Posts Tagged ‘Tennessee’

Scenic Sunday 106: Newfound Gap

July 25, 2010

Betsy at Newfound Gap, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. May 19, 2001.

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.

The main road across the Smokies between Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Cherokee, Noth Carolina, runs through Newfound Gap.  You can see the road in the background of the picture above.  The road contains many overlooks which offer spectacular views of the mountains and valleys.

I took this picture in May of 2001, before Betsy and I were married.  I realize I’m prejudiced, but I think the most spectacular sight in this scene is sitting on the rock in the foreground.

Skywatch Friday: Skies Over the Glade

July 23, 2010

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 sky over Fairfield Glade has been interesting this week.   We desperately need some rain, but while there were clouds, that little opening of blue sky always seemed to win out.  The clouds disappeared and any chance of rain went with them.

Finally on a hot, humid afternoon we did get a brief shower.  But once the rain ended, the skies cleared and the mist rose from the mountain tops.

Last night the skies were  clear with a nearly full moon looking down on the Glade.  I was able to get this picture at 8:26 pm.

My World: Grassy Cove

July 20, 2010

Grassy Cove, Tennessee.  July 18, 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.

Grassy Cove is a pretty area south of Crossville.  Our favorite back road south and east of our house takes us through the cove and we have often remarked about how pretty it is.  So when we had the opportunity to take a driving exploration of Grassy Cove, we set off to see what we could see.

Grassy Cove is a natural sinkhole and is one of the largest in the United States, measuring roughly 3 miles wide and 5 miles long.  Grassy Cove is listed as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.

An old barn on a farm in Grassy Cove, Tennessee. July 18, 2010.

Grassy Cove is rural with many small farms.  I like the old barn on this farm.  The mountain and sky in the background is pretty neat as well.

A mountain barn, Grassy Cove, Tennessee. July 18. 2010.

We didn’t see a house around this barn, but even with the patched roof it presents a great picture of rural Tennessee.

Skywatch Friday: Moon Over the Glade

July 16, 2010

Moon Over Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. June 23, 2010.

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.

Last month I was able to capture the Man in the Moon in the early evening.  He looks as happy to be in the Glade as we are.

Watery Wednesday # 96: Unicoi Falls

July 14, 2010

Unicoi Falls, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee. October 15, 2010.

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.

I’ve mentioned before that Betsy and I like to take the back roads when we travel, especially when we’re traveling through the mountains.  We usually travel the speed limit so the co-pilot has time to look around.

Many — if not most — Tennessee roads through the mountains have turnouts at fairly regular intervals.  That’s a good thing and we take advantage of them fairly often.

Last October we were traveling in the Cherokee National Forest in eastern Tennessee, when Betsy spotted Unicoi Falls as we rounded a curve.  There wasn’t anything I could do about it at that moment, but I spotted a turnout just ahead.  I pulled over and walked back to get this picture.

I realize there are times when a person has to take the Interstate.  But when possible — slow down, take a back road and enjoy the scenery!

Skywatch Friday: ‘X’ Marks the Spot

July 9, 2010

'X' marks the spot over our house in 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.

Betsy and I have always felt that we were led to this house here in the Glade.  We fell in love with it from the moment the realtor showed it to us for the first time.  The house had everything we had talked about and we made an offer that first day.

Some people have a problem understanding just how special we think this house actually is.  But now I have proof.  I was in the front yard a couple of weeks ago and saw this celestial ‘X marks the spot’ overhead.  I would say that this proves that we do in fact live in a special place.

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I had a good visit with my parents yesterday and found them to be about as good as can be expected.  They were in good spirits, but it is still sad to see how much they have aged since before Betsy had her knee surgery.

New Roses in Our Yard

July 8, 2010

Alec's Red rose, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. May 23, 2010.

We’ve had some very hot and dry weather since the first of June.  Most of the lawns around here are starting to turn brown.  We may get some rain this coming weekend, and it would surely be welcome.

I have been busy watering our roses, and most of them are still looking pretty good, although the blossoms don’t last very long in this heat.  I water the roses by bucket, which takes a fair amount of time.

The roses in this post are new for us this year.  My Beautiful Bride likes red roses, and the rose above, Alec’s Red, has blossoms that hold their shape and color for a fairly long time.

John F. Kennedy rose, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. May 27, 2010.

But Betsy also likes white roses.  John F. Kennedy is a new white rose for her.

Ronald Reagan rose, Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. May 31, 2010

I tend to like bicolor roses.  Ronald Reagan is a pretty red-and-white rose that blooms in the new flower bed in front of the house.

Southern Belle rose, May 13, 2010.

Since Betsy is a Virginia girl, I just knew I had to get this rose, Southern Belle, as soon as I learned about it last year.

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I’ll be going to Hendersonville to check on my parents and to take care of some chores for them.  As a result I won’t be able to do much visiting in blogland, but I’ll get to you as quickly as I can.

Watery Wednesday #95: Tellico River

July 7, 2010

Tellico River, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee. June 18, 2010.

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.

It’s been hot and dry here on the Plateau in Tennessee.  I can’t think of anything more refreshing on days like this than to sit on a rock and soak my feet in a fast-flowing mountain river.  This is the Tellico River as it flows through the Cherokee National Forest in eastern Tennessee.

Skywatch Friday: Clouds Over the Plateau

July 2, 2010

Northern Cumberland County, Tennessee. June 27, 2010.

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.

Last Sunday Betsy and I took a ride out in the country here on the Plateau.  It was a very hot day, but it was beautiful.  The sky was blue, and when we started out there were many white clouds sailing above the mountains.

They weren’t predicting rain, so we were able to enjoy the day and watch the clouds as they changed.  Sometimes there were large clouds with just some blue around the edges.

At other times there were small white clouds scampering across an expanse of blue.

It was a wonderful day to be out and about.

My World: Rural Tennessee

June 29, 2010

Northern Cumberland County, Tennessee. June 27, 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.

We live on the Cumberland Plateau, which is the world’s longest hardwood-forested plateau.  The plateau is primarily rural — Crossville (our post office address) is one of the largest towns on the plateau with nearly 12,000 people.

It’s fairly easy to get away from ‘civilization’ here on the plateau.  Sunday Betsy and I went on a ride away from Crossville and soon found ourselves in the middle of nowhere.  But it was beautiful afternoon with lots of fluffy white clouds in a beautiful blue sky.  We stopped along a farm road to enjoy this view across a field.  The two horses under the tree just completed the picture of ‘our’ Tennessee home.