Full Moon in the Glade

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

Several years ago I took a picture of the full moon rsising here in Fairfield Glade.  I decided to do some experimenting with the image and used software to make it appear more like a paInting.  This is what I came up with.

 

 

 

 

 

Gaither Mountain Simrise

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

Several years ago, on a trip to Arkansas, Betsy and I got up early one morning to catch the sunrise over Gaither Mountain.  It was definitely worth getting up early to see, and that is where I got this image of the rising sun.  I used software to make the image look more like a painting, and this is the result. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above Bald River Falls

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

I captured this image of Bald River above the falls a few years ago while on a hike in the area.  I did some experimenting with the photo (something I do fairly often and finally decided to make it appear more like a poster.  This is the result.

 

 

 

 

 

Twilight Time in Hong Kong

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

In June of 1990 we stopped in Hong Kong on our way to Tianjin, China, where I would be teaching English to Chinese students.  One evening while we were in Hong Kong, we crossed the harbor on a Star Ferry at dusk.  That’s when I got this image of the Hong Kong waterfront against the glow of the sky.

 

Fort Smith National Historic Site

 

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

On our first trip west in 2011, Betsy and I visited the Fort Smith National Historic Site in Fort Smth, Arkansas.  The old military base which makes up the historic site was involved in the Trail of Tears (the removal of native American tribes to Oklahoma), the Civil War,  and the taming of the West.  The federal court at Fort Smith had jurisdiction over the Indian Territory for many years.

I got this picture while walking past the parade ground at Fort Smith.

 

 

Twin Falls

(Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

When we could hike (many years ago), Betsy and I would plan vacations or road trips around our search for waterfalls.  But we didn’t always have to make a major trip to find an interesting waterfall — we had several interesting falls relatively close by.

Twin Falls, in Rock Island State Park, is a waterfall that came into being when a dam was built creating Center Hill Lake.  The dam used water to back up and flood caverns.  The water then broke through the back of the cavern, creating Twin Falls.  Are Twin Falls natural or man-made?  Who cares, they are beautiful. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ocean Isle Beach Pier

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

Betsy and I try to get to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, at least once a year.  We normally travel there in May (before the season gets started) or December (after the season winds down.  This schedule means there are fewer people around and that we often have the beach to ourselves.

I got this picture of the Ocean Isle Beach pier on a May morning a few years ago.  I like the reflection of the pier in the wet sand of the beach.  Since it was an overcast day, I thought the photo would look good as a monochrome mage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calbash, North Carolina

 

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

Betsy and I like to get to the beach in North Carolina at least once a year.  We stay  in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, but we always make a daily trip to Calabash, North Carolina, for some delicious seafood.  Calabash is a working  fishing village, and the seafood is absolutely fantastic.  I got this picture of the Calabash waterfront a few years ago.  We can’t wait to get back there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink Dogwood Blossoms

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

We know that Spring has arrived in the Glade when the pink dogwood tree in our front yard blooms.  My Beautiful Bride and I have been celebrating Spring’s arrival for the past week or so.  This picture was taken a couple of years ago, but the blossoms were just as beautiful this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walled Garden Tulips

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

For many years Betsy and I have made a Spring trip to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.  We go primarily to see the tulips in the Walled Garden of the estate.  Seeing all those beautiful tulips tells us that Spring has truly arrived.

A March Hike

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

Several years ago, when both Betsy and I were younger and could still do some hiking, we celebrated my birthday by visiting Desoto State Park near Fort Payne, Alabama.  While there we took several hikes, one of which was along the west fork of Little River.  It was on that hike that I captured this image of the March scenery along the river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cades Cove in March

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

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

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

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

 

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

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

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

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

 (Note:  This picture may be enlarged by clicking on it using Control-click or right-click.)

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.