Other side of the Smokies

RNeal, the former South Knox Bubba, has his gallery of Pigeon Forge photos online on his new website: Smoky Mountain Vacation Guide. Not to be missed.

Not enough? Well, there's also another gallery from Neal, Southern Culture on the Skids, from visit to a flea market in Blount County, TN.

Thanks to Fletch of No Direction Home, who is posting a continuing series of photos of Gatlinburg, also worth a look.

On Thanksgiving Day.....

We give thanks for these beautiful mountains. 360-degree view from Buck Bald in Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee. 

A beautiful day this morning, sunny with snow on the Snowbird Mountains to the East. Cold coming later today..... 

Looking up the Hiwasee River valley towards Murphy and the mountains beyond. We could still see Brasstown Bald in Georgia from here. 

Looking towards the north: hazy ozone layer over the Tennessee Valley, towards Knoxville. 

Lots more snow

Marie has some great photos of snow up Watauga County way on Blue Ridge Blog.....

Fall rain gives in to winter

After the rain....some turned to snow. None near us (although there was a little on the roofs last night) but we could see it on nearby mountaintops today. Much more on the higher mountains east of us, and lots of mixed rain/snow/sleet on the roads. Looks like much more is on the way, especially for those a little north and east of us. 

Do you know the trolls?

Fletch at No Direction Home shows us the trolls that live in the Smokey Mountains.

Wow, deja vu. I've known these trolls for nearly 30 years. Amazing that they're still around. I see them poking out lots of places still. Even saw them in the rain forests of Washington or British Columbia, somewhere, a few years ago...or maybe it was Oregon....

Storms coming..... 

Color's over, leaves mostly gone, waiting for the cold..... 

Changes

I changed the photo at top of the blog to reflect a different season. (The old photo was taken in spring. I'll bring it back again later.)
Also, I'm moving the links page to a new account, since it still has been inaccessible. Should work now.)

There's still some color...... 

Last night, just before dusk.... 

Close up, they glow. 

In downtown Murphy this morning: The Cherokee County Courthouse, made of local blue marble. 

Note the amazing blue of today's sky... 

The old church (Episcopal). 

The Cherokee stone turtle in front of the museum. 

The moose. 

Metal crafts. 

Peaceful country church in Shoal Creek area of western Cherokee County. 

Wild turkeys. 

View of the Ga. Blue Ridge from Copperhill, TN 

Spectacular color here.... 

...in downtown Murphy. 

Maple leaves. 

Enjoy this while we can..... 

A walk to the top of Panther Top mountain, west of Murphy. 

Hiwassee Lake and Unaka mountains towards Tennessee.