

Hugs,

 

Emoticons

Peaks of Otter, Virginia (8/5/19) -- Part I

Beautiful Peaks of Otter (from the other side of the lake), 8/5/19

Dear Friends,   We spent the day of my birthday (8/5/19) at the Peaks of Otter in Virginia, along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  During that special day,  we walked around the lake twice  --and we ate a wonderful dinner in their lodge.  IF you ever want/need a fantastic place to go just to RELAX and enjoy the views,   I highly recommend the Peaks of Otter.   For more information,  click HERE.

Since I took so many pictures,  I will divide them into TWO posts...  Today is Part I... Hope you enjoy my wonderful birthday this year!!!!!

Come and take a walk with me around Lake Abbott,  8/5/19

It's a great trail ---and is quite 'woodsy'!!!

I love seeing the REEDS growing along the lake's edge. Can you see them?

A closer view of the lodging at Peaks of Otter;  There are 3 buildings total with rooms with a view of the lake on either 1st or 2nd floor.   One can relax on their balconies ---or enjoy walking on the beautiful grounds.

Looking toward Abbott Lake from the lodge rooms

"Come on,  Sweetheart... Let's WALK"....

No matter which side of the lake we were on,   there were gorgeous views.

We didn't see any otters or herons in the water this time,  but we did see this little deer (paying no attention to us).

I always love seeing reflections in the water.

George captured this Red-winged Blackbird  (with a baby behind him),  and I'm glad he got it (since my picture of them was blurry)... Thanks, Honey

I loved the reflections --as we looked back at the people relaxing and walking on the lakeside.

See the little cabin on the right?   This was the first lodging for travelers in the 1830's. The cabin was called Polly Wood's Ordinary and was a small boarding house until the late 1850's.  Wouldn't it be neat to stay in a cabin like this??????

We had a beautiful day to walk around the lake,  enjoying the views and reflections.  Our room this time was on second floor in Building 1 (to your far left)...

Each time we walked around the lake,   we enjoyed seeing the clouds/sky/reflections.  What a gorgeous place to walk! (The building to your far left is the actual lodge where we had dinner.)

Well---that's enough pictures for one post today.... I have that many more to show you in another post in a week or two--including a picture of my fantastic Birthday Dinner at their lodge....

My son, Mark,  is walking in the fundraiser for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on Oct. 5 in Knoxville, TN, in memory of his wife, Debbie.   As most of you know,  Mark lost his beloved wife, Debbie,  to suicide caused by her Mental Illness in August of 2017.   Please remember Mark in your prayers --and if anyone would like to donate to this worthy cause,   please contact me  and I'll send you information...Thank You so very much.

Have an awesome week.

Hugs,

Emoticons

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