Late October in our Yard---October 2014

On the Street Where We Live 10/27/14

We recently saw SO much Autumn Beauty on our vacation to the Maggie Valley area...  I didn't think we'd get to see anything nearly as pretty once we got back home.  For you see,  we have had a very DRY late Summer and Fall here at home.  So many of the leaves on the big trees just turned brown and fell off... SO---we weren't expecting to see much color here.

However,  we did find (and continue to find) quite a bit of color in our area --since the leaves are hanging on longer than usual this year (which indicates a frigid winter upcoming).... Today--I'll share with you some pictures around our yard... One of them is my header this month.  There are two more on my Photo Blog (click HERE for those two pictures).    Hope you enjoy the Fall Photos from Fairfield Glade, TN!  (Click on them for enlargements.)

Oak Leaves changing colors  10/27/14

Front Yard --taken from the driveway  10/28/14

Looking toward the lower side of our front yard  10/28/14

From the street,  looking toward the upper side yard  (You can see our Maple and Dogwood showing off their colors in this shot, along with our English Ivy and Periwinkle Ground Cover.)  10/28/14

From the road,  looking across the front yard toward the lower side 10/28/14

Love our MAPLE which turns a brilliant red color  10/28/14

A close-up of the Maple and Dogwood  10/28/14

Back to one of our OAK TREES --getting prettier by the day!  10/28/14

The Oak Leaves --as they change colors;  Neat, huh?   10/28/14

Color in the lower part of the yard in back   10/28/14

Beautiful tree in our back yard  10/28/14

Looking from our deck toward the golf course fairway as the early morning sun began to shine on that pretty tree;   10/30/14

Another early morning shot --looking through the trees at all of the color;  10/30/14

a close-up of some pretty leaves --as the sun shines on that tree;  10/30/14

Well---that's it!!!!  As you can see,  the last of these pictures were taken on 10/30.   It was on 10/31 and 11/1 when we had that big storm (rain/ice/snow--and lots of wind).. Needless to say,  I'm glad I took these pictures before that storm!!!!!

Have a wonderful day and get out and enjoy nature!!!!  We are definitely 'enjoying' it right now---picking up leaves--leaves---leaves in our yard!!!!!  Fun Fun...

Hugs,

Emoticons

Freaky Snow Storm in Tennessee on November 1, 2014

A Snowy Pumpkin in our Yard

I don't usually show pictures of such a tiny snow---but our entire area had a crazy snow storm  beginning on October 31 and ending November 1.... Here on the Cumberland Plateau,  the rains began on Halloween --and the temperatures got colder and colder as the day progressed.  I felt sorry for any Trick or Treaters who might have been outside that night.  The snow began after dark and we woke up on Saturday morning to find 1/2 inch of wet snow at our home...

As most of you know,  I am one who LOVES snow (even tiny ones) and hubby (who was raised in Indiana) would prefer NEVER to see snow again.    SO---when we get a small one,  he is happy not to have to scrape the driveway!!!!  I am happy when the snow is a 'wet' one and clings to everything... SO---we were 'both' Happy Campers on Saturday!!!!

The crazy thing is the DATE... Our area has rarely had snow this early in the season.  AND---the Smoky Mountains  (Mt. LeConte) had 22 inches of snow (probably the most ever on Nov. 1st)... I heard on TV that there are snow drifts WAIST deep in spots in the mountains...   AND---due to trees falling,  some of the campgrounds in the Smokies had to be closed.  And to think:  All of our area had temperatures in the 70's earlier this week!!!!   We will be talking about this storm in Tennessee for a LONG time!

Today I'll share some of my snow pictures taken early in the morning on Nov. 1st.... We will say goodbye to our blooms I'm sure ---and will have to wait 'til Spring for some blooms in our yard (except for the Pansies --which can make it through this kind of weather)!!!!! 

Almost the end of our Canna Lilies for this year!

Snow on one of our Azalea Bushes

Another Azalea

A DayLily

Poor little Vinca  (Our Vincas won't make it through the weekend.)

Chicago Peace Rose --(should be named Snowy Peace)

Two of our shrubs:  Jasmine (really a Glossy Abelia) and an Azalea

IRIS ---see all of the buds???  We have had quite a few Re-blooming Irises to bloom this month.

Another Iris  with buds---wonder if these will bloom now?

Burning Bush covered with snow

Another photo of the Burning Bush (which definitely was not 'burning' on this date)

One of our Container Roses --full of snow!

Our big Rhododendron in the backyard (near the Bird Kitchen)

SO---that is our 'freaky' snow on November 1,  2014.... The snow did last all day since the temperatures stayed right about freezing most of the day.  AND--that night,  the temperature went down to 25 degrees Fahrenheit!!!!

I don't know what Winter has in store for us this year --but a lady who studies nature's signs always writes an article in our local newspaper each year giving her forecast... AND--she is usually always correct with her predictions.

This is what she said about our area this Winter:
-NINE snows with 3 of them being heavy (She counts the August early-morning fogs to come up with that number.)
-Our mast crop (nuts and acorns) is HEAVY this year --denoting a hard winter.
-Our tree foliage is particularly thick --denoting a hard winter. 
-Hornets' nests are right on the ground --denoting a hard winter.
-Spring Flowering Bushes blooming in Fall denote a hard winter.  Here at our home,  our Azalea bloomed this Fall--for the first time in FALL.
-An all-black Woolly Worm denotes a hard winter (and we have seen one in our yard).
-Trees that hold their leaves longer are another sign of a hard winter.
-When opening a persimmon seed,  we are seeing a SPOON design (which says that we'll be shoveling snow all winter).  George hates this one!


There are more signs ---but you get the idea!!!!  We are in for another humdinger of a FRIGID Winter here on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee...

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Welcome to November.... Our November 1st came in like a lion this year...   Since this is a new month,  I also have a  blog post on My Photo Blog.  Click HERE  to see a new header and another Fall photo from our yard.

Also--don't miss seeing the new quotes I have this month on my sidebar.  AND---do you like my header?  I took that photo after we got the leaves OUT of the front yard... BUT--we'll have to do it again SEVERAL more times until all of the leaves are down!!

Hugs,

Emoticons