Archive for the ‘Our World’ Category

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Our World: The Road to Yellowstone

April 6, 2015
The Hoback River, Wyoming. September 18, 2012.

The Hoback River, Wyoming. September 18, 2012.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)
This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by three wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

When Betsy and I drove from Rocky Mountain National Park to Yellowstone National Park in September, 2012, the trip took us through parts of Colorado and Wyoming that we hadn’t visited before.  Part of the time we traveled through Wyoming’s Medicine Bow National Forest and along the Hoback River.

The Hoback River, Wyoming. September 18, 2012.

The Hoback River, Wyoming. September 18, 2012.

While we were eager to get to Yellowstone, the scenery was so pretty that we ended up stopping several times just to enjoy the view.  The Hoback River is not very deep, but the water was pretty and clear.

The Hoback River, Wyoming. September 18, 2012.

The Hoback River, Wyoming. September 18, 2012.

I’m sure we could have made the trip in less time if we hadn’t stopped to enjoy the view and get photos.  But looking at these pictures now, the extra time on the road was very well worthwhile.

 

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Our World: Trimming Damaged Trees

March 16, 2015
Can you see him up in the tree? Getting damaged trees trimmed. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. March 2, 2015

Can you see him up in the tree? Getting damaged trees trimmed. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. March 2, 2015

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by three wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

In my last post, I told about the week of storms we had February 17 – 23.  If you missed that post, you can see it HERE.

Once we got our electricity back on, our biggest concern was the broken tree tops dangling from the trees around our house.  Fortunately we were able to get a crew to do the work very efficiently.

One of the men was apparently unafraid of heights (as you can see from the photo above), and scampered up to the breaks and began to cut them free so they could be lowered to the ground.  While he was up there he even admired the view he had of the mountains in the distance.  I was happy he was up the tree, and not me.

A closer look at the man in the tree. March 2, 2015.

A closer look at the man in the tree. March 2, 2015.

He had to climb three trees to clean up all the breaks.  In each case the branches were lowered to the ground where they were cut into smaller pieces so they could be moved more easily.

The truck loaded with cut-up tree tops ready to be hauled away. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. March 2, 2015.

The truck loaded with cut-up tree tops ready to be hauled away. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. March 2, 2015.

Finally the smaller pieces were loaded onto their truck and hauled away.  As you can see, they had quite a load when they were finished.  Now it’s up to Betsy and me to get all the remaining small branches and twigs cleaned up.  I don’t think we’ll be bored.

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Our World: Big Thompson Canyon

February 5, 2015
Big Thompson River, Colorado. September 17, 2012.

Big Thompson River, Colorado. September 17, 2012.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by three wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

Betsy and I drove through Big Thompson Canyon on a September morning in 2012 on our way from Fort Collins, Colorado, to Rocky Mountain National Park.  The canyon was formed by the Big Thompson River, which flowed along the road for much of our trip.  The boulders and rushing water were fascinating.

'King of the Mountain' in Big Thompson Canyon, Colorado. September 17, 2012.

‘King of the Mountain’ in Big Thompson Canyon, Colorado. September 17, 2012.

At one point we came upon a small herd of pronghorn sheep.  Some were right along the highway, but one kept watch from the top of the canyon wall.

The sky above Big Thompson Canyon, Colorado. September 17, 2012.

The sky above Big Thompson Canyon, Colorado. September 17, 2012.

The sky was just as fascinating as the rocky canyon walls themselves.  It was a beautiful ride.

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Our World: Crystal Creek Reservoir

November 24, 2014
Crystal Creek Reservoir on Pikes Peak Highway. September 14, 2012.

Crystal Creek Reservoir on Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado. September 14, 2012.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by three wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

When Betsy and I took our western trip in 2012, the first place we visited in Colorado was Pikes Peak.  We had long talked about visiting the summit of the mountain, and we were delighted that we could see Pikes Peak from our motel on our first night.

The next morning we headed to the mountain and up the Pikes Peak Highway.  Although the summit was our goal, we had to make several stops on the way up.  One of our first stops was at Crystal Creek Reservoir, at about Mile Marker 6.

The combination of a beautiful sky, snow-capped peaks and mirror-like water simply made it impossible for us to drive by without stopping.

Betsy at Crystal Creek Reservoir, Pikes Peak, Colorado. September 14, 2012.

Betsy at Crystal Creek Reservoir, Pikes Peak, Colorado. September 14, 2012.

We walked along the shore just soaking up the scenery around us.  My snow-loving Beautiful Bride was absolutely delighted.

Aspen at Crystal Creek Reservoir, Pikes Peak, Colorado. September 14, 2012.

Aspen at Crystal Creek Reservoir, Pikes Peak, Colorado. September 14, 2012.

We also enjoyed the sight of some golden aspens, a sight we don’t see here in Tennessee.

CrsytalCreekPikesPeakPanorama12091401

I couldn’t resist creating a panorama of the gorgeous scene before us.

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Our World: Sequatchie Valley

November 3, 2014
The Sequatchie Valley, Dunlap, Tennessee. August 16, 2014.

The Sequatchie Valley, Dunlap, Tennessee. August 16, 2014.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by three wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

The Sequatchie Valley in Tennessee is a narrow, straight valley between the Cumberland Plateau and the Walden Ridge.  Betsy and I often drive through or across the Sequatchie Valley when we travel south from our home on the Cumberland Plateau.

In August Betsy and I met a blogger friend, Lynda, and her husband for lunch in Dunlap, Tennessee, which is in the heart of the Sequatchie Valley.  Not only did we have a great time and delicious meal with a wonderful couple, we were also able to enjoy the beauty of the valley around us.

The Sequatchie Valley, Dunlap, Tennessee. August 16, 2014.

The Sequatchie Valley, Dunlap, Tennessee. August 16, 2014.

We were in the valley on a bright, sunny day with clouds that rivaled the valley in beauty.

The Sequatchie Valley is primarily rural, dotted with farms and small towns.  The escarpments of the Cumberland Plateau and Walden Ridge form a picturesque background for the barns and cattle.

The Sequatchie Valley, Dunlap, Tennessee. August 16, 2014.

The Sequatchie Valley, Dunlap, Tennessee. August 16, 2014.

All in all we had a perfect day in Tennessee’s Sequatchie Valley.

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Our World: Candy in Our Yard

July 28, 2014
Custard Candy Day Lily, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. June 20, 2014.

Custard Candy Day Lily, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. June 20, 2014.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them once or twice.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by three wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

All of these pictures were taken in mid-June, but I wanted to share some of our ‘candy’ with you.  These candies contain absolutely no calories, and so can be enjoyed as often as desired without any weight gain whatsoever.

Custard Candy was the first of our candies.  We now have two different clumps of Custard Candy.  One is on the side of the house where we can enjoy it from the deck.  The other clump is in the flowerbed near the road in front of the house.

Strawberry Candy Day Lily, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. June 21, 2014

Strawberry Candy Day Lily, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. June 21, 2014

Strawberry Candy is also in the bed along the side of the house.

Elegant Candy Day Lily, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. June 21, 2014.

Elegant Candy Day Lily, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. June 21, 2014.

We have a large clump of Elegant Candy along the road.  We both like the color of this day lily.

Wineberry Candy Day Lily, Faiarfield Glade, Tennessee. June 19, 2014.

Wineberry Candy Day Lily, Faiarfield Glade, Tennessee. June 19, 2014.

Wineberry Candy is the last of our candies.  It, too, is along the road in front of our house and puts on quite a display that we, and the people traveling along the road can enjoy.

The nice thing about the day lilies along the road is that they are all rebloomers, and will bloom again in the autumn.  It’s just a good thing these candies aren’t fattening — we enjoy them so much.

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Our World: Biltmore Orchids

July 7, 2014
Orchid in the Conservatory of the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Caroliina. June 14, 2014.

Orchid in the Conservatory of the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Caroliina. June 14, 2014.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

Betsy and I have had annual passes to Biltmore House and Gardens for several years now.  We get over there several times a year to enjoy the gardens and the grounds of the estate.  But we almost always stop at the Conservatory to visit the Orchid Room as well.

Orchid in the Conservatory of the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Caroliina. June 14, 2014.

Orchid in the Conservatory of the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Caroliina. June 14, 2014.

We don’t grow orchids — I’m not sure we could be successful at it — but we certainly enjoy the beauty and variety of the orchids being grown at Biltmore.

Orchid in the Conservatory of the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Caroliina. June 14, 2014.

Orchid in the Conservatory of the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Caroliina. June 14, 2014.

Just when it seems we’ve seen just about every possible color and pattern, we turn a corner and see something else which is simply spectacular.

These pictures were taken on a June, 2012, visit to Biltmore.

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Our World: Byrd Lake Reflections

June 30, 2014
Reflections on Byrd Lake, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Tennessee. June 7, 2014.

Reflections on Byrd Lake, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Tennessee. June 7, 2014.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by three wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

Betsy and I were fortunate to have a visit with son Jeff and his wife Dawn in early June. We took them to Cumberland Mountain State Park to celebrate (belatedly) Jeff’s birthday. After a delicious lunch we walked along the shore of Byrd Lake to enjoy the beautiful day.

The lake was calm, almost mirror-like, and the reflections were absolutely beautiful. I got the picture above of the couple in the canoe as they were heading back to the boat rental dock.

The bridge over the Byrd Lake dam, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Tennessee. June 7, 2014.

The bridge over the Byrd Lake dam, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Tennessee. June 7, 2014.

Byrd Lake is man-made, formed by a dam. The dam and the stone seven-arch bridge carrying the road over it was constructed by the CCC. It is reported to be the largest masonry structure constructed by the CCC.

Betsy at Byrd Lake, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Tennessee. June 7, 2014.

Betsy at Byrd Lake, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Tennessee. June 7, 2014.

I didn’t get a picture of a reflection of my Beautiful Bride, but she looked so good that I can’t resist including this picture of her taken from a small fishing pier on the lake. The bridge over the dam (and its reflection) can be seen behind her.

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Our World: Friday the Thirteenth Full Moon

June 16, 2014
Moon and clouds, Friday, June 13, 2014. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee.

Moon and clouds, Friday, June 13, 2014. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by three wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

I’m sure most of you were aware that this past Friday, June 13, was special because there was also a full moon that night.  The combination of a full moon on a Friday the thirteenth is fairly rare.  It won’t happen again until 2049.  If I’m still around, I would be 107 the next time this combination occurs, so I really was looking forward to seeing the full moon Friday evening.

Moon and clouds, Friday, June 13, 2014. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee.

Moon and clouds, Friday, June 13, 2014. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee.

Unfortunately, Friday was rainy and cloudy.  Betsy and I went out shortly after the time of the moonrise, but we could see nothing but clouds.  We went out again an hour or so later and could see some stars over head, but still no moon.

A little later we finally got a glimpse of the moon playing peek-a-boo with the clouds and the trees.  I attempted to get some decent photos without a great deal of success.

Full moon over Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. June 13, 2014.

Full moon over Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. June 13, 2014.

Finally the moon poked through a clear patch of sky and I was able to get a fairly decent picture.  I’m glad I got to see this full moon, because I’m really not convinced that I’ll be around the next time there is a full moon on Friday the thirteenth.

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Our World: Iris in Our Yard

June 2, 2014
Orange Harvest Iris, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. May 7, 2014.

Orange Harvest iris, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. May 7, 2014.

(Note:  All pictures may be enlarged by clicking on them.)

This is my post for the Our World meme.  This meme is a second generation of My World Tuesday created by Klaus Peter and is hosted by three wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

We’ve been fortunate to have some beautiful iris blooming in our yard this Spring.  Iris are quite easy to care for, and when they have marvelous blossoms they are doubly delightful.  The iris above is Orange Harvest.  It’s easy to see how this iris got its name.

Floor Show iris, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. May 7, 2014.

Floor Show iris, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. May 7, 2014.

Floor Show is a very interesting bicolor iris.  We have it in a couple of different places in our yard.

Hell's Fire iris, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. May 7, 2014.

Hell’s Fire iris, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. May 7, 2014.

Sometimes the blossom is much prettier than the name.  Hell’s Fire is not exactly a name I would pick, but I do like the color.

Electric Shock iris, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. May 8, 2014.

Electric Shock iris, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. May 8, 2014.

We also have Electric Shock is a couple of places in the yard.  It has a very showy blossom that stands out very well.

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