“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
Looks like you had a great mini vacation. Does the painted trillium grow anywhere else or only in the area you were vacationing? We have a 100 acre tree farm behind our property which is protected by the state. When we first moved to this old house I found an old wooden tiller which I used a couple of times. It is nice to get away but it is also nice to return to home sweet home. Have a blessed week.
Thank you Maryann. We did have a nice time but as you say it’s always good to get back home too. That trillium grows all through the Appalachians and the east but we don’t have it in Alabama that I’m aware of. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Glad you two were able to enjoy a few days away from home to relax and rejuvenate. GSMNP is beautiful. You seemed to have gone at the right time when there were not a lot of visitors. Glad you didn’t see any bears!
Thank you Rachel. A little time away is needed occasionally and we always feel blessed when we get to enjoy other places. We hope you have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing your trip with us. After being in triple digit heat, a trip to the mountains was a wonderful respite. The heat dome we’re under currently is brutal, and I can’t wait for August to be over! Your picnic area was magnificent! It was especially nice to have it to yourself. I love that farm you photograhed that is on the way to the Swag! It’s is so picturesque. Enjoy your day. Clara❤️
Thank you Clara. It was probably 15 degrees cooler in the daytime than at home so that was quite nice. Their gardens were beautiful too so and I know Pam will show them later. Hope you have an enjoyable week!
Butch and Pam
How wonderful to get away and enjoy the beautiful scenery. I love your picnic spot. Wow and to have a private location just for the two of you. Pictures are beautiful as always. Have a wonderful start to the new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. We met some very nice people and enjoyed conversations but a private picnic in such a spot was a nice surprise too. We hope you have a wonderful week as well!
Butch and Pam
Such a beautiful place, thank you so much for sharing with us. 🌲💞
Thank you Sue. We are looking forward to some more mountain scenery next month too. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
How beautiful! And temps in the 70s, I am swooning! Did anyone use the copper tub? I’ve always wanted to visit Moss Mt Farm just to see P. Allen Smith’s sleeping porch with the copper tub. Do you remember when Maggie Valley had Ghost Town in the Sky? My mother was a bit upset when I managed to loose a baby tooth right during the middle of the gunfight! And my dad took a memorable picture of my Great Aunt Dimple riding the ski lift in a dress, pearls, and her pocketbook…Queen Elizabeth would have approved! So glad you were able to entice the beautiful lady for a private picnic!!
Thank you Roxanne. We debated about the copper tub but didn’t because it was huge and looked like it would take an hour to fill it up. My grandparents took me to something put on in Cherokee but never to Maggie Valley, but I’ve heard of that. Took a lot of persuasion for the picnic but I was finally convincing. Hope you have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Wow! One feels closer to God up high in His beauty. I enlarged every photo to see better what you saw. Oh to hike with you Butch and have you point out things I never knew. Hiking alone has its own blessing but there are times another soul keeps us grounded and on time. I suspect a picnic in that setting would be quite delightful and especially if it was with that beautiful lady. My young neighbor was a graduate of Ohio State and has planted a buckeye tree in his yard that is performing well much to the delight of the neighborhood squirrels. I didn’t know they grew wild in the mountains of my home state. Looking forward to more pictures of your vacation in NC mountains.
Thank you Alice. We do remember you are a N Carolinian. The buckeyes were doing well in NC, I noticed quite a few this trip. I thought for a moment hiking alone wasn’t a good idea when I spotted a large black animal ahead moving through the brush toward my trail. A black calf had wandered into the park from Cataloochee Ranch. I was sure it was a bear at first. Hope you have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Butch your Bible verse at the beginning of your post reminded me of one of the hymns we sang in church this morning…”O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.O Lord, we praise your name.O Lord, we magnify your name: Prince of Peace, mighty God; O Lord God Almighty.O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.” The Swag is the perfect place to admire the beauty our creator has made for all of us. You are indeed fortunate that the beautiful lady agreed to have lunch with you…I, too, am very fortunate when asked by church family where I found the dude with me and I tell them that “I picked up a Captain guy in the church parking lot and let him accompany me to church!” (Occasionally, he has been known to fly on Sundays so he might miss a Sunday or two.). LOL. Have a great week-end my friends. Thanks for the lovely photos.
Thank you Kari. We are very familiar with that song. The church is a good place to meet special people. The first time I ever saw Pam she was sitting on a bench at a church organ 56 years ago and we’ve been having lunch and picnics together ever since. We hope you have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
I can certainly understand why the two of you love the Swag, it is so beautiful. There are very few places you could go to in the summer and have a wonderful mountain top picnic with out a soul around. Pure bliss.
Thank you Karen. We certainly didn’t expect to have that picnic spot to ourselves. Rare but quite nice. Wishing you a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
I know The Swag is a favorite vacation spot for both of you and I was happy to see some beautiful photos of it. I’ll bet you came back relaxed and renewed. Thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you Kitty. You know it is so good to get away if we can, but there is no place like home. We don’t go as much as we used to, but still like to have getaways. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
What a perfect time of the year to go to the mountains – you avoided crowds and even had trails all to yourself. In addition, you found much cooler temperatures and special summer blossoms. What a lovely vacation.
Thank you Leslie Anne. It was a nice change and the cooler, higher elevation climate had flowers blooming that never bloom here or have long since given over to the heat. We hope you have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
What an amazing spot for a week’s break Butch! And those views are spectacular indeed. I had never heard of Buckeyes before so had to do a little research, very interesting.
The area looks very much like the mountains not far from here where my husband & I went for our Honeymoon, we must try & get back for a little break sometime.
Blessings to you & Pam, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. The Appalachian Mountains are beautiful, not as high as the Rockies of our west but very different. The highest point in the eastern part of the US can be seen from where we had that picnic. We think you and your husband need to head out to your mountains. Maybe spring is a good time and that’s not too far away. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
We agree Butch! ☺️
Hello Folks.
I am so glad you both were able to get away to one of your favorite happy places. What a beautiful place. Sweet man used to find trilliums in the woods when he was young. It is one of his favorite plants. His daughter got him a T-shirt with trilliums on it.
That wheelbarrow was a wonderful memory for you both. How sweet.
I saw the prism in the sunset. God loves to show us beauty everywhere.
Thank you for sharing your mountain getaway and the lovely Bible verses.
Have a good week, my friends!
Thank you Nancy. I find trilliums in our woods but not that particular one. Ours bloom a lot earlier than those in the cooler mountains. There is such beauty in creation and it’s quite a blessing to see something new and different every day. Love that t-shirt idea. Maybe I need to come up with a favorite. Have a blessed day!
Butch and Pam
This hike and pictures are so beautiful, God is so good to have all this beauty for us to enjoy. I quit going on trips when Covid came along and for some reason got tired of going by myselfeven though it was with a group it just wasn’t the same. That’s why I enjoy these so much so, thanks for sharing with me and have a very blessed day.
Thank you Marlene. We are glad you join us. Covid changed a lot of things. We’ve not traveled as much either but still love to experience the beauty of creation right outside our window or somewhere else when we can. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Such beautiful photos and what a view you had from your room! The trillium looks amazing (it looks almost like a berry of some sort) and the buckeyes are very interesting too. Glad it was only a stray calf in the trees and not a bear! It looked like a pretty place to have a picnic and how wonderful you were able to entice the beautiful lady to join you. It sounds like you had a lovely getaway and relief from the hot temps. Have a wonderful rest of the week you two!
Thank you Kim. Yes, a calf and no bears was good, there are a lot of bears in that area but I was fine not seeing one. I agree, that trillium is most unusual. I need to research and see if that red berry-like top maybe opens up further. I didn’t know much about that plant. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
Oh, I can see why you two return here so many times! It looks so peaceful and the perfect place for a picnic for two!
The Great Smoky Mountains are our favorite place to rest, relax, and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Pax tecum! Marie
Thank you Mary. The beauty of His creation is thrilling to see with our eyes!
Oh, what a beautiful place! Can you imagine what heaven must be like? It’s hard to even envision how magnificent it will be!
Yes, heaven is beyond our human imagination! Thank you my friend!