Cades Cove in March

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Betsy and I enjoy visiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the ‘off’ seasons, although those seasons are harder to find then they used to be.  We often visit during the winter season.  The vibrant colors of Spring haven’t yet put in an appearance, but there is still a beauty to be enjoyed.  I got this picture in Cades Cove air March a few years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waterloo Falls

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When Betsy and I were younger, we collected waterfalls.  We visited as many as we could find, usually getting in some hiking along the way.  We quickly discovered that winter is a good time to search for waterfalls in our area.  The vegetation isn’t as dense, which make it easy to see some of those that are “hidden’.

One February afternoon several years ago we set out to find Waterloo Falls, which is not too far from Cookeville, Tennessee.  As you can see from the picture above, we did find it after doing some bush-whacking along the river bank.  Waterloo Falls is wide, although not very high.

After leaving Waterloo Falls we followed the river down stream and were rewarded by coming across a much smaller waterfall Little Waterloo Falls.  All in all we had a very rewarding day “waterfall hunting”.

 

 

 

 

 

The Rim Trail

 

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Betsy and I really enjoy the sunrises and sunsets at Mt. Nebo State Park in Arkansas.  But when we were younger (and healthier) we also did some hiker a the park.  One of the trails we hiked several times was the Rim Trail, which circles the top of the mountain.  The Rim Trail is where I got this photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Snowy Scene

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We don’t often get much snow here in the Glade, but when we do get snow the result can be a beautiful landscape.  I got this picture from the front of our house several years ago.

 

 

 

Blue Sky and Icy Brances

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We haven’t gotten a lot of snow here in the Glade for the past few years, so I haven’t gotten many snowy inter wonderland pictures.  But we do ave beauty during the winter months.  A few years ago we had an ice storm that left the tree branches coated in ice.  Those icy branches against a beautiful blue sky made a wonderful winter picture.

Golden Sunrise

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Betsy and I have visited Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, in early December for several years now.  We enjoy the peace and tranquility of the the beach at that time of year.  An added bonus is that the sunrises can be spectacular with a light that has to be seen to be fully appreciated.  I got this photo from our room early one morning six years ago.

Little River in the Smokies

 

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Betsy and I often go to Great Smokey Mountain Park in the winter, because there are usually fewer people and it’s easier to get close to nature than it would be during peak tourist seasons.  One December day a few years ago we stopped along Little River, where I got th photo that was the basis for this watercolor.  Th Smokies are beautiful any time of the year.