Posts Tagged ‘Autumn’

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My World: Autumn in the Smokies

October 26, 2010

Chimney Tops overlook, Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. October 19, 2010.

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

Last Tuesday Betsy and I drove Newfound Gap Road through the Smokies and part of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.  We were on our way to Maggie Valley, North Carolina, but we took advantage of every opportunity to stop and enjoy the colors.

We had an absolutely gorgeous day, with bright sunshine and blue skies.  The colors may not have been at their peak, but they were close to it.  The picture above was taken at the Chimney Top overlook in Tennessee.

Webb Overlook, Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina. October 19, 2010.

As we headed down the mountain in North Carolina after passing Newfound Gap, we stopped at the Webb Overlook, where the trees were mostly yellow and orange.

Balsam Mountain, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina. October 19, 2010.

Later in the afternoon we left the Blue Ridge Parkway to drive to Balsam Mountain, where we took a short hike to an overlook.  We found these beautiful colors along the trail.

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Posted in My World | 23 Comments »

Meeting New Old Friends

October 25, 2010

Patti and Neal at Cataloochee Valley, North Carolina. October 20, 2010.

Both Betsy and I have been following Neal’s blog (and he’s been following ours) for nearly two years.  Neal is a retired systems analyst living in Indiana, although he was born in eastern Tennessee.  Neal is a wonderful photographer and features his photos on his blog.  Neal is also my hero — he’s not afraid to tell Betsy exactly what he thinks!

When Neal found out that Betsy and I were going to Maggie Valley to see the autumn colors, he decided that he and Patti would like to do that as well.  The four of us met up Tuesday evening and had a delightful dinner.  It was as if we had known each other for years.

On Wednesday the four of us visited the Cataloochee Valley to see the elk which had been reintroduced there.  We then drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Mount Pisgah, stopping at just about every overlook to take in the colors.  I won’t frighten you by telling you how many pictures Betsy and I took over the three days.

Betsy, Patti and Neal at the highest point of the Blue Ridge Parkway. October 20, 2010.

Thursday we drove across the Cherohala Skyway from North Carolina to Tennessee, again enjoying the autumn color.  After visiting Bald River Falls near Tellico Plains, Tennessee, Betsy and I headed home while Neal and Patti headed toward a visit with Neal’s brother.

Patti and Neal taking pictures at Santeelah Overlook, Cherohala Skyway, North Carolina. October 21, 2010.

We enjoyed our time with Patti and Neal, even if this is the view of them we often saw!

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Posted in Travels | 23 Comments »

Lake Glastowbury

October 18, 2010

Lake Glastowbury, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. October 14, 2010.

Last Thursday Betsy and I drove to the Foothills Parkway on the edge of the Smokies looking for autumn color.  But we found some pretty autumn color even before leaving the Glade.

We decided to take the back way from home to avoid some of the traffic and crossed the dam forming Lake Glastowbury, which is about two miles from our house.

Lake Glastowbury is one of eleven man-made lakes in Fairfield Glade.  While Glastowbury is not the largest, it is a pretty lake.  Most of the homes along the lake are on wooded lots, so it’s easy to imagine being out in the country.

The view as we crossed the dam was so pretty that we took advantage of a pullout and stopped to get some pictures.

Autumn colors on Lake Glastowbury, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. October 14, 2010.

It’s really nice to have such wonderful autumn color in our ‘hometown’.

 

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Posted in Autumn | 14 Comments »

Signs of Autumn

October 7, 2010

 

Dogwood berries, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. October 5, 2010.

 

I’ve been trying to learn more about my camera, and how to use the manual settings rather than using the automatic functions most of the time.  I would like to learn more about photographic techniques, although I’m not sure that it will help me get better pictures.

I did some reading on the relationship between shutter speed and aperture and, since Tuesday was a gorgeous day, went outside to do some experimenting.  I was trying to see if I could find manually settings that would produce a pleasing photo.

I first experimented with trying to capture the berries on the dogwood tree in our front yard.  The results of that experiment is the picture above.

 

Sumac leaves, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. October 5, 2010.

 

I then walked down the street to some sumac trees in the vacant lot below our house.  The leaves of the tree were a beautiful red, and the sun was shining directly on them.  Those conditions resulted in this picture.

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Posted in Glade | 19 Comments »

My World: Hints of Autumn

September 21, 2010

Berries on our dogwood tree, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. September 15, 2010.

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

This has been an exceptionally hot summer here on the Plateau.  The record number of summer days with temperatures over 90° is 78, and we stand at 77 with two more days of summer left and highs around 90 predicted for both days.

But there is hope.  The dogwood tree in our front yard is now sporting berries, a sure sign the autumn is on the way.  The berries are a bright red, and although the leaves are trying to turn, there is now only a hint of color.

Leaves starting to show some color. September 20, 2010.

But hopefully they will turn and give us more color.  And hopefully we will also get some cooler weather in our part of the world.

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Scenic Sunday # 109: Autumn on the Parkway

August 15, 2010

View from the Fork Ridge Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina. October 25, 2009.

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.

Although some parts of the country have gotten some relief from the impressive heat, that relief hanse’t reached the Plateau here in East Tennessee.  So I’m looking at pictures from other seasons hoping to feel a little cooler.

The picture above was taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina this past October.  I like the mountain ridges receding into background.  The picture shows why these mountains are called the Blue Ridge.

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Posted in Scenic Sunday | 13 Comments »

Watery Wednesday # 61: Woodfin Cascade

November 18, 2009

Woodfin Cascade, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina. October 25, 2009.

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.

As you  know, Betsy and I collect waterfalls.  What’s more, we both enjoy the colors of autumn when we can find them.  Last month we were able to enjoy both when we drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

The picture above was taken at the Mount Lyn Lowry overlook on the parkway.  The waterfall is Woodfin Cascade, and although we had to view it from across a valley, we could see it well enough to know that it was a pretty falls especially amid what was left of the of the fall colors.

Woodfin Cascade was the 356th waterfall in our collection.

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Posted in Watery Wednesday | 22 Comments »

Scenic Sunday # 70: Yellow Face Overlook

November 15, 2009
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The view from Yellow Face Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. October 25, 2009.

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.

Even though I no longer live in the mountains of North Carolina, I still like to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway whenever possible.  The picture above was taken three weeks ago at the Yellow Face Overlook east of Maggie Valley.  No wonder some people claim the Blue Ridge Parkway is the most scenic byway in the country.

 

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Posted in Scenic Sunday | 12 Comments »

My World: The Fastest Leaf-Blower on the Plateau

November 10, 2009
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Betsy using the leaf blower in the back yard.

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.

Betsy and I have definite responsibilities around the house.  I mow the lawn and Betsy sweeps the deck.  I dig the holes to plant the roses and Betsy cleans and fills the bird baths.  I have, on occasion, both swept the deck and taken care of the bird baths.  But there is one job I would never dream of taking from Betsy — using the leaf blower.

As you can see from the picture above, Betsy is a pro at using the leaf blower.  Once she fires that thing up the leaves don’t have a chance.  There’s rarely a stray left on the ground once she finishes.

The front yard is the hardest for us to do since we have to bag or carry away those leaves.  The back yard is much easier, so Betsy usually blows the other leaves in that direction.

And why is the back yard so much easier than the front yard?

LeafPickup

Golf course crew picking up leaves behind our house.

The back yard is adjacent to the golf course and those nice maintenance men have some wonderful equipment.  I guess they are Betsy’s secret weapon.

 

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Memories of a Smokies Autumn

November 9, 2009
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Betsy along Little River in the Smokies. October, 2002.

Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees around our house, so in many ways the pretty part of autumn is just about over for us.  But I’m not sure which season is going to follow — the temperatures were in the mid-70s Sunday.  That’s entirely too warm to be raking leaves!  Some of our blogger friends have been complaining about the temperatures in Florida.  I think they must have sent that warm weather our way.  I’m going to try to send it back!

Although most of our leaves are gone, we still have many memories of of beautiful autumn colors from years past.  In October of 2002 Betsy and I spent a long weekend in the Smokies.  Of course we checked out some waterfalls, but we also enjoyed some wonderful autumn colors.

In the picture above my favorite tree hugger is making a tree along Little River very happy.  To see more of autumn in the Smokies click HERE.

 

 

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Posted in Autumn | 13 Comments »

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