Photos by Senior Hiker

Full Moon

2012-01-27T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

I snapped this picture of the full moon several months ago and promptly forgot about it. I came across it last night and decided to post it. I like the the craters that can be seen across the top of the moon.

Rainbow Falls, North Carolina

2012-01-25T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Betsy and I almost missed this waterfall. We had crossed into North Carolina along US 129 when we saw a sign announcing Rainbow Falls. We would have missed it completely without the sign. I found a place to pull over and walked back to see the waterfall. It didn't have much water, but I like the way the sun glinted off the water that did come tumbling down.

From My Archives: Double Delight Rose

2012-01-23T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

If I had to pick one rose as mu all-time favorite, it would probably be Double Delight. This rose got its name because of its color and fragrance, but since it also has a beautiful form, it could just as well been called Triple Delight.

Remembering Sunny Days

2012-01-20T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

We have several small lakes here in Fairfield Glade. Mirror Lake, behind the lodge, also has a fountain. Remembering this lake and fountain on a bright sunny day helps me get through a dreary wintry day.

Betsy at Northrup Falls

2012-01-18T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Betsy and I enjoy hiking in the winter, although that is not always the ideal time to see waterfalls at their best. But hiking in January is usually more pleasant than hiking in the heat of August. This picture was taken during a January hike to Northrup Falls, which is only about 20 miles from our home in Fairfield Glade. Betsy and I were on opposites of the waterfall when I snapped this picture.

From My Archives: Strawberry Candy Day Lily

2012-01-16T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

One nice thing about photos is that they can bring summer and sunshine even into the dreariest of winter days. Strawberry Candy is a re-blooming daylily that we've enjoyed for several years now. It looks good even in January.

Bald River

2012-01-13T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Betsy and I have often visited Bald River Falls near Tellico Falls, Tennessee, but back in June, 2010, I hiked along the river above the falls. Bald River is a pretty stream with water tumbling over ledges and rocks.

Little River in the Smokies

2012-01-11T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

When Betsy and I visited the Smokies last month, we stopped, as we usually do, to view the river. This time the water was high and very clear. I was attracted both by the white water flowing over the rocks and the unusual shape of the tree in the middle of the stream.

From My Archives: Elle Rose

2012-01-09T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

One way to help winter days seem more bearable is to have photos from warmer seasons. Elle is a rose that we've had in our yard for several years now. It always puts on a beautiful show for us.

From My Archives: Hurricane Falls

2012-01-06T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

This picture of Hurricane Falls was taken in May, 2010. We had stopped by Tallulah Gorge State Park in Georgia, when we were on our way to the beach. We didn't have time on this trip to hike to the bottom of the canyon, but I got this picture of the waterfall from a short hike along the south rim of the gorge.

My Favorite Travel Companion

2012-01-04T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Betsy and I visited one of our favorite places -- the Smoky Mountains -- in December, and we stopped just inside the Townsend, Tennessee, entrance to the park to enjoy the river. I used Photoshop to create this line drawing of Betsy from a photograph taken at the river side.

Welcome to Winter

2012-01-02T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Although this picture was taken several years ago when we lived in Hendersonville, Tennessee, I think it is a wonderful winter scene with the icy trees and blue skies. I also like the sun peeking around the branches of the tree.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

2011-12-23T01:39:00.001-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Betsy and I would like to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year. We hope that Santa is good to you, and all of your memories are happy ones. We'll see you in 2012.

Headforemost Mountain

2011-12-21T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

We were driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway early one morning last month through patches of fog and mist. The fog had lifted around us when we came upon the Headforemost Mountain (I have no idea how the mountain got that name) Overlook. From our vantage point we could look across at the mountain, which seemed to be floating above the clouds.

Red Leaves

2011-12-19T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

I know that almost all of the leaves on our trees have long since fallen to ground, but I like the look of the leaves on our dogwood tree as they turn each autumn.

This picture was taken in early October of this year.

Glade Sunset

2011-12-16T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

We often get beautiful, colorful sunsets on the Plateau. An advantage of sunsets this time of the year is that we can watch the sun drop over the horizon without a lot of trees in the way from the 12th tee of the golf course near our home. This picture was taken in late November of this year.

Cane Creek Cascade

2011-12-14T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Cane Creek Cascade in Fall Creek Falls State Park is a spot we visit once or twice each year. We've seen higher waterfalls, but this is one that is just as beautiful and we can enjoy it up close and personal.

Exotic Beauty

2011-12-12T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

This is one of the blossoms that Betsy and I saw in the Conservatory at the Biltmore Estate when we visited last month. I was struck by the colors and the markings on the petals.

From My Archives: Blue Hole Falls

2011-12-09T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

This is a part of Blue Hole Falls in Old Stone Fort State Park near Manchester, Tennessee. Tennessee was in the midst of a drought at the time of our visit, so much of the waterfall was dry. But we did find a small flow near the edge of the waterfall and I snapped this picture.

The Glory of Autumn

2011-12-07T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

The leaves are now gone from the trees, and the weather has turned colder. But this reminder of the glory of autumn brightens my spirits and warms my heart. This picture was taken in our front yard.

Morning Reflections

2011-12-05T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

I captured these early morning reflections at Abbott Lake in the Peaks of Otter along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. We were treated to this view from the balcony of our room at the lodge in the park.

Lake Canterbury

2011-12-02T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

We cross the dam creating Lake Canterbury here in the Glade almost every time we come home from Crossville. The late afternoon sun created this beautiful autumn scene which I couldn't resist capturing.

Purity and Beauty

2011-11-30T01:39:00.001-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Betsy and I usually manage to see the Conservatory every time we visit Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. We wandered into the Orchid Room of the Conservatory when we visited in late November. The simple beauty of this orchid caught my eye.

A Thanksgiving Rose

2011-11-28T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

We have many things for which to be thankful. Some are major -- such as family and good health. Others are minor in the total scheme of life, but nice just the same. This rose, Perfect Moment, decided to bloom on Thanksgiving Day, in spite of near-freezing temperatures the night before. The petals are more leathery than normal, but we think this rose picked a perfect moment to bloom.

November Roses: Love and Peace

2011-11-18T01:39:00.001-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Another of our November-blooming roses is Love and Peace. This rose is one of several in the Peace family that we have in our yard. All of them are yellow-red bicolor roses with a light fragrance.

********************

On a personal note, Betsy and I are taking a few of days off for some much-needed R&R. We hope you all will have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We'll see you after Thanksgiving.

Fairfield Moon

2011-11-16T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

I usually don't have much success trying to get photos of the moon, but I got this shot a couple of weeks and thought it came out pretty well.

November Roses: Peace

2011-11-14T01:39:00.001-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

We've had several nights with temperatures below freezing, but so far we haven't had a killing frost. As a result some of our roses are continuing to bloom -- they don't pay much attention to the calendar. This blossom on our Peace rose opened yesterday (Sunday). The colors are a little darker than they usually are, but I still think it's a beautiful rose.

From My Archives: Quarry Falls

2011-11-11T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Quarry Falls is more of a cascade than a true waterfall. It is located in the Cullasaja River Gorge near Highlands, North Carolina, and gets its name from an old quarry on the other side of the road. We had this waterfall to ourselves when this picture was taken in December, but there are always many people around on a hot summer day.

Morning in the Smokies

2011-11-09T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Sometimes we get rewarded for getting up before dawn. Betsy and I got up early one day last month to drive to the Smokies so we could see the autumn colors in the morning light. It was a cloudy day, but we were treated to this sight at an overlook on the Gatlinburg Bypass.

Autumn in the Glade

2011-11-07T01:39:00.000-08:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

On a clear autumn day it seems possible to see forever from some places here in the Glade. This picture was taken at an overlook on the fourteenth hole of the Druid Hills Golf Course. It's one of our favorite spots in the Glade.

Flowers From Our Yard: Perfume Delight Rose

2011-11-04T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Although we had below-freezing temperatures last weekend, some of our roses are continuing to delight us with blossoms. Perfume Delight not only looks beautiful, it earned its name because of a delightful fragrance.

Touchdown!

2011-11-02T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Betsy attended a high school football game one evening earlier this month to see Landon, Betsy's grandson, play in his high school band. When the home team scored a touchdown, these fireworks lit up the sky.

Not Bad For the End of October

2011-10-31T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

The picture above was taken this past Thursday (October 27). It shows two of our irises in bloom in the flower bed near the road in front of the house.

From My Archives: My Favorite Hiking Partner

2011-10-28T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

This picture, taken in August, 2006, when we were at Old Stone Fort State Park near Manchester, Tennessee, shows my beautiful, and favorite, hiking partner. How can anyone look at this picture and not smile back?

Smokies Morning

2011-10-26T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Earlier this month Betsy and I got up before dawn so we could see some of the autumn color of the Smokies in the morning light. It was cloudy overnight, but the sky was expected to clear during the day. The clouds were still brushing the mountain tops, but the light was breaking through the clouds when we arrived at this overlook on the Gatlinburg Bypass.

Flowers From Our Yard: Moonstone Rose

2011-10-24T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

The temperatures here on the Plateau dropped to near freezing a couple of times last week, but our roses are still trying to beautify our home. This picture of Moonstone was taken this past Friday (October 21) afternoon. Moonstone is one of our newer roses, but we have come to love this white rose with the pink edges.

Clouds Over the Niagara River

2011-10-21T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

When Betsy and I visited my daughter and her husband in Buffalo last month, Kelly took us to Squaw Island, a park in the Niagara River near Black Rock, New York. While walking along the river I captured this picture of the clouds above a railroad trestle connecting Canada and the U. S.

The Crystal Forest

2011-10-19T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

The Crystal Forest is a section of Petrified Forest National Park that was once covered with petrified logs, many of which contained beautiful quartz or amethyst crystals. Many of the petrified logs disappeared before the park was established, but enough remain to show the beauty in the park.

Flowers From Our Yard: Sheer Bliss Rose

2011-10-17T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Another rose that is trying to give us some autumn beauty is Sheer Bliss. It's a very pale pink that has provided us with many beautiful blossoms this year.

Signs of Autumn

2011-10-14T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

We're beginning to see signs of autumn color here on the Plateau. I captured sunlight through the leaves of our dogwood tree earlier this week. I like thee result, so I'm sharing it with you.

From My Archives: Touching Lily

2011-10-13T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Our newest flower bed contains a variety of plants -- roses, irises, lilies and day lilies. They all put on quite a show this year. I got this picture of this pretty lily -- Touching -- in May of this year. We were delighted that it bloomed while we were home and could enjoy it.

Flowers From Our Yard: Pink Promise Rose

2011-10-11T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

We don't have as many roses blooming once cooler weather arrives, but a hardy few keep going for us. When Pink Promise starts to open, it's possible to see a hint of pink on the edges of the petals. The pink darkens and spreads as the blossom ages.

From My Archives: Step Falls

2011-10-10T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Step Falls is one of three waterfalls in Old Stone Fort State Park near Manchester, Tennessee. We visited the park during a drought, so there wasn't much water. But the falls were pretty just the same.

Zion's Virgin River

2011-10-07T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Zion Canyon in Utah was carved out by the Virgin River over the millions of years. When we visited Zion National Park in June, the river looked quiet and dreamy -- not at all like something that could form that deep and majestic canyon. This picture of the river was taken on the Riverside Walk along the river near the head of canyon.

Flowers From Our Yard: Acapella Rose

2011-10-06T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Acapella is one of our newer roses. It is a red blend hybrid tea, and we have it in a container along our driveway. Acapella also has a pleasant fragrance, and it is quickly becoming one of our favorites.

Evening in the Mountain

2011-10-05T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Evenings in the mountains can be sublime. I got this picture of the sky after sunset near Franklin, North Carolina. God is a marvelous artist with light and color.

Flowers From Our Yard: Blatant Iris

2011-10-04T01:39:00.001-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

The days are getting cooler here on the Plateau in Tennessee, and we've had frost advisories at night. The trees are beginning to show autumn color, and we have iris in bloom. This picture of our Blatant Iris was taken last Friday.

The View from Blue Mesa

2011-10-03T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

This is a view of the Painted Desert as seen from Blue Mesa in the Petrified Forest National Park. The mesa gets its name from the layers of blue clay that make it up. Some of that blue clay can be seen in the valley below the mesa.

Pigpen Falls

2011-09-30T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

This pretty little waterfall doesn't have a very appealing name, but we found it after a nice hike through the woods along the Chattooga Trail near Walhalla, South Carolina.

Flowers From Our Yard: Wineberry Candy Day Lily

2011-09-29T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Wineberry Candy is one of the newer day lilies we have in our yard. It is a re-blooming day lily, and although this picture was taken in early June, we enjoyed this beauty into September.

Stepping Back in Time

2011-09-28T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

While in the Italian Garden at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, I captured this reflection of the house in one of the pools. The monochrome image seems to take me back in time to the late 1890s, when the house was built.

Flowers From Our Yard: Sedona Rose

2011-09-27T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Sedona is one of our newer roses. It doesn't have much of a fragrance, but it is a prolific bloomer and I really like the color.

The Ever-Changing Sky

2011-09-26T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

When we lasted visited Mt. Mitchell in North Carolina, the sky put on quite a display. When we drove to the parking area near the summit, we were literally in the clouds -- visibility was definitely limited. We hiked up to the observation deck anyway, and after a while the clouds lifted and we saw some blue sky. That didn't last long, and soon white clouds, followed by dark clouds, moved back in. I got this picture as the sky was changing.

The Painted Desert from Kachina Point

2011-09-08T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

We came upon this view of the Painted Desert while on a short hike at Kachina Point in Petrified Forest National Park.

********************

My Blogging Muse has become about as dry and unproductive as our yard and garden, so Betsy and I have decided to take a blogging break. I'm not sure what (if anything) we'll do other than trying to keep our roses and other plants alive. If my Muse cooperates, I'll be back the last week of September.

Spanish Glow Day Lily

2011-09-07T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Spanish Glow, one of our newer day lilies, has been bravely putting on a show in spite of the heat and the drought. This picture was taken last week.

Water Lily

2011-09-06T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

This is one of the colorful water lilies we saw at the Italian Garden on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. I like the vibrant color and the reflections in the water. I also like the bee in that first blossom.

Clouds in Water

2011-09-02T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

I was taking pictures of the water lilies and flowers in Biltmore's Italian Garden when I noticed the clouds reflected in the waters of a pool. I thought they looked pretty neat.

Flowers From Our Yard: Chicago Peace Rose

2011-09-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

I grew up near Chicago and have always thought that the downtown of that city is beautiful. Chicago Peace is a bi-color rose in our yard which is beautiful, especially in the morning light.

The Painted Desert from Tawa Point

2011-08-31T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

The day we visited Petrified Forest National Park was about as perfect as a day could be -- a clear blue sky with a few white clouds and bright sunshine lighting up every color and hue of the Painted Desert. This picture was taken at Tawa Point.

Flowers From Our Yard: Midas Touch Rose

2011-08-30T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

I've spent almost every day for the past few weeks watering our roses. I don't particularly enjoy working in the hot sun, but roses like this make it all worth while. Midas Touch makes me feel 'there is gold in them thar hills!'.

Parkway Clouds

2011-08-29T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

We drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina on an overcast day earlier this month. At one overlook we were able to take a short hike and look down on clouds in the valley below us.

Florida Beach Sunrise

2011-08-26T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

I went to my archives to get this picture of a Florida beach sunrise. This picture was taken at Ormand Beach, where we we celebrating Betsy's birthday.

Flowers From Our Yard: Paradise Rose

2011-08-25T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

We've had Paradise rose is our yard for several years now. It's a hybrid tea rose with a delightful fragrance and an unusual color -- a lilac mauve. Needless to say, that makes it fairly unique in our rose garden.

Petroglyphs

2011-08-24T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

These are some of the petroglyphs we saw at Puerco Pueblo in the Petrified Forest National Park. The pueblo was built around 1250 and may have been home to 1000 people. There are several locations along the trail through the pueblo from which petroglyphs can be seen.

Flowers From Our Yard: Elegant Candy Day Lily

2011-08-23T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Elegant Candy is one of the day lilies in the flower bed nearest the road. This is the second year that we've had this beauty, and since it is a re-bloomer we are still enjoying these pretty blossoms.

The Tepees

2011-08-22T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

The Tepees is a section of cone-shaped multicolored rock formations in the southern portion of the Petrified Forest National Park. The Tepees contain layers of blue and gray in addition to the reds, whites and pinks seen in other parts of the Painted Desert.

To see a drawing based on this picture, click HERE.

From My Archives: The Niagara River

2011-08-19T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

This picture of the Niagara River was taken from the bridge leading to Goat Island in New York's Niagara Falls State Park. The view is looking down river toward the brink of the American Falls.

Flowers From Our Yard: Wildfire Rose

2011-08-18T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Wildfire is one of the most vibrant roses we have in our yard. It doesn't have much of a fragrance, but when it is in bloom it can't be missed.

The Painted Desert from Nizhoni Point

2011-08-17T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized.)

Nizhoni Point was the last overlook we visited in the northern (Painted Desert) part of the Petrified Forest National Park. The colors were just as vibrant and breath-taking as they were at the first overlook.

Lilies in Our Yard

2011-08-16T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized)

Our new flower bed near the road contains quite a few lilies. Unfortunately most of them bloomed while we were out west on our trip. But the neighbors say that they were all beautiful. We were fortunate that this group of lilies were still showing off when we got back home.

To see a drawing based on this photo, click HERE.

Looking Down on Clouds

2011-08-15T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it. Clicking a second time will make it full-sized)

We were driving along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina earlier this month on a cloudy, overcast day. We came to an overlook near Shining Rock that gave us a view of the clouds in a valley below us.

Sunset at the Grand Canyon

2011-08-12T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

On our second evening at the Grand Canyon we were able to enjoy a sunset from Mather Point. The light and shadows in the canyon itself were unbelievably beautiful, and the sky turned a beautiful gold-red as the sun sank lower toward the horizon.

San Felipe de Neri Rectory Garden

2011-08-11T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

When we were in Albuquerque in June, we went to see the church of San Felipe de Neri, which was constructed in 1793. We got there too late in the day to see the interior of the church, but we were able to enjoy the rectory garden.

If you would like to see what the garden looks like as a drawing, click HERE.

Flowers From Our Yard: Fooled Me Day Lily

2011-08-10T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Fooled Me is one of the day lilies that bloomed for the first time this year. It's a re-blooming day lily, so we're hoping it will bloom again before winter sets in. We discovered that the deer around us also liked them -- for dinner! Fortunately they left this one blossom so I could get a picture.

The Tepees

2011-08-09T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The Tepees is an area of the Petrified Forest National Park dominated by cone-shaped rock formations. The formations contain layered blues, purples and grays in addition to the colors found in other portions of the park. The Tepees are in the southern section of the park between Newspaper Rock and Blue Mesa.

Flowers From Our Yard: Clarence Iris

2011-08-08T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Another iris in our yard has decided to put on a repeat performance. Clarence bloomed back in April when the rest of our irises bloomed, but has put on another display this week. I snapped this picture after a brief afternoon shower.

The Birthday Girl

2011-08-04T01:39:00.001-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Betsy was smiling when I took this picture in June while we were visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. We were heading up the mountain getting closer to that snow you see in the background.

Betsy is smiling today because she has a birthday tomorrow. If you would like to help make that smile even brighter, click HERE and wish her a Happy Birthday.

I'm trying my best to have a proper birthday celebration, so we may not have much computer time through the weekend. But we'll both be back on Monday.

Kachina Point View

2011-08-03T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

This picture of the Painted Desert was taken at Kachina Point in the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.

Oklahoma Sunset

2011-08-02T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

This is another picture I snapped one evening as we were traveling across Oklahoma. The light streaming through the hole in the clouds seemed to be showing us the way.

Flowers From Our Yard: Double Delight Rose

2011-08-01T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

If I were told that I could only have one rose, it would be Double Delight. It's a beautiful rose that starts out as a mostly white bud and changes each day as the blossom matures. One thing that doesn't change is the delightful fragrance.

I tried to add the fragrance to this post, but Blogger wouldn't accept it.

Our First Glimpse of the Grand Canyon

2011-07-29T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

This is a picture of our first view of the Grand Canyon. We entered the park from the east because we had read that end of the park offered the best views of the Colorado River. This picture was taken at the Desert View overlook.

Flowers From Our Yard: Simplon Lily

2011-07-28T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

We have a flower bed near the road in front of the house, and one of the things in that bed is Simplon Lily. There are only two plants, but they have put on a display for a couple of weeks now. I've seen people stop just to admire them. They also have a very pleasing fragrance.

Western North Carolina Evening Sky

2011-07-27T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

I went to my archives for this picture of a sunset sky in the western North Carolina Mountains. The picture was taken from friends' cabin near Otto, North Carolina.

Flowers From Our Yard: Moonstone Rose

2011-07-26T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Moonstone is one of the newer roses in our garden. It does very well in a container. The blossoms are beautiful -- white tinged with pink -- and the rose has a mild fragrance.

If you would like to see what this picture looks like as a drawing, click HERE.

Oklahoma Evening Sky

2011-07-25T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

While driving west through Oklahoma on our trip I stopped to get some pictures of the setting sun. I then looked behind me to the east and saw these clouds -- dark at the base, but still lit by sunlight above.

Cool Thoughts

2011-07-22T01:39:00.001-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

It's been so hot here on the Plateau this week, that I needed to find some cool comfort. I thought looking at this picture from a couple of years ago might help, but relief doesn't last very long.

Flowers From Our Yard: Treffer Lily

2011-07-21T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

We've enjoyed Treffer Lily in our yard for several years, and I always knew it had a vibrant orange color. But I didn't realize exactly how vibrant it really was until I captured this photo of Treffer as the early morning sun hit it.

Painted Desert Inn

2011-07-20T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The Painted Desert Inn National Historic Landmark was originally built as a trading post, inn and restaurant for travelers along Route 66 in Arizona. It was originally built of petrified wood and other native stone in the 1920s. The building was extensively remodeled in the Pueblo Revival style during the late 1930s by the CCC. The inn now serves as a museum in the Petrified Forest National Park.

If you would like to see what this photo looks like as a drawing, click HERE.

Mountain Laurel

2011-07-19T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

There are many advantages to living in the mountains, but the late Spring display put on by Mountain Laurel is definitely one of the nice things we can enjoy. This photo was snapped at the end of May.

Fort Smith Musket Fire

2011-07-18T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

When we visited Fort Smith National Historic Site, we saw rejectors dressed as 1830s-era soldiers firing muskets. Looking at what happened when the second soldier pulled the trigger, those muskets must have been as dangerous for the person firing as they were for the person on the other end.

Our First View of the Painted Desert

2011-07-15T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The first stop in Arizona while on our trip west was the Petrified Forest National Park. After stopping at the Painted Desert Visitor Center, we drove to Tiponi Point, where we got our first view of the beautiful Painted Desert.

If you would like to see what the photograph above looks like as a line drawing, click HERE.

Flowers From Our Yard: Peppermint Splash Rose

2011-07-14T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Peppermint Splash is one of the more unusual roses that we have in our yard. I think this picture shows how it got its name, and why I always want a piece of candy each time I go past it.

Lake Julia

2011-07-13T01:39:00.000-07:00

We visited this pretty little lake on our way home from the beach in 2009. It is in the DuPont State Forest near Brevard, North Carolina.

Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing

2011-07-12T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

During my visit to Hong Kong in 1987, we stopped at an overlook of the beach at Repulse Bay. The overlook was used for a scene in the 1955 movie "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing", starring William Holden and Jennifer Jones. None of the high rises were there when the movie was filmed.

The picture above was scanned from a slide.

Betsy at Cedar Breaks

2011-07-11T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

One of the things Betsy is passionate about is snow. Each winter she thinks we never get enough. On June 20 we went to Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah. The monument had opened for the season three days before, and Betsy found these snow banks near the Visitor Center. Can you tell how happy she is?

66 Cafe in Albuquerque

2011-07-08T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

Betsy and I had dinner at the 66 Cafe in Albuquerque. The cafe is on historic route 66, and is decorated in the style of a 50s diner. While we were eating this clock and jukebox caught my eye.

Flowers From Our Yard: A July Surprise

2011-07-07T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

I never expected to have iris blooming in our yard in July, but Cantina opened this past Sunday. We noticed the flower stalk when we got back home last week. Although unexpected this time of year, I do like this blossom very much.

Snow at Cedar Breaks

2011-07-06T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

We visited Cedar Breaks National Monument near Cedar City, Utah, on an incredibly beautiful day in June. The roads had been opened for the season three days before we visited, and there was still plenty of snow around. This picture shows the snow at one side of the Visitor Center, as well as the beautiful blue sky we enjoyed that day.

Oklahoma Sunset

2011-07-05T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

As Betsy and I traveled west through Oklahoma for the first time, we were impressed by the flat landscape, the wide open spaces and a gorgeous sunset. The sun rays were so beautiful that I had to pull over on the interstate to snap this picture of June 11.

Happy Fourth of July

2011-07-04T01:39:00.000-07:00

(This picture can be enlarged by clicking on it.)

The annual Fourth of July fireworks display is one of the nice things about living in the Glade. I captured this picture at last year's display when I was learning how to use my new camera. I rather like the way this picture came out.