Merry Christmas

Many years ago, on a very, very cold Winter's day, I photographed two of the waterfalls at Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, Ohio, Old Man's Cave and Cedar Falls. As I perused my archives this morning, I happened across this image of Cedar Falls and wanted to share it again. To my amazement when I traveled back in time on my blog, I found I had only shared this image one time way back in 2009. The image is a low resolution scan from slide film, but I love the colors of the limestone rock behind the waterfall and the trees hanging over.

Perhaps one day I will get back to Hocking Hills and take new photographs with my digital camera. Until then, this beauty will have to suffice. I want to leave a note for everyone stopping by my blog this holiday season. May your holidays be filled with friends and family and much peace and joy. Have a Very Merry Christmas. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The Barn Series - Day 8 - Great Smoky Mountains

Cade's Cove is on tap today for The Barn Series journey. A beautiful, peaceful valley with old farmsteads and historic, one room churches dotting the landscape. This old barn is one of my favorites. I love to photograph it in all of the seasons with the mountains looming in the background. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the largest national park east of the Mississippi River. Visitors flock here every year in the tens of thousands. The park is located in eastern Tennessee and is actually in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Cade's Code is one of the main attractions with visitors. In this valley, you can go back in time, as you travel the winding road. View first hand how these farmers plied their trade throughout the decades. The moment you enter this park you know you are in an amazing place. The forests are thick and lush with gorgeous trees and plants and wildflowers. Rushing rivers wind through the park as they make their way down the mountains into the valleys. The flora and fauna of this national park is like none other you will find across the nation, because the Smoky Mountains is also a rain forest. Witness that first hand as you drive throughout the park or hike the trails. Water is paramount here.

I hope you are enjoying The Barn Series. Wonder where we will end up tomorrow. ENJOY!

Linking to Metamorphosis Monday

Wildlife Walk, Radnor Lake State Park

Come hike with me as I walk the lake trail at Radnor Lake State Park today. Did I mention we will get to visit with some of the local wildlife as we take a walk on this bright sunny day with temps hovering in the high 60's. Radnor Lake is in the middle of metropolitan Nashville surrounded by large neighborhoods, so it gets a lot of visitors.

After about a mile into the lake trail, I turned toward the aviary trail and hiked another quarter mile into the woods. To my surprise as I neared a clearing in the woods, a huge bird flew up from the clearing and perched in a nearby tree. I have never seen an Owl in the wild, until today! A gorgeous Barred Owl sat perched in a tree perfectly positioned for picture taking. Every now and then he would turn his head all the way around and stare down at me. I was about 200 yards away on the path. You suppose he knew he was the star of my show! Did I mention this is a Life List Bird!

The trail to the opposite side of the lake cuts through the lake and a swamp. As I walked I peered into the water and saw something swimming parallel with the trail. A Muskrat swam past me and disappeared into the deep water carrying a large stash of vegetation. Lunch!

As I peered into the depths of the swamp, a huge Turtle swam by. He didn't seem to mind the company at all.

The Turtles were out in force sunning themselves on downed branches in the lake close to the shoreline.

There were various species of Turtles sunning themselves. I hope they put on sunscreen.

As I turned to make my way to the aviary, I snapped this image looking back at Radnor Lake. It's a beautiful lake and quite large. The perimeter lake trail, if you choose to hike it all the way around, is three miles. I did the entire hike on my first trip here to Radnor Lake in 2016.

I wished I could contain my excitement at seeing my first Owl in the wild. Needless to say, when I checked out my images in Lightroom, I had some fantastic photos of the Barred Owl. He had a sleepy look on his face as he sat motionless lazily sunning himself. His perch was the perfect spot for me to capture quite a few pics of him. I doubt he knew he was the star of my show!

Hopefully, you've enjoyed this hike around Radnor Lake. It's a beautiful park and very flat surfaces to walk on with half of the lake trail paved. I want to go back soon to see if I can capture the Barred Owlettes. Word is they fledged, but perhaps they will come back to the nest. The nest was on the opposite side of the lake from where I hiked, so I didn't make it there on this visit. Have a wonderful weekend all. ENJOY!

Winter on Radnor Lake

Ring Necked Ducks migrating south make a stop at Radnor Lake to hang out for a few days. Radnor sees a plethora of migrating birds throughout the seasons. This is a beautiful lake situated just south of downtown Nashville with a gorgeous state park surrounding it.

The trail around the lake is approximately three miles in circumference. I walked the entire path on an uncharacteristically balmy winter's day. I discovered Ring Necked Ducks on both the south and north side of Radnor.

I wonder where these Ducks will be off to next on their journey south.

Not much sun on this winter's day, but a treat to see these Ring Necked Ducks. Have a wonderful week all. ENJOY!

A Frigid 'New Year'

The start of a New Year has brought with it frigid, sub zero temperatures. A 'bomb cyclone' as the meteorologists term it is making its way up the Eastern seaboard tonight with 60 mile an hour winds and snow and ice and sleet. This frigid weather immediately took me back to a visit I made almost a decade ago in January to Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, Ohio. I watched and waited for the perfect opportunity when frigid cold and snow would leave an ethereal landscape of white. Then I set out to photograph the frozen waterfalls in Hocking Hills.

My favorite image was of the Upper Falls of Old Man's Cave. A twisting path lead down to the waterfall with a thin layer of snow that had blanketed the region the night before. The path was slippery as the snow had covered the remains of an ice storm earlier that week. Temperatures were in the mid 20's so I drove to Walmart in Logan and bought thicker gloves to wear. My North Face jacket, wool scarf,  thick gloves, boots and jeans were just enough to achieve my goal against the cold. It was simply stunning to see huge frozen icicles hanging from what I later learned was Blackhand Sandstone cliffs. I fell straight down on my bum once making my way to the base of the falls. Here's an excerpt about Old Man's Cave.

Old Man's Cave derives its name from the hermit, Richard Rowe, who lived in the large recess cave of the gorge. His family moved to the Ohio River Valley around 1796 from the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee to establish a trading post. He and his two dogs traveled through Ohio along the Scioto River in search of game. On one side trip up Salt Creek, he found the Hocking Region. Rowe lived out his life in the area and is buried beneath the ledge of the main recess cave.

This next image is the very frozen over Middle Falls of Old Man's Cave with barely a sliver of water falling over. I struggled to get a decent vantage point to snap this image. I finally gave up and snapped this image and moved on. Sadly though, I couldn't reach the Lower Falls. The stairway down was a solid sheet of ice. You couldn't get down and you would never get back up. There is also an Upper and Lower Gorge between the different falls which I didn't photograph. The entire length of the trail to these falls and gorges is approximately a mile.

Thanks for coming along with me on this trip back in time. I would love to be there right now taking new images in various perspectives having learned so much more about photographing waterfalls since that day. Stay warm and bundle up if you go out of doors. Thoughts of warm mittens, hot cocoa and warm bowls of soup come to mind as I put up this post. ENJOY!

Blue Smoke Across the Mountains

As I looked out across the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last week a sense of nostalgia overtook me. I saw the unmistakable blue smoke that is the trademark of the Smokies. That mist lingers above the mountain range from the rain forest. It still seems odd to me, even now, to think of the Smokies as a rain forest, but in fact, it is.

Most of the color has gone from the trees, but I like the spark of yellow from the one tree that seems to be holding on. I had a darker image planned, but lightened the shadows to bring out the trees. I like the detail. Fall has come late to Tennessee and parts South. Did you hear this was the hottest Summer on record for the United States. With all of the wildfires and drought we have had over the past 18 months throughout all of the United States, I can see why. Back soon. ENJOY!

White Tailed Deer, Sander's Ferry Park

A few weeks ago I encountered two White Tailed Deer fawns grazing on the lawn at Sander's Ferry Park in Hendersonville while two bucks devoured the low hanging branches of a shrub nearby. Today I happened upon the same family hanging out in almost the same location at the park.

The park is a mere five minutes from my home and sits on the southeast side of one of two peninsulas separated by Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville. I enjoy driving to the park as the main road runs along residential neighborhoods on the west side and several marinas on the east.

I believe this buck is the matriarch of the family. When he gives the cue everyone takes off in unison. No doubt I will encounter this family again. Hope you are having a wonderful Labor Day weekend. ENJOY!

Blue Smoke of The Smokies

No matter what you try to do to tone down the blue smoke from photos of the beautiful Smoky Mountains, there's no getting rid of it. That blue smoke gave the national park its name. So as I see you off for a wonderful weekend, here's a little 'blue smoke' from my recent trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. For those of you along the Texas coast, prayers and thoughts go out to you and I hope you evacuated to stay safe from Hurricane Harvey making landfall today. ENJOY!

Up Close With A Turk's Cap Lily

On the road to Clingman's Dome, which leads to the highest elevation in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, if you look very closely you just might catch a glimpse of the beautiful Turk Cap's Lily. If you are very lucky, you will find a spot to pull off the road to photograph them as I did on my recent visit.

Before my trek to the Smokies, I had read on the national park's Facebook page that the Turk's Caps were in bloom. I immediately wanted to photograph them. I didn't think I'd actually get to. So imagine my surprise when I found them in bloom along the road up to the summit of Clingman's Dome. The Turk's Cap Lily bloom in Summer in the higher elevations of the park. Since I rarely visit the Smokies in Summer, I had never made their acquaintance until this trip.

Along the road to Clingman's Dome I only saw one clump of Turk's Caps, but on the way back down there were several. Luckily I found a spot or two to pull off and capture these images. Needless to say, I was in my glory. Oddly enough, I thought I might see these flowers blooming along the road up to Newfound Gap, as that is a higher elevation too, but I didn't. We are having an 80's kind of weekend here in Nashville with an occasional scattered thunderstorm. Could it be that the 90 degree days are behind us. Wherever you are, I hope you are enjoying the weekend and your weather is cooperating. ENJOY!

Fontana Lake View, Clingman's Dome

What a view from the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! Looking out from Clingman's Dome, alt. 6,644 feet at the tip of the observation tower, you can see Fontana Lake in the distance. The forest around Clingman's Dome is a spruce-fir forest, but due to the cool, wet conditions here making it a coniferous rainforest. You notice the change almost immediately when you turn off the main road to make the drive up to the summit. You also notice the 10-20 degree drop in temperature.

Fontana Lake snakes its way through the valley below and is actually situated in eastern North Carolina. Clingman's Dome actually sets half in North Carolina and half in Tennessee. On a clear day you can see up to 100 miles and perhaps even seven states.

I snapped this photo with one of those beautiful Spruce Firs in the foreground. I just love these beautiful trees. The blue haze hung over the Smokies making for a beautiful blue hue. The weather here in middle Tennessee finally cooled off a bit and the sun gave us a beautiful weekend. Thank goodness for those cooler temperatures. What a sweltering July. Have a wonderful week. Back soon. ENJOY!

Hello September!

Hello September! May you herald in cooler temps, dryer afternoons, blue skies, balmy breezes and the slightly hint of Fall. Photo taken in Cade's Cove, Great Smoky Mountains, in June after a bit of rain a rainbow came out. Back soon. ENJOY!

The Grandeur

The grandeur that is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is truly amazing. Every year millions visit the park. There is no fee to view the park. There is no wait list to view the park.

Foggy Day, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Spring 2016

There is the Roaring Fork, Cade's Cove, Newfound Gap, Chimney Tops, Elkmont, Greenbrier and Tremont. There are Elk, Black Bear and White Tailed Deer. There are White Trilliums, Black Eyed Susans, Rhododendrons and Mountain Laurels. There are rapid rivers, waterfalls, flowing streams and babbling brooks. There is blue smoke, fog and rain. There are cool days in Spring, sweltering days in Summer, crisp Autumn days and snowstorms in Winter. This is the grandeur of the Smokies.

Bright Sunny Day, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Spring 2012

Every year I visit the park at least once and often twice. I love Spring in the Smokies with the blooming wildflowers and bright green of the new leaves in the forests. Yet, I can't resist Autumn when every surface is a magnificent chorus of color. The red Maple trees, the orange Sycamores, the yellow Oaks are in contrast to the dark green of the Fir trees. Each visit I bask in the grandeur of the Smokes. This magical place shows my heart, eases my mind and soothes my soul. It ruly is grandeur. ENJOY!

Water, Water, Waterfall

Another beautiful scene along the Roaring Fork River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As you stand next to your tripod capturing this unparalleled scene, the water rushes over the rocks and boulders as it makes its way downstream. The sound soothes your mind. The sound soothes your soul. Your heart beats a little slower. A calm comes over you. It's a heavenly place to visit. Have a wonderful weekend all. ENJOY!

Blue Smoke, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The essence of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park surely must be the fog and blue smoke that hangs over the Sugarloaf Mountains. This mountain range is typically immersed in blue smoke, but this past weekend there was an abundance of fog and blue smoke due to the rain showers that plagued the park. In spite of the weather, I did visit several sections of the park taking in the various wildlife including a few Black Bears in Cade's Cove. If you look at the very bottom of this image you will see bright pink blooms from the Mountain Rhododendrons. The Rhododendrons will be in full bloom in mid June. I just wished I could be there to see it. ENJOY!

Fall Color, Smoky Mountains

One of the many benefits of rainy weather in the Smokies is the fog in and around the mountains.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Happy Halloween Eve! ENJOY!

Rushing Waters of Tremont

Few places compare to the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The grandeur of the mountains, the beauty of the moss covered boulders, the wildlife feeding alongside the road as you drive by.

It is a sweltering 95 degrees here in middle Tennessee with a heat index even higher. Yet, I can hear the sound of the water pouring over the moss covered rocks rushing down the river along Tremont Road as I look at this image. Happy Birthday to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park which was officially established by Congress on this date in 1934. Back soon. ENJOY!

Mingus Mill, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Mingus Mill located on the far eastern side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in North Carolina is still an operating mill to this day. In the late 1790's, the metal turbine was considered a modern marvel compared to the old wooden waterwheels used up to date in the milling industry. The Mingus Family opened the mill in the 1790's and later built this structure for a mere $600. At that time the mill was surrounded by fields and crops.

Today, surrounded by the national park itself, the Mingus Mill is quaintly nestled in a grove of trees a short walk off the entrance on a winding path which crosses over a narrow creek called Mingus Creek. When you begin your walk back to the mill, the trail is actually the Mingus Creek Trail head with the mill itself about one tenth of a mile in. This trail is also part of the Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail which stretches 1,000 miles beginning at Clingman's Dome and ending at Jockey's Ridge at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. At this point on the path, this is when the mill begins to divert the water from the creek itself to the mill. I have photographed this site once before and decided to stop by during my recent visit to the park and attempt a new perspective to include the building. Hope you have great plans for the weekend. ENJOY!

Linking to Barn Collective

Elk, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

At the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on the North Carolina side of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there were no Elk to be seen which was the norm. As I made my way back through the park, I happened upon this lone Elk munching on the grasses in a field right off the road about two miles from the visitor center.

She is a sow and I don't think she gave birth to a calf this Spring as there was no evidence of one with her. I loved that she also did 'not' have a radio collar on which made for nicer images. As the group of cars that stopped to watch her graze began to grow, the Elk would look up every now and then. This was one of the looks she gave me as I sat across from her in the car at a good distance. It was a priceless look. When it started to rain, she looked up and all around her, and then abruptly turned and hightailed in the opposite direction and crossed the road heading for the treeline next to the river. It made one wonder what was going through her head at the time. If you look closely, you can see a few rain drops in the image. At least she posed for a few pics for me. ENJOY!

Sailboats, Percy Priest Lake

The afternoon light was emitting a warm blue. The perfect light of the day, we outdoor photographers long for, as it settled over Percy Priest Lake Sunday. Walking along the shores at Seven Points, several sailboats were off in the distance floating aimlessly along the water.

A little something you may not know about me, but I will share. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for sailboats. Always. Today is a copy cat of yesterday's weather with perfect blue skies, warm temps and tons of sunshine. I could not be happier especially since I took the day off and I am headed outdoors. ENJOY!

Upper Falls, Old Mans Cave, Hocking Hills, Ohio

While I was out earlier today, I went to get into my car, looked up and saw the temperature reading which was at 98 degrees and said . . . hot! Tonight while going through some old thumbnails I have on my desktop I discovered this image of frozen Old Man's Cave, Upper Falls, in Hocking Hills, Ohio. I remember when I took this image. I remember it well. I had to go to Walmart and buy a thicker pair of gloves. I had to slide around on slick icy paths to get to this falls. And yes, I fell a time or two. Ouch!! But I got this along with the icicles hanging nearby which is in an earlier post. Now here is why I'm telling you all of this. You see, I tried and I tried, and I tried again, to get down the steps at the "Lower Falls" of Old Man's Cave which were covered in a thick sheet of ice. And nature just wasn't going to have it. And I didn't get that image. But I did get this one. Perhaps it will cool you off too. Enjoy!

Postscript: This is a low res image from my slide taken with my Pentax.