Our World: King’s Bluff Trail

February 18, 2013
Betsy on the King's Bluff Loop Trail in the Ozark National Forest of Arkansas. February 11, 2013.

Betsy on the King’s Bluff Loop Trail in the Ozark National Forest of Arkansas. February 11, 2013.

(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.

A beautiful blue February Sky. February 11, 2013.

A beautiful blue February Sky. February 11, 2013.

This past Monday Betsy and I hiked the King’s Bluff Loop Trail in the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas.  We had been there several years before, but it was good to go back, especially on a pretty February day under a beautiful blue sky.

King's Bluff Falls, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas. February 11, 2013.

King’s Bluff Falls, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas. February 11, 2013.

The trail led to King’s Bluff Falls which actually had a fairly good water flow.  It was only a trickle the last time we were there.

A pedestal at the Pedestal Rock Scenic Area of Arkansas. February 13, 2011.

A pedestal at the Pedestal Rock Scenic Area of Arkansas. February 11, 2013.

After leaving the waterfall the trail looped around to rock outcroppings that over some spectacular views of rock pedestals formed by erosion over millions of years.  Many of the pedestals have varied-colored lichen growing on the rock faces.

The hike was a wonderful way to enjoy the marvelous beauty of God’s creation.

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Down Memory Lane: Tennessee Waterfalls in December

February 8, 2013

2009 -- Dec. Waterfalls TN

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

December is a pretty good month for visiting waterfalls in Tennessee.  The weather is usually cool for hiking, although sometimes the water levels are low.

We visited some waterfalls near Flag Pole, Tennessee, in December, 2009.  Most of the waterfalls were fairly small, but we enjoyed visiting them just the same.

In the collage above Big Branch Cascade is on the upper left, while  Hogskin Branch Falls is on the upper right.  Upper Big Branch Falls is on the left in the bottom row, with Devil Fork Falls in the center.  Big Branch Falls is on the lower right.

To see larger versions of these pictures and others, click HERE.

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Posted in Waterfalls | 13 Comments »

Alabama’s Little River

February 6, 2013
Little River Canyon National Preserve, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

Little River Canyon National Preserve, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

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

One of the places Betsy and I have visited several times is Little River National Canyon Preserve near Fort Payne, Alabama.  The canyon is sometimes called “The Grand Canyon of the East”.  There is a scenic drive along the rim with several overlooks from which the river can be seen far below.

Little River, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

Little River, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

These pictures were taken in February, 2010, when the river was fairly high and the water was a beautiful color.  We thoroughly enjoyed watching the water rush over and around the rocks in the stream bed.

Little River, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

Little River, Fort Payne, Alabama. February 14, 2010.

Both kayaking and rock climbing are permitted in the canyon, but Betsy and I decided to content ourselves with photography.

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Our World: Betsy Got Some Snow!

February 4, 2013
Snow falling at our house. February 2, 2013.

Snow falling at our house. February 2, 2013.

(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 finally got some snow to enjoy!  It started snowing Saturday morning and came down at a pretty good clip.  We had three or more inches by the time it was over.

Our front yard. February 2, 2013.

Our front yard. February 2, 2013.

We didn’t have much traffic on the road in front of the house for much of the day.  The road was snow covered, as were our roses and flower beds.  The snow looked nice on the blocks of the wall near the road.

Spring flowers that have come up poking through the blanket of snow. February 2, 2013.

Spring flowers that have come up poking through the blanket of snow. February 2, 2013.

Betsy was delighted with the snow, but I’m not sure our Spring flowers were as happy about it as Betsy was.

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Skywatch Friday: Winter Skies

February 1, 2013
Winter sky over Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. January 17, 2013.

Winter sky over Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. January 17, 2013.

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

This is my post for Skywatch Friday, a meme for sharing views of the sky from all over the world.  To see more, or to join and share your own photos of the sky, click HERE.

In mid-January we had a very interesting week.  It started out with above average temperatures, followed by rain, followed by sleet and some freezing rain.  We were supposed to have snow, but we didn’t get any (much to Betsy’s disappointment).

The weather started to clear late on Thursday afternoon, and as the sun was setting we noticed an unusual color in the sky.  Both of us went outside, cameras in hand.

The sky to the west contained clouds with both purple and orange-pink hues, as can be seen from the picture above.

GladeSky13011701

But looking to the south, we saw a beautiful rose glow to the sky.  Once again God’s artistry was on vivid display.

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Posted in SkyWatch Friday | 22 Comments »

The First Daffodil of Spring

January 30, 2013
Daffodil in bloom at the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina. January 28, 2013.

Daffodil in bloom at the Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina. January 28, 2013.

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

Monday Betsy and I went to Asheville, North Carolina, to the Biltmore Estate.  We went primarily to visit the Conservatory — something we do a couple of times each year — and to do some walking around the estate.

As we were walking through one of the gardens back to the car, we spotted this daffodil in bloom under a tree.  Some of our daffodils are up, but they are a long way from blooming.  It was a surprise to find this one in bloom.

Orchid in the Conservatory at Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina. January 28, 2013.

Orchid in the Conservatory at Biltmore, Asheville, North Carolina. January 28, 2013.

As I mentioned, Betsy and I went to enjoy the flowers in the Conservatory.  We spent quite a bit of time in the Orchid Room, enjoying beautiful blossoms like the one above.

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Our World: Little Pigeon River

January 28, 2013
Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. January 23, 2013.

Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. January 23, 2013.

(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.

Last week Betsy and I traveled to Gatlinburg to spend a couple of days in the Smokies.  Although our trip was cut short by an impending ice storm, we still were able to enjoy the beauty of ‘our’ Smoky Mountains without the distraction of lots of traffic or tourists.

Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. January 23, 2013.

Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. January 23, 2013.

Winter is a marvelous time to visit the park because the rivers are relatively high, and the rocky stream beds provide wonderful photographic opportunities.

Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. January 23, 2013.

Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. January 23, 2013.

On our second morning in the Smokies we drove up Greenbrier Road along the Little Pigeon River.  Although we stopped several times for pictures, these photos were taken at the bridge where the road to Ramsey Cascade meets Greenbrier Road.

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Skywatch Friday: Bali Skies

January 25, 2013

Bali Skies

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

This is my post for Skywatch Friday, a meme for sharing views of the sky from all over the world.  To see more, or to join and share your own photos of the sky, click HERE.

All of the images are from my archives, scanned from slides.  Back in 1987 I was able to spend several days on Bali.  Bali was just about everything you could imagine  for a south sea island paradise.  The skies, and the sunsets especially, were spectacular.  These photos were taken at Kuta Beach Resort.

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Down Memory Lane: Our Reception

January 23, 2013

2001 -- Reception I

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

Although we both lived in Hendersonville, Tennessee, at the time, we got married in Knoxville.  We did this so that we could have a small family wedding.  Betsy was the Associate Minister at a large Methodist church in Hendersonville and she didn’t want to have to make decisions about who in the congregation should be invited and who should not.

‘The Girls’, Betsy’s girlfriends from the Hendersonville church, gave us a reception in the church fellowship hall a few weeks after our wedding.  This allowed members of the Hendersonville church to share in our wedding.

I came across pictures from the reception when I was going through my archives and posting pictures on my photo website.  The collage above includes some of those pictures.  From left to right along the top:  Betsy and I when we arrived at the reception, sampling some of the goodies, and with ‘The Girls’.  On the bottom left we’re sharing some photos from our wedding and honeymoon.  On the bottom right I’m talking with Mom and Dad.

To see larger versions of these pictures and others, click HERE.

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Posted in American Life | 12 Comments »

Our World: Wetumpka Falls

January 21, 2013
Wetumpka Falls, Tullahoma, Tennessee. February 9, 2012.

Wetumpka Falls, Tullahoma, Tennessee. February 9, 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 five wonderful ladies.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

When Betsy and I go to visit Dad, we try, if at all possible, to take him out for lunch and a ride.  On one of our rides last year we came across Wetumpka Falls near Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Wetumpka Falls, Tullahoma, Tennessee. February 9, 2012. (Photo by Betsy.)

Wetumpka Falls, Tullahoma, Tennessee. February 9, 2012. (Photo by Betsy.)

Wetumpka Falls is in a wooded setting.  Although the stream doesn’t have much water, the result is a pretty little waterfall we enjoyed visiting.

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Posted in Our World | 18 Comments »

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