Beautiful Cade's Cove

It has been many years since I had stopped at Cable Mill in the farthest corner of Cade's Cove, but I decided on this trip to pay a visit.

Along the road to Cable Mill, I happened upon several Deer grazing in the fields. Tourists were everywhere photographing them. Several of the Bucks attempted to play fight, but I didn't capture it.

I love to watch the Deer grazing. It's even more fun to try and get good images of them. It looks like these guys are keeping a close eye on all of us photographers too.

John Cable Gristmill was built back in the late 1800's and, along with five or six other structures, moved to the far end of Cade's Cove where the national park also built a Visitors Center in a log cabin style. The gristmill is barely visible in this image, but it's there.

It had been at least fifteen years since I had stopped at Cable Mill. There was one yellow Maple tree in its Fall regalia. I wished I could have brought it home with me. It was beautiful. Sorry for the construction work in this photo, but I still wanted to share it.

The sun was shining making the leaves on this Persimmon tree really pop. While I was capturing this image, people kept getting into my shots. I just kept shooting around them. I did something different this trip. I kept a mental note of all the license plates from different states that I saw during the time in the park. When I left I was up to 21 different states. All of the Southeast and mid Atlantic states were covered and a few Northeast and Midwest states were represented. The farthest state from the park I happened upon was from Oregon. Gads what a drive. ENJOY!

Linking to Foodie Friday & Everything Else

Beautiful Japanese Maple Tree

As I drove along the roadways in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last week, I happened upon this gorgeous red Japanese Maple tree. I have such a time identifying trees. If it's not Maple or Oak or Birch, I probably will guess wrong the first time.

I thought this tree might be an American Sweetgum or a Sycamore, but I believe it's a Japanese Maple tree. There are so many different species of trees in the Smokies, I couldn't begin to name them all. The one thing I didn't see much of in the park this year were the Red Maple trees. So sad. I can always hope for better color next year. Hope your week is off to a great start. ENJOY!

Landscape, Great Smoky Mountains

In the Smokies this year, there is a subdued color pattern. No doubt a byproduct of the slightly dryer conditions over the past few months. Leaves are gone from higher elevations with peak colors in middle elevations in the mountains and on the roadways. Lower elevations are a variation of color pattern depending on where you are in the park with a lot of brown color mixed in. It's still evident where the wildfires impacted the mountains and the lower elevations around Gatlinburg.

Capturing images of the mountain ranges is one of my favorite things to do here. The cloud cover was heavy on this morning dampening the vivid colors. However, I managed to snap this shot just as the light was peaking through the clouds. There's still a good deal of green in this shot, as it's the lower portion of the mountain range just outside of Gatlinburg, just as you are gaining elevation in the park. This was taken with my 55 mm which I normally don't bring along. I wanted to get more of a landscape of the mountain ranges. As I went to snap this image I noticed the stone wall in the bottom left and decided it could stay. I really like it. Back soon. ENJOY!

Red Maple Watercolor

I captured this image of beautiful red Maple leaves several years ago in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As I was strolling through my images from Fall's past, I noticed it and wondered just what it would look like with a little watercolor effect. I think it's even more beautiful. I can hardly wait for the reds and yellows and oranges of Fall here in the South. The weekend is approaching. We've had no rain for nearly two weeks. We will finally be getting some from a tropical depression which will be making landfall as Hurricane Nate this weekend. Everyone stay safe and dry. I also wanted to mention just how sad and disparaging all the news of the Las Vegas shooting has been this week. I can't even imagine the lives that have been torn apart by this senseless act of a mad man. Dear God can't they do something about gun control. GOD BLESS!

Sunflowers, Batey Farms

Batey Farms is almost an hour from Hendersonville in Murfreesboro, here in middle Tennessee, as the locals call it so it was a trek, but I was aptly rewarded. The Sunflowers were in full bloom at the farm. The huge field they planted didn't make it through the rainy Spring, but about ten rows of Sunflowers did. I arrived right when the Sun was directly overhead giving me the best light of the day. Don't you just love when that happens. I love the huge green leaves that accompany each Sunflower.

Have you ever wondered how many Sunflower seeds each flower yields. No doubt the farmers can answer that question, but I haven't a clue. To think these gorgeous flowers bring such beauty to our world and to top it off give us delicious Sunflower seeds too. Isn't Mother Nature amazing.

Of the 200 some images I captured today, these are my favorites I am sharing. I love close ups of Sunflowers the most. One beautiful large Sunflower bloom is all I need to satify my thirst for the Sunflower, but I still tried to capture some images of numerous flowers. This is one of my favorites.

The heat and humidity today wasn't nearly to the degree of the past week which made being out in the middle of the Sunflower field a tad bit more bearable, although it was still hot. I hope you are staying cool here in the States with this 'heat wave' in full swing and no relief on the horizon. For those of you down South in the throws of a snowy Winter, stay warm. ENJOY!

Happy Thanksgiving America

Fall is quickly giving way to the cold temperatures and snowy days of Winter. Before Fall is a distant memory, I want to share an image I captured at Radnor Lake about a month ago when Fall's color was in full swing. It was a beautiful day with bright blue skies and warm temperatures. As I walked along the trail that hugged the lake shore, I stopped to snap this image of a beautiful yellow Maple tree in the bright sunshine.

And here again is another image I captured at Radnor Lake on a very, very warm day back in mid January of this year. On this outing, I walked the entire three miles around the lake. On the north side of the lake, a gaggle of Wild Turkeys meandered across the trail in front of me. They were not the least bit shy about the visitors on the trail. It was a treat to photograph them up close. They didn't linger long and all the while pecked at the forest floor. I figured it couldn't be a more appropriate time to share this pic than on Thanksgiving Eve. Before I leave you, I want to wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving and hope that you share a joyous day with family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving! ENJOY!

There Will Be Spring

Early Spring, Crab Apple Orchard, Bernheim Arboretum, Clermont, Kentucky

As we watch the last of Autumn's leaves float wistfully to the ground, covering our lawns and fields and forests,

 we anxiously await the first snows of Winter, with its light fluffy flakes that fall gently onto the landscape, leaving a blanket of white.

Winter comes with it blustery winds and drifting snow and a cold that chills to the bone. 

Least we forget, on the horizon is a season of salvation. There will be Spring. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend as I leave you with this beautiful image I captured in years' past of the gorgeous Crab Apple orchard at Bernheim. I miss the beautiful serenity of Bernheim's landscape. Have a great weekend all. ENJOY!

Slice of Heaven

Do you suppose when we die and go to heaven it might be anything like this? Oh, please God, make it so. ENJOY!

Photographer's Backstory: At the end of a two hour workshop with Judy in the Smokies in late October, we were getting ready to get back into the car and head over to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail. I turned and looked at this setting and quickly snapped this image.

Ravishing Fall Color

The natural beauty of Fall is quickly coming to an end. I relish every single moment of Fall with its reds, yellows, oranges and even its greens. There are times when one snaps an image only to realize later that it needs no words as it speaks for itself. This is one of those times. ENJOY!

Mountainscape

Such a gorgeous few days in the mountains regardless of the wet weather. The clouds moved over quickly at times and at other times they seemed to move at a snail's pace.

As I drove through the mountains on Newfound Gap Road, this scene greeted me at one turn. It is so nice that there are so many pull offs in this national park for visitors to stop and snap images. ENJOY!

PRAYERS: My prayers to all French citizens, and to all of those whose lives were impacted today, because of yet again more terror attacks. What more can one say in an era where terrorism is almost a daily occurrence even when you don't live in the Middle East.

Fall Leaves, Rushing Water on Oconaluftee River

Every now and then one finds a reward in his or her travels. On this Tuesday afternoon, as I had made my way across Newfound Gap and down the mountain to Cherokee, my quest was to find Elk. It wasn't in the cards that day which I fully was aware could happen. Before I made it to the visitor center on the East side of the park, I stopped when I saw a bridge that traversed the Oconaluftee River. My reward was in plain sight.

The perfect place right off the road ten steps from my car. The scene was a gorgeous mountain stream resplendent with rushing water and beautiful Fall leaves hanging over the river. Fall leaves were strewn across the boulders. The sound of the rushing water was like music to my ears. I gathered my tripod and set to work snapping images. Normally, finding a spot to photograph water requires scrapping through brush with your equipment catching on twigs and branches, only to discover you just don't have the best vantage point. Yet, you stay in spite of that and snap a few images in hopes of a few keepers. Today was easy, convenient and the perfect setting. Don't you just love when that happens. ENJOY!

Fall Along Oconaluftee River

Photographing water is a challenge I love to take up at least once every trip I make to the Smokies. There are countless opportunities to photograph water at almost every bend in the road. You will find the Roaring Fork River, the Little Pigeon River and the Oconaluftee River in the park just to name a few. If you drive any distance, you will encounter waterfalls in every shape and size as well. As I drove to Cherokee on the main road from Gatlinburg, I pulled off the road at the Kephart Prong Trail head and stood on the wooden bridge that traverses the Oconaluftee River. Looking east I saw this beautiful Fall scene.

Gorgeous yellow Fall leaves in the background were in stark contrast to thick, dark green Rhododendron leaves hanging over each side of the bank along the river. I stood for a bit photographing the scene using my shutter mode with a few aperture adjustments. I knew the gray overcast day would impact the light and tried to adjust accordingly. Overall I was pleased with the image although I would have loved blue sky in the background. I have attempted in the past to photograph this type of composition, but found you have to have the right elements to really do it justice. Oftentimes, there will be logs in the river or brush along the bank that takes away from the composition. This was as near perfect as I could ever hope for. I love when that happens. ENJOY!

Welcome Autumn

HELLO AUTUMN. Come on in.

We are ready for you here in the South.

We await your crisp Autumn days filled with vivid blue skys.

We are anxious to carve the pumpkins and stack the hay bales.

We can almost hear the spooks in the haunted houses and smell the spiced cider as it is poured.

Most of all, we await your bright reds, oranges and golden yellows that transform our landscapes.

So, come in Autumn. You are welcome here. ENJOY!
Linking to Rattlebridge Farms

Reflections, Cave Hill Cemetery

Several times a year I visit Cave Hill Cemetery which is located in the center of the city of Louisville. Cave Hill is not your average cemetery. It is actually a Victorian era cemetery and an arboretum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are over 120,000 people buried in the almost 300 acre cemetery with a signicant number of military as far back as the Civil War. It's an amazing place to visit. What I enjoy about this cemetery is not only the ornate headstones with their architecture and the sculptures adorning many of the headstones, but the many sizes and shapes. Some are large enough to be small houses. Did I mention the individual mausoleums scattered everywhere throughout the cemetery. Their fascinating, every one.

I visit Cave Hill Cemetery to see the beautiful ornamental trees and bushes of every variety imaginable which grow throughout the acreage. Spring is gorgeous with all of the flowering trees and bushes and flowers. Fall is just as beautiful with reds and oranges and yellows everywhere. This year my visit was a tad late and most of the foliage had fallen.

After driving through the entrance of the cemetery, I followed the map I had up on my iPad, and made my way to the back of the cemetery where a small lake sits hidden away from most visitors. A large limestone cliff butts up against the lake on all but one side. I had hopes that there might be a photo op there and as luck would have it, I was right. A beautiful tree covered in yellow leaves hung over the lake. Even better was the diffused light as the sun was hidden behind cloud cover which allowed for some beautiful reflections on the water.

Before I leave you, I might add that if you live anywhere in the central or northern United States, you have snow on the ground or are getting snow this week as we are here in Kentucky tonight. Fall has given way to Winter, in mid November no less, which is not typical, but not surprising after the Winter we had last year. I hope this finds you safe, warm and nestled warmly on the sofa with a warm drink in hand. I leave you with this parting thought. I did not want to become up close and personal with the 'polar vortex' but obviously I didn't get a vote. ENJOY!

The Beautiful Forest Floor

As I hike the trails in the woods and forests, I oftentimes look down to take in the many elements that have fallen to the forest floor. The leaves, the twigs, the branches, the seeds, the berries. The forest floor lays covered in millions of leaves and twigs waiting for its moment of glory. This Fall I was rewarded many times over with beautiful images of leaves not yet devoid of their reds and yellows and oranges. And, of course, I felt it my duty to share these beautiful images of nature that so often we fail to take note of.

As Fall comes to a close, I find myself remembering Winter's past of snowfalls and ice storms and cold dreary days. Yet, I know with Winter there will come new opportunities to get outdoors and capture this beautiful world we call Mother Earth. And fortunately, we have fantastic holidays ahead to entertain us and get us through the Winter months. I look forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and Valentine's Day before we eventually find our way back to Spring and the rebirth of our beautiful natural world. ENJOY!

Awe Inspiring Chimney Tops

Take a moment and travel with me to beautiful, awe inspiring, Chimney Tops.
Dominating the Sugarland Mountains in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Chimney Tops is two peaks that seem almost as one.
Bright sunlight brings out Autumn's splendor of reds, oranges and yellows giving renewed life to the mountaintop.

With each twist and turn around the many sharp hair pin turns, you climb up the mountain toward Newfound Gap.
Yet in nearly every turn, Chimney Tops stands unwavering. You feel small in its shadow.

Evening light slowly moves over the mountainside highlighting the ridgelines and bathing the setting in golden hues.

As the sun moves lower in the Autumn sky, the golden light catches tree tops, popping the reds and oranges and yellows,
much like lollipops in a flourescent wonderland. It's all about the color now.

Let us linger here in this moment.

There is a splendor about which this beautiful mountain is unparalleled. It is as though it was laid here simply for my eyes to rest upon.

On this gorgeous afternoon, Chimney Tops surely is one of God's magnificent creations.
Thank you for coming along with me on this wonderful drive in the Great Smoky Mountains. ENJOY!

As a matter of fact, Chimney Tops is a double capstone knob and one of the few bare rock summits in the Smokies standing at 4,724 feet.

Its Cherokee Indian name, Duniskwalgunyi, or forked antler refers to its resemblance to the antlers of a deer.

Villagers from an early settlement in the Sugarland Valley gave Chimney Tops its modern day name.

Red Maple Leaf

The reds and yellows and oranges of Autumn. What beauty.

I had a chance to capture some images at Bernheim earlier in the week. ENJOY!

Bernheim's Autumn

Images I have captured thus far of Fall's colorful display.

Beautiful Bernheim in the arboretum area.

Red maple leaves.

More beautiful red leaves. Anyone have an identification on this one, leave me a note.

Fall is the perfect time to take a drive along Bernheim's forest road. Around every bend in the road comes a new surprise. Yellow, orange, red. It's gorgeous. ENJOY!

Autumn Quote

Rustic red maple leaves are just one of the many Fall colors I savor each season. Daily I peer out my window taking note of the process as the leaves on the red maple trees outdoors make the transition from green to red. Last year the beautiful red leaves had already fallen. Not so this year. Fall has come late in the season here in the Bluegrass State. And those beautiful red maple leaves have slowly turned from green to red staying on the trees much longer. An added gift from Fall this season. ENJOY!

Fall's Last Color

Fall is past, but I can't seem to let it go. It's colors so beautiful. Reds, oranges, yellows.

I have many images I haven't posted of this beautiful Fall. You just might see a few more before I move into Holiday images. Many of you are getting your first snow of the season this weekend or this week. There is snow predicted for tomorrow evening. I'm OK with that, but before I find myself covered in a blanket of white, here's a little color for your Sunday evening. ENJOY!