Thursday, August 26, 2010

My Happy Place

The mountains are definitely my happy place. So peaceful, so beautiful...so NOT 100 + degrees! Our family vacation/reunion to the Great Smoky Mountains was just what I needed to revive my soul and re-energize my spirit.

My favorite place was Cade's Cove. I want to live there. Words simply cannot express how beautiful it was, nestled there in the Smoky Mtns, and my pictures do not do this place justice. Please click on the pictures to get the full shot.
A most beautiful View
Its a popular place to visit (we went twice despite the hour long drive to get there), with an 11 mile loop that goes through the cove that you can bike, drive, or walk. Its popular mostly because you are almost guaranteed to see wildlife...bears, deer, turkey, snakes, horses...and lots of bugs...some gorgeous butterflies, some scary stinging insects. We saw SEVERAL bears, in trees, and crossing the street, mamas and babies too.
Forest Friend
Deer in the Cove
Tasty Treat in High Places
It was surreal. Did I mention I want to live there?

Ok, I know I can't.

For 1 reason, its a national park and they kind of frown upon that, and for another, those daddy long leg spider things were EVERYWHERE! They give me the heeby-jeebies and had me running and jumping and acting a fool 50% of the time, and that's just no way to live!

There were also lots of historic homes and a couple churches to walk to and through, I only took pictures of a few. It was so fascinating, and a little creepy, to be in a home that pioneers lived in sooooo long ago and imagine their lives.
Special Visitor
Open Fields
The Mountains
We visited several trails in the rest of the Smoky Mtn National Park...here's a couple shots from those trips. Cades Cove was by far my favorite though.
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Mushrooms on a fallen log

Just looking back through these pictures is like a breath of fresh air. My little escape from the pressure and pulls of daily life. It was so nice to be able to pause, to unplug, to connect with God and His beautiful creation. Can I go back now? ;o)

5 comments:

  1. Wow those are amazing pictures! It sounds like a great time. I was just swinging by to invite you to join us for our Spotlight Saturday Blog Hop. Link up your blog and another you'd like to spotlight this week. I hope you have a great weekend!

    Kel
    www.betweenthelines-kel.com

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  2. The pictures are gorgeous! I can't believe you got to see so many bears! Especially the one in the tree!! How amazing! It was definitely a beautiful trip!

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  3. Wow. Your pictures are wonderful. They made me nostalgic for this place Brian and I spent a couple of days in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Just the misty-looking air and amazing color and the whole feel to it. The bears?? Aaaahhh. The spider thingies. NO WAY! Would have been screaming with you. :) I'm glad you had a time of refreshing.

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  4. It looks so peaceful there. Definitely a great place to sit back and be amazed at God's work! I am glad you had a good time.

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  5. Hi! I came across your blog and I absolutely love it! I am now a follower of your blog. I can't wait to see upcoming posts from you.

    I love your photos. You have such amazing work! And what a wonderful happy place to go! I would love to have a beautiful location to go to like that! :)

    I'll be visiting back soon!

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