Scenic Sunday #82: After the Storm

February 7, 2010

In front of our house, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. January 31, 2010.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

Perhaps I shouldn’t post this after a weekend during which so many people had to endure a blizzard, but I can’t resist.

This was the picture in front of our house a week ago.  The storm had passed and Sunday morning presented us with a bright blue sky.  The sun glistened off the ice on the trees and the new-fallen snow was clean and white.  We don’t often get a scene like this in Tennessee, so it certainly qualifies as scenic to us.

********************
I’m grateful that after all the storms of life there is always a new day full of hope and promise.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Scenic Sunday | 11 Comments »

Down Memory Lane: Middle Prong

February 6, 2010

Scenes from the Middle Prong of Little River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. January 25, 2008.

The most-visited of our national parks is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.  The crowds can be overwhelming at times.

But it is possible to get away from the crowds even in the Smokies.  One of those lesser-visited places is the Middle Prong of Little River above Tremont.  An old logging road follows the stream for a couple  miles, offering some wonderful views of the cascades and rapids.

Betsy and I first explored Middle Prong in January, 2008.  We enjoyed it so much that we’ve been back several times since.

To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

********************

I’m grateful that a health scare involving my mother was a false alarm and that she is feeling much better.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Travels | 11 Comments »

Skywatch Friday: A Cloudy Day

February 5, 2010

The view from the 14th tee, Druid Hills Golf Course, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee.

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.

The last couple of days have been cloudy, dull and gray.  That’s not exactly my favorite type of day, but I think there is often a stark beauty about such a day.  The picture above was taken on the 14th fairway of the Druid Hills Golf Course here in the Glade.

Tags: , ,
Posted in SkyWatch Friday | 21 Comments »

Down Memory Lane: Family Wedding

February 4, 2010

Scenes from Matt & Amy's wedding. June 16, 2001.

One advantage of winter storms is that I can spend more time at my computer without feeling too guilty about doing so.  And time spent at the computer can lead me to folders that I’ve almost forgotten about.

June, 2001, was a busy month for the Adams family.  I was going to marry a certain blonde preacher, but the week before we were married my nephew Matt married his fiance, Amy.

Matt and Amy were high school sweethearts who stayed together after Matt went off to the Naval Academy.  They were married after Matt’s graduation from the Academy, and the groom and groomsmen were in full dress uniform for the ceremony.

Matt and Amy’s wedding gave Betsy the opportunity to meet some members of my family for the first time.  My daughter, Kelly, and her husband, Chuck, attended Matt and Amy’s wedding, as did my brother and his wife.

We had a wonderful time at the wedding, and the Adams family must have passed muster since Betsy did marry me a week later.

To see these pictures and others, click HERE.

********************

I’m grateful for the wonderful gift of family.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Family | 12 Comments »

Watery Wednesday #73: The Glade in the Snow

February 3, 2010

A water hazard on the Druid Hills Golf Course, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee.

This is my post for Watery Wednesday.  To see more of our beautiful watery world, or to join and post your own pictures to share, click HERE.

We don’t often get a heavy snow here in the Glade, but when we do, it can be very beautiful.  The picture above was taken on the front nine of the Druid Hills Golf Course.  It was a gray, cloudy day, but the view was peacefully serene.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Watery Wednesday | 19 Comments »

My World: Remembering Our Roses (2)

February 2, 2010

More of our 2009 Roses

This is my post for the My World meme.  It is hosted by Klaus, Ivar, Sandy, Wren, Louise and Fishing Guy.  To learn more about our world or to join and share your part of the world, click HERE.

We had two beautiful days here and I finally got the driveway clear.  There were a few cars going up and down the road yesterday (Monday) and the mail got through so I guess the Glade is slowly recovering from our storm.

But just as I was beginning to feel good about our weather Betsy said a wintry mix was  predicted for us Monday night.  I really didn’t need to hear that!

So tonight I need another reminder of warmer, greener days ahead.  This is another collage of some of the roses we had blooming in our yard last year.

Tags: , ,
Posted in My World | 17 Comments »

After Our Snow Storm

February 1, 2010

Around our house after our snow storm. January 30 - 31, 2010.

Since it is now February 1, I guess it’s safe to say that we survived the January storm.  It turned out to be quite an experience for this part of Tennessee.

As best I can tell we got about five inches of snow, followed by about an inch of ice, followed by another inch or so of snow.  The snow started late Friday morning and continued through Saturday, although it was mostly flurries at the end.

As many of you know, we live on a hill, and although there is usually a fair amount of up and down traffic, except for a snow plow we had no traffic at all until yesterday (Sunday) afternoon when a single car went down the hill.  It was the quietest we’ve seen that road in the six-plus years we’ve lived here.

Yesterday was a beautiful day with blue skies and temperatures near 30°.  I was able to get about  2/3 of the driveway cleared.  That, and another pass by the snow plow, makes me feel we could get out if we had to, although I’m not sure we could get back in.  We need a couple more good days for me to feel comfortable about getting up the hill.

The two pictures on the left above were taken Saturday.  It was very cloudy, but Betsy and I got out to look around and take some pictures.  The other three pictures were taken yesterday when we had that beautiful bright blue sky.  The middle picture shows some of the ice-coated trees against that sky.

By the way, Betsy says she’s had enough snow for this winter — she’s ready for Spring!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Glade | 18 Comments »

Scenic Sunday #81: Snow!

January 31, 2010

The golf course behind our house, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. January 30, 2010.

This is my post for the Scenic Sunday meme, which shares beautiful scenes from around the world.  To see more Scenic Sunday posts, or to join and show your own pictures, click HERE.

Since Friday afternoon we’ve had about 5 inches of snow, topped by up to an inch of ice, followed by more snow.  It’s the biggest storm we’ve had in several years and one member of the family is definitely happy about it.

The picture above was taken on the golf course fairway behind our house (we’re definitely going nowhere by car for a while!).  Even I will admit that there is a stark beauty to the leafless trees.

Betsy enjoying the snow in front of our house. January 30, 2010.

But the most scenic part of the day was the smile on my Beautiful Bride’s face as she ventured out to enjoy the snow.  That smile is bright enough to lighten the whole day.

********************

I’m grateful for the opportunity to enjoy all kinds of weather with my beautiful bride.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Scenic Sunday | 13 Comments »

Betsy’s Getting Her Wish!

January 30, 2010

Our front yard in the early afternoon, Fairfield Glade. January 29, 2010.

I can’t begin to tell you how happy my Beautiful Bride is this morning.  She’s been waiting for almost four years for a day like this.

She actually started smiling Friday afternoon.  It began snowing late Friday morning and by early afternoon the street, driveway and yard were pretty much covered in white as you can see from the picture above.

The wall in front of our house in the late afternoon. January 29, 2010.

But much to Betsy’s delight, it just kept snowing.  By late afternoon we had a couple of inches on the ground.  Even our newly repaired wall looked good in the snow.

Still snowing after dark. January 29, 2010.

Best of all it just kept snowing.  This is what it looked like just before I began writing this post.  I don’t know how much snow we will finally have — it’s supposed to keep snowing until noon Saturday.  Some forecasts say we will have 7 to 9 inches by the time the storm ends.

I predict Betsy will be absolutely giddy today!

********************

I’m grateful for the beauty of newly fallen snow and the way it makes the world seem new and clean.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Weather | 19 Comments »

Skywatch Friday: Before the Storm

January 29, 2010

A winter moon over Fairfield Glade.

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.

We’re being threatened with a winter storm here in the Glade.  The weather service says we could get several inches of snow with an inch or so of ice thrown in for good measure.  Betsy would dearly love to see the snow, but she is not at all interested in the ice.  To tell the truth, I don’t look forward to ice either.

But all of this is in the future as I write this.  Tonight (Thursday) the skies are clear and the moon is full.  I hope the memory of this beautiful night will help me get through the next couple of days.

********************

I’m grateful that we can look up see beauty even in a dark sky.

Tags: , ,
Posted in SkyWatch Friday | 20 Comments »

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »