“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.”
Psalm 8:1 ESV
A morning to remember as the sun rose over the Appalachian’s while we sat on our balcony at about 5,000 feet. We were blessed with quite a few eye and thought captivating visuals last week while spending several restful and enjoyable days in the North Carolina mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Today I hope to show some things seen in the skies, on the trails, and at The Swag!
Whether you want a log cabin or maybe only a Christmas tree, this beautiful old farm would be a great place to check out either one. We pass this place a few minutes before heading up the private road to The Swag. We can’t help but pull over and enjoy the scene. When we passed again as we headed home, Pam spotted a work crew flying a drone that appeared to be spraying the young trees. I wasn’t sure how they might feel about it so I did not stop and attempt another photo, kinda wish I had!
This became our view from the balcony/porch of our room for several days. The private porch ran the entire length of our room on the top floor of the main house and had a huge copper tub and outdoor shower. We had never stayed in this room before, but it probably offers the best view of any room or cabin on the property! We witnessed some unusual summer sky events from our porch, and hope to show some of those in a future post.
I hiked several miles inside the National Park and stopped along the way when I spotted something interesting near the trail. Being alone, I did not want to venture off trail too much. This is a painted trillium. “If” my memory serves me correctly, it’s my first time to find one in bloom. This one is native to the NC mountains, but does not grow back home in Alabama.
Pam and I were gifted an old wooden wheel barrow exactly like this one by the dear lady that lived on the farm where we and our family now reside. She was a precious friend and shared things with us…old farm implements, flowers and things like an old wagon. We planted flowers in our wheel barrow and used it for years until it finally rotted beyond use. We still have the old wheel! We discovered this one at the edge of a flower bed…it quickly caught our eye, and brought forth this memory!
Cutleaf coneflower, also known as green-headed coneflower (I can see why) was blooming in abundance at higher elevations in places where there was plenty of sun reaching the plants. Bees and butterflies were all over these native plants, members of the daisy family.
I was planning a picnic, but thought “It sure would be terrible to picnic alone”. Then, I spotted a beautiful lady relaxing nearby that looked as if she needed to go on a picnic. I took a chance and invited her. I was thrilled that she agreed, but under one condition, that she see and approve the picnic spot. (I suppose to make sure of my honorable intentions!)
After a short hike, we approached the chosen picnic spot, and to our surprise, there wasn’t another soul in sight. Stranger things have happened I guess, but it was lunch time, a beautiful day at around 78 degrees, an unbelievable view, and a setting with room for a lot of folks, yet we were the only two there!
I popped up an umbrella and she agreed to stay!
We stayed here for about an hour and never saw another person! Very rare indeed as this is a very popular place on the mountain!
Pale pink, pale yellow and bright orange fungi were easily spotted from quite a distance. As I came over a small rise along a trail and could see only color, I thought someone was ahead wearing one of those safety vests that many work situations require!
I hiked on the Cataloochee Divide Trail inside the park for about an hour before reaching my destination at the top of a bald. I’m inside the National Park but beyond the fence is the Cataloochee Ranch. This was another unusual day for me as I did not see another person on the trail in either direction and there was no one here at another popular spot on the mountain. I would really prefer a little company in this situation!
Not a bad place to take a short break after a long climb.
The Cataloochee Ranch sits down below with the Cataloochee ski area just to the left. Owners of The Swag also own and operate the ranch which has a lot of activities available for guests. Horseback riding, zip line, archery, skeet, swimming pool, and a number of other things make it a great family place. Maybe if we were a bit younger we would give it a try, but we currently prefer the laid back relaxed atmosphere up the mountain at The Swag. Horseback riding I would go for however!
I walked a little further west to get a view of the scenery in the direction of Maggie Valley.
Right in the middle of the open pasture at the top of the bald stands a lone buckeye. I realized, that while this tree might seem to be alone, the edge of the forest along the park boundary just above this tree was lined with buckeyes!
All things must come to an end and it was time to return to the GSMNP trail and head down. I realized when I saw this photo that there was a good representation of buckeye trees and cutleaf coneflowers. I knew I must get down the mountain before Pam sent out a search party. Fortunately there was enough cell service that allowed me to text and let her know I was doing just fine! And, she was waiting on me because it was approaching the time for the picnic I had promised. As you saw earlier, I did keep my promise!
We hope you have a blessed week.
As the sun was setting just below the horizon, a most unusual cloud/reflection feature was visible. A prism effect caused by moisture like that which creates a rainbow maybe? I don’t know if this would have a name, but a meteorologist would probably call it something official! Maybe it’s one of those sun dogs??
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Linking with:
Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Life and Linda
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