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

Come to the Limberlost with Me

Put on your walking shoes and go with me into the Limberlost Forest!!

Dear Friends,   I invite you to go with me on an interesting hike in the woods on the LIMBERLOST TRAIL,   off of  Skyline Drive in Virginia  (8/7/19).   Even if you aren't much of a 'hiker' --you would enjoy this trail.  It is only 1.3 miles total,  in a mostly flat area --and the trail is in GREAT shape with benches all along the area for resting and/or reflection.

This trail is a little different from many of the trails along Skyline Drive --since it is just a short walk through the woods  (with no overlooks or views).   BUT--depending upon when you are there,  there are LOTS of things to see and experience--including wildlife (deer, bears, rabbits, etc.).

Years ago,  this area was known for its HUGE Hemlock Trees.  I grew up with Hemlocks in our yard,  so I've always had a special affection toward them.   Most of you know that many of the Hemlocks throughout our country have been killed over the past ten+ years by an accidentally imported insect (the Hemlock wooly adelgid).   Seeing the dead Hemlock trees is just SO sad for me.  

When we hike,  I enjoy doing some research in order to find out more about an area.  Here's some history about this trail/area.  Addie Pollack bought 100 of the large Hemlock trees in the area for $1000 to help preserve this land in 1920 from logging.  Her husband named it the Limberlost Forest after the novel,  "A Girl of the Limberlost".   The Pollocks were responsible for establishing Skyland as a resort destination nearby (which is where George and I stayed recently).

Today,   I'll share some of the things I observed while hiking this trail....  Hope you enjoy 'our' hike  today!!!!!

George waits patiently for me --while I stop and check out my surroundings.

There are beautiful (and large) ferns everywhere...

Deep into the forest we go... What can I see?

How 'bout a Centipede (OR some kind of insect)???

OR --this strange tree!!!!  I named him Mr. Knotty!!!!

George is waiting on me again!!!!!!! ha ha

Oh My---see the pretty little Wildflowers?

We did see a few larger Hemlocks along our way.

Here's a close-up of a Hemlock --in case you don't recognize them.

Something is enjoying this dead tree!!!!  (It's not a beaver though since there's no water nearby.)

Called the "Rock of Ages" --Such an interesting rock formation!!!

I did some research on this interesting group of rocks...They are called  Columnar Joints which formed many years ago as volcanic rock cooled and contracted,  and is thus a geological structure where sets of intersecting closely spaced fractures,  referred to as joints,  resulted in the formation of an array of columns... Column diameters can measure anywhere up to about 10 feet, and the length can be as much as 100 feet.  They are typically parallel and straight--but can be curved.  The number of sides of the individual columns can vary from 3-8,  with 6 sides being the most common.   If you want more information,   click HERE.

Here is a better picture of the "Rock of Ages";  Interesting, huh?

I love seeing all of the different mushrooms.

Maybe I'll just sit in the ferns for awhile!!!!

Or maybe I'll just enjoy seeing the deer showing no fear of our presence nearby..

HOPE:  A Baby Hemlock!!!

I'll end our little hike showing you that there is HOPE when it comes to nature..... Things do come back--even though it takes awhile.  I loved seeing the 'baby' Hemlocks!!!!!!!   Do you enjoy checking out all of the glories of nature when you are out walking or hiking????   I certainly do!

Hope you enjoyed our hike on the LIMBERLOST TRAIL today....

Happy Labor Day to ALL.

Hugs,

Emoticons

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,

Emoticons