Our World: Cumberland Mountain

March 4, 2013
Byrd Lake, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville, Tennessee. May 15, 2011

Byrd Lake, Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville, Tennessee. May 15, 2011

(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.

Cumberland Mountain State Park is a relatively small state park near Crossville, Tennessee.  The main feature of the park is Byrd Lake (above).

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The dam which forms Byrd Lake, built by the CCC. Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville, Tennessee. May 15, 2011.

The lake is formed by a dam capped by seven arches carrying a road.  The dam is the largest masonry project completed by the CCC.  It was substantially rebuilt in 2010-2011.

The restaurant at Cumberland Mountain State Park. May 15, 2011.

The restaurant at Cumberland Mountain State Park. May 15, 2011.

The park has camping sites, hiking trails, boating and a swimming pool.  One of the things we like best about Cumberland Mountain isa the restaurant overlooking the lake.  We enjoy their delicious buffets several times during the year.

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SkyWatch Friday: Sunset on Mount Nebo

March 1, 2013
Our cabin at sunset on Mount Nebo, Arkansas. February 27, 2012.

Our cabin at sunset on Mount Nebo, Arkansas. February 27, 2012.

(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.

There are many things that Betsy and I like about Mount Nebo in Arkansas.  We always stay at ‘our’ cabin on the rim of the mountain.  The main reason we go in late February is that we can enjoy sunsets from the patio of the cabin.

This picture, taken last year, shows the sun sinking behind the mountains to the west of Mount Nebo.  ‘Our’ cabin is in silhouette on the left of the picture.

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Playing with my Macro Lens

February 27, 2013

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

These pictures are from my archives, but crocus blossoms gave me a chance to play with my macro lens.

I don’t think any single picture is particularly special, but taken as a group they do give me a chance to enjoy the beauty of Spring.

Even the simplest of flowers have beautiful details.

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Our First Signs of Spring

February 25, 2013
Crocus in bloom, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. February 21, 2013.

Crocus in bloom, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. February 21, 2013.

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

We have had some cold weather over the past few days, so winter is not quite ready to leave us.  But there are a couple of hopeful signs.  I noticed a couple of days ago that our crocus has begun to bloom.

Crocus in bloom, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. February 21, 2013.

Crocus in bloom, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. February 21, 2013.

The pictures aren’t very good, but the blossoms do promise that Spring will soon be here.

These crocus were a gift from my Dad when we bought our house. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. February 24, 2013.

These crocus were a gift from my Dad when we bought our house. Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. February 24, 2013.

Yesterday, these crocus, given to us by my Dad when we bought this house, gave us another hint of the promise of Spring.

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SkyWatch Friday: Mount Nebo Sunset

February 22, 2013
Sunset on Mount Nebo, Arkansas. February 11, 2013.

Sunset on Mount Nebo, Arkansas. February 11, 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.

Betsy and I were at Mount Nebo in Arkansas last week.  We stay at the same cabin each year, since we have beautiful views at sunset from the porch at the back of the cabin.  We can sit there and look down into the valley below us and see the mountains stretching off in the distance.  When the setting sun colors the sky and sends our sun rays, we feel that we’re capturing a glimpse of heaven.

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Falling Water Falls

February 20, 2013
Falling Water Falls, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas. February 14, 2013

Falling Water Falls, Ozark National Forest, Arkansas. February 14, 2013

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

Betsy and I drove into the Ozark National Forest of Arkansas on a gravel Forest Service road to visit Falling Water Falls o Valentine Day.  We had visited this waterfall a couple of times before, but we found much more water in the creek this time.  Also, the color of the water was absolutely gorgeous.

 

 

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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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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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