Day Trip to the SMOKIES (9/5/13)

SUNRISE on Sept. 5, 2013

I enjoyed my week off from blogging SO much --even though I missed each of you.  I did try to read some of your posts during the week but didn't do much commenting.  I've been working on Family History most of the week with three exceptions.

First,  on Friday,  August 30,   we met another blog friend and her hubby.  Nellie and Gene (photo below) were headed to Nashville to visit their daughter.  SO--we met them (where else) at Cracker Barrel here in Crossville for lunch... Nellie has been a great blog friend for awhile,  but this is the first time we have met in person.  Twas WONDERFUL!!!!! You can see Nellie's blog (Berries and More) by clicking HERE.

On Labor Day (Sept 2),  we drove to Ashland City (near Nashville) to visit with George's daughter and hubby --who have just moved to the Nashville area.  We had a great day with them and are thrilled to have them closer to us (from Buffalo--where they lived before).

Then on Thursday,  Sept. 5,  we got up before dawn,  took our car to Knoxville to the Toyota place for her maintenance.  After that we headed to the SMOKIES for the day.  We first did some hiking in the Tremont Area (on the Middle Prong Trail).   It was a great hike and we saw SEVERAL waterfalls along the way.  After that,  we drove on the Foothills Parkway stopping at the overlooks for more photo opportunities.  We finished the day by having dinner at one of our favorite places,  the Texas Roadhouse.  It was a fabulous day ---and we had over FOUR miles on our pedometers!

Today I will talk more about the Smokies Trip. Be sure to click on all photos for enlargements.   Above is a picture of the SUNRISE we saw while we were driving from our home toward Knoxville. 

US at LOWER LYNN CAMP FALLS

The picture above is a favorite of mine since it is 'different' from most of our photos together with the tripod.  I told George that you all are seeing our BEST side.. ha ha ...We are enjoying one of several waterfalls,  Lower Lynn Camp Falls.

George taking a photo of Lower Lynn Camp Falls

George hiked down a STEEP hill in order to get some better photos of Lower Lynn Camp Falls.   Can you see him down there??????  (I took this photo from the bench on top.)

LOWER LYNN CAMP FALLS

Here is one of George's photos taken from the bottom!!!

One of SEVERAL cascades between Lynn Camp Falls and Lower Lynn Camp Falls

We both hiked down to the bottom of several of these cascades to get photos of the falls.  Here's a cute picture of George taking photos at this waterfall.

Top of Lynn Camp Falls

Lynn Camp Falls is in layers. I took this photo from the TOP of that waterfall...

After the wonderful hike,  we stopped at several overlooks along Middle Prong for more photos.  Again,  we enjoyed seeing several beautiful cascades.  This is a photo of us sitting near one of those cascades.

See that little flower in the lower right corner in the previous photo????   This little beauty was growing down there near the water --and it was all alone!!!!  Isn't it pretty?  (UPDATE:  a blog friend said that this is a Cardinal Flower.)

Beautiful Smoky Mountains!!!

After leaving the Tremont area,  we drove along the Foothills Parkway.   Have I told you how much we love our PRIUS?  We are averaging about 55 mpg in that car!  Awesome!   AND--have I told you how much we love the SMOKIES?  We want to return to this area after the leaves change colors.

Dogwood leaves changing colors

Speaking of FALL,   I did manage to get some photos showing some of the indications that Fall is coming... Above is one showing the changes in the Dogwood leaves.

I love the colors in these leaves. They seem to turn a very very deep purple...  I think this is one of the many types of MAPLES.

Finally,  here is a neat photo I got while looking up at the top of this tree ---showing some color changes near the top.  Can you tell that AUTUMN is on the way?????   I get so excited this time of year --just like I do in Spring.

++++++++++++++++

Here's a photo of my blog friend,  Nellie and her hubby,  Gene...  WONDERFUL people!!!!!  I'm so blessed to have met them both.

Hope you had a good week...   Be sure and catch me up on anything important which I may have missed last week...  Have a fabulous Monday.

Hugs,

Emoticons

It's a BLUEBIRD kind of Day!

FOUR Eastern Bluebirds at the feeders

Welcome to my "Bluebird Kitchen"..  I do feed lots of other birds --but right now,  there are many, many  Bluebirds around.   So today will be a "Bluebird Post"...

All of the photos were taken on August 24, 2013.  Be sure to enlarge them for larger photos.   Bluebirds love Mealworms (feeder to the right) --but they also love the Peanut Suet in the background,  and the plate feeder (which has a combination of Fruits and Nuts)..  Do I spoil them????? YES --I do --and I love it!

The Bluebirds never touched the suet UNTIL I changed to the Peanut Butter kind..  (Can't say that I blame them --since I also love peanut butter... ha)

I have to fill the Mealworm feeder everyday for them.... That male Bluebird looks pretty healthy,  doesn't he?

The Juvenile Bluebirds love the mealworms also... (I remember not long ago when Daddy was having to feed these little guys... No more--they are on their own now!)

The Baby Bluebirds loved to spread out and take a nap on the plate feeder... Crazy birdies!!!!!  (It was a HOT afternoon ---so I think this is another way to cool off and scratch their tummies!)

He looked at me and said:  "What are you looking at, Lady?  Can't I eat in peace?"  ha

"Yum ---give me some more of this delicious Peanut Suet!"

Baby Blue is sitting IN the mealworm plate....  Isn't he cute?

I

I almost got the bird on the right in flight---I never seem to catch them in flight --but I'll keep trying...  Bluebirds are such wonderful little birds.  I feel blessed to have them at my feeders.

"Okay, Lady,  if you want my picture,  I'll turn and show you how pretty I am."

Finally,  I love this photo of one of the Juvenile Bluebirds at the Mealworm feeder...

OOPS---where did he come from ???  He's not a Bluebird..   He is a baby CARDINAL.  Isn't he adorable?   I love his top-notch.  He told me that he wanted in this blog also!!!!!! ha

Besides the baby Bluebirds,  we have quite a few Juvenile Cardinals at the feeders also...  I'll publish another blog soon showing more of our Backyard Birds at our feeders.

My Facebook Friends know that,  with the help of a cousin,  I've gotten new information about my Ballard side of the family (my mother's father's family).  Another cousin has the Ballard Family BIBLE---so I am getting new information from him..  For a Genealogist,  this is EXCITING news... For that reason,  I am taking next week off from Blogging JUST so I can spend alot of time on my Family History.

Hope all of your have a great LABOR DAY celebration---and I'll see you on Monday,  September 9th. 

Hugs,

Emoticons