Open Your Eyes and Look UP! There is SO much to See up There!!!!

Dear Friends,   You may remember a similar post to this one (showing the Battle between Sun, Rain and Clouds)...  I wrote that post on June 29, 2020 after our Anniversary Trip to Pisgah Inn off of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. If you missed seeing that post,  click HERE.

Today,  I have a similar post --but on a different day and from a different place.  I've talked about our abundance of rain and clouds this year... WELL--not only did that rain follow us around when we were at Pisgah Inn,  but it also followed us when we were on a short trip to Biltmore on JULY 23, 2020.  

 On this date,  we were on our way home choosing to drive on the back roads --including a little ride across the Smoky Mountains Foothills Parkway between Wears Valley and Townsend, Tennessee....  There was rain all around us --so we stopped a gazillion times to get these sky pictures....   All of today's pictures were taken on that July 23rd date--and I've listed them in NO particular order --but showing you what we saw from different angles and different overlooks...   Hope you enjoy more SKY pictures today!!!!

 Well----enough for today!!!!  Someone asked if we got wet.... I'll say  "Yes and No"....  We did have some close calls --but got back to the car before the downpours (MOST of the time).... ha ha

As much as I love sunrises and sunsets,  this year particularly,  I have really enjoyed taking pictures like what you are seeing now... Our SKIES do give us a lot of beauty --if and when we take time to stop and LOOK UP.... I took ALL of these pictures with my iPhone 11Pro...

Have an awesome week,  and PRAY PRAY PRAY for our country --and all of the horrible things which are happening now in the name of JUSTICE... This is NOT justice at all;  it's ANGER and HATEFULNESS, and just leads to more and more resentment, and no answers....   George and I choose to fly our FLAG proudly...  God Bless each of YOU,  and God Bless the United State of America,  which we love with all of our heart and soul!

Hugs,

Betsy💝💛💚💕

Take a Ride with Us

On  February 25, 2019,  on one of the very FEW sunny  and non-rainy winter days in Tennessee this year,  George and I finally drove to the Smoky Mountains to check out the 'missing link' of the Foothills Parkway (between Townsend and Wears Valley, TN).   Most of us 'locals'  have read about and  watched  this 16 mile stretch of highway being built  --since 1966. FINALLY,  it's opened --and we had an awesome day.  Even though it was a cold day on that mountain,  we loved it since it was sunny and clear as a bell...

This stretch of road offers some incredible views of the Smoky Mountains.  There are NINE bridges along that road..   We stopped at all of the overlooks and of course,  took a ton of pictures.

Sit back and take a RIDE with US!!!!!

From an overlook, we looked down to the road we were on before turning onto the parkway,  looking toward  Townsend.  That is a great view of the Little Pigeon River below. 

Great views of the Smokies!!!

WOW---we are headed up-up-up there!!!!

We also managed to take a short hike --from one of the overlooks.

Big Bird (couldn't tell what it was)

I enjoyed zooming down at some of the mountain cabins and homes below.

Beautiful pine trees/beautiful mountains

WOW---look at how these bridges have been built!!!

At the 'top' overlook with views all around us!

Looking toward  Wears Valley --and all of the cabins in that area

Looking right back toward my favorite area of the Smokies,  beautiful Townsend,  Tennessee;   They call this area the 'sleepy side' of the Smokies since it is less crowded (when compared to Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and Gatlinburg).

Another view from the overlook on 'top';   What a neat place to bring a picnic lunch and just sit and enjoy the views.

Look at this teeny tiny home in the mountains!!!!! ha ha   (Loved using the zoom lens on my Canon while up there)

Guess what????   We even stopped on the way back down the mountain to check out this little cascade!!!!!   

More and more beautiful pictures of the gorgeous Smoky Mountains  National Park

This old woman LOVED being on this new stretch of highway on such a gorgeous day!

If you get to the Smokies,  be sure and check out this road...  It will be a 16 mile JOY for you!!!!  You can get on it either from Wears Valley --or from Townsend.... ENJOY!!!!

Hope you have an awesome day and week ahead!!!!

Hugs,

Emoticons

My Easter JOY

A happy Mom and two of her three sons  (Mark and Bert--known as Tre by some);   Picture taken along the Foothills Parkway,  4/2/18;

Dear Friends,    After my last several posts talking about my health situation,  I am writing you some GOOD news  today---at least GOOD  (GREAT) news for this Mama!!!!!!   Two of my SONS are now living a little over an hour's drive from our home!!!!!!!    They moved to their new apartment in Maryville,  Tennessee   on EASTER SUNDAY!!!!!!    As I told my Facebook Friends this morning,   I have been singing:  "I've got that JOY, JOY, JOY, JOY ---down in my Heart..."

Of course,  the day after they moved in,   I just HAD to go and see them!!!!!   What a terrific day we had....   Since it was such a great day,   I decided to share it with you... Hope you enjoy our day together ---the first of many I am sure!

Kitchen area of Mark and Bert's new home

We first had to check out the new apartment...I was IMPRESSED... It is roomy and I love the openness and the way it is laid out....  They have an open kitchen/living/dining area with a separate room which can be a sunroom or office.   There are two large bedrooms and baths  (on either side of the living room) --plus a nice balcony...  There is plenty of closet space,  a nice utility room,  and even a separate storage room downstairs...  This is a perfect place for these two guys!

These guys had already worked hard putting things away and organizing!!!!! Afterall,  they had only been here one day!!!!!

Living /dining area  with the kitchen to the right and the balcony to the left

Our First Family Home

Bert helped me find our first little home in Maryville --where we lived in the late 1960's- early 1970's.      The house was new when we bought it.   I probably couldn't have found it ---but we started from Bert's school and then found our little home.  Someone has been taking good care of it.

I remember  the large backyard we had ---and the cow pasture out back!  But--we didn't have a carport...  We had a small garage  (which someone obviously enclosed to make more room in the house).

Four happy and HUNGRY People

We stopped for some dinner  at the TRAILHEAD Steak and Trout Restaurant in Townsend --after checking out  the Foothills Parkway...

We checked out all of the raging water at the SINKS.

Relaxing at the SINKS  --in the Great Smoky Mtns.

More water at the SINKS

Two of my 'loves':   Bert (Tre) and Mark

We had an awesome day in the Smokies ---and I am totally thrilled beyond belief to have these guys fairly close by!!!!!!   They want to get some hiking in soon before both of them have to settle down and go to work...

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Several of you have asked about my health situation...  Right now --it's GOOD NEWS.

I had my Esophagus stretched so that food could pass through and not get stuck... That seems to be helping my stomach problem  so far...

My Cardiologist is working with me to get the proper medications for me and my heart rate.   The good news is that my heart rate is pretty stable now...  We are still working on some wicked side effects from some of the meds --but overall,  I'm  BETTER.   Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Hugs,

Emoticons