Much Needed 102125

One of the things I have missed most since my last horse died is watching the sunset, seeing wildlife and just enjoying nature.

I had been telling myself for several weeks that once the weather cooled off I would go to our local State Park.

Well, finally the temperatures are more tolerable and I went out to the State Park Tuesday October 21st.

Selfie overlooking the climbing area at Penitentiary Hollow and Lake Mineral Wells.

Going down into the "Hollow". 

About a 2min video clip. You may need to turn the volume up to hear me as I was talking really softly as if not to disturb 😉

I took another video that actually shows the bugs doing what I saw that caught my attention.

A big rock I came across. I wondered at my intelligence when I remembered it was still warm enough for snakes! 😐 I didn't see any thank goodness!

Click here for a one minute clip of my 360 view.

Click here for a one minute clip of my reflection and gratitude.

I think I have taken pictures of this rock every time I've been here. It still intrigues me.

End of the day at the scenic view.

From the scenic view overlooking the lake. I've taken many pictures of this view as well!

Sun just setting behind the horizon.

It was just what I needed. My plan is to try to schedule at least one time a week in the outdoors while the weather holds. I will have to be intentional! My week fills up really quick. I don't come out over the weekend as that's when out of towners are here and it is really busy! The middle of the week is best. Hardly anyone is here!

Have a good one!

Brief Visit

 Wayne came into town for the weekend for his 40th High School Class reunion Thursday October 16th.
Geez, I feel old just typing that!

I went to Mom's to see him. He flew out on Monday and he came to Mom's again before he left to see us one more time.

Have a good one!

Tennessee Day 5 100425

Our VRBO was in a small community called Wears Valley in the Smokey Mountains. 

I was up early enough the morning of Saturday October 4th to watch the sunrise.

Haze over the valley (view from the porch of the VRBO)

The sun peeking over the mountain.

Later we venture to the Smokey Mountains State Park.

I'm not sure what it is about seeing a road like this but I find it intriguing. Of course there are lots of curves on these mountain roads!

We stop at one of the pull off places to look at the view. We meet these young ladies. Jan engaged them in conversation. We learned this is a "show dog". He is called a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. I never heard of such. I looked it up!

Wildflowers along the road.

The leaves are beginning to change but we were about 2 - 3 weeks too early for fall color. We knew that. We have another trip scheduled the first week of November and we really didn't want the two trips to be close together. Our man focus was to spend time with our friends.

We go to Kuwohi (formerly called Clingman's Dome). There is a half  mile hike to the observation tower which is at the highest point in the Smokey Mountains where you can see over 100 miles in a panoramic view of 7 steps. Doyle bailed. I thought I was up for it so I go on. This was the longest half mile I ever walked! It was up hill all the way! I stop several times to catch my breath! Around each corner I kept thinking I would be there. There were beautiful views all during the climb.

I get to what I think is the top when I see that I haven't reached my destination just yet! I still have to go up the tower!

There were lots of people up there!

Almost there!

Click here to watch a little over a minute video of the panoramic view from the observation point. 

At 34 seconds is a black couple I met walking up the trail. They had been married 30 years. Every 2 years they come here to hike up to observation point. We cheered each other on to make it to the top! What I didn't know was their daughters were at the top ahead of them. One of their daughters took this photo of me.

West view

South view

It was breathtaking!

It was also easier going down than it was goin up!

That evening we grilled dinner on the deck of the VRBO and watched the moon rise.

We did not see a bear. I had hoped to. Bears had been sighted previously at this VRBO but it didn't when when we were there.

On Sunday we head back to the Denharders.

Have a good one!

Tennessee Day 4 100325

Jan (yawn) and Nancy rented a VRBO in the Smokey Mountains for us to stay Friday thru Sunday. Before we left Nancy waters her flowers with Koda's help.

We get to the VRBO and unload. The rental is so nice and the views....gorgeous!

The name of our rental. It truly was a "sight to see".

View from the front porch!

Dining area.

Doyle and I had the loft. Our view.

Once we were settled, Jan and Nancy took us to Rocky Branch Mountain Music located in Walland, Tennessee. On the way we came to this bridge. 

Rocky Branch is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of its Appalachian musical heritage. Held in a once old schoolhouse, it became a community center in 1996 and the home of Rocky Branch Mountain Music.

Every Friday night, they offer food at 6pm and music starts at 6:30pm. 

Each class room is a different genre of music! It's kind of hard to tell in this photo. But down this hall like the "store" sign you see, each room was labeled i.e. county, blue-grass, gospel, fiddle and mountain music.

You go to each room and stay as long or little as you like. You can also bring an instrument and play along as you can tell by the guy with a guitar in the right of this photo. This was the "Blue-grass" room.

A short clip from the "Blue-grass" room

This was the "Fiddle" room.

A clip from the "Fiddle" room

This was the "gospel" room. I noticed in each room while they were playing there would be a "lead" person who would say "so and so on mandolin" and they would play a solo part. Each person who played an instrument was highlighted. Pretty cool.

A clip from the "Gospel" room. (this clip was too big to upload here. It's still less than a minute.)

This was the "Mountain Music" room.

A clip from the "Mountain Music" room. (2 mins)

The "Country" room was the most visited and it was hard to get in there. We did finally but I didn't get any video or pictures.

Even though this wasn't my favorite music to listen to, it was fun. Very creative idea that someone had!

Tomorrow is day 5! Have a good one!

Tennessee Day 3 100225

Thursday October 2nd. 

Sitting on the front porch with Nancy with coffee and a camera ready. Good thing as We saw a couple of
deer sprint across their property! It caught us both by surprise! Nancy says they have seen deer but not on a regular basis so this was a treat!

Nancy home schools one of her grandsons on Thursday morning from 9-12 so Doyle and I were on our own to explore. Jan (yawn) gave us a couple of places to go that weren't far away.

Doyle and I headed to Rock Island State Park where there were some water falls.

These two old people decided to make the trek.

We walk down into this gorge.

Take notice of the water fall in the greenery ahead of Doyle.

There was water all along the trail at one point. Doyle had on boots which worked better than my sneakers!

This is way the trail is so wet!

Looking back where we came.

Doyle trying to get closer to the water fall you saw in the photograph earlier. It was very challenging footing!

I zoomed in to get this.

Finally made it to the gorge.

We go back to the Denharders and they take us to lunch at a quaint little place in the small community of Pelham called Tessas Kitchen. It is a house that was converted into a cafe. Wonderful "home cooking"

They are known for their fried pies made fresh daily. So good!

That evening we sat on the porch stuffed from a late lunch, watching the birds......

I saw this cobweb highlight by the sunlight.

and Jan (yawn) watering and his dog Koda play in the water.

Tomorrow we head to the Smoky Mountains for the weekend.

Have a good one!