Hiwassee Lake at dusk. 

Geese crossing. 

Thursday nights

Riding along the river. 

A great time for kids. 

It's the Toccoa River near McCaysville, Ga. 

People are gathered for the Thursday night Pickin' in the Park. 

Lots of pickin' going on. 

In downtown Copperhill, TN. 

Checking in on Floyd

Nice photos from the Friday Night Jamboree at the Floyd (Va.) Country Store on Doug Thompson's Blue Ridge Muse blog. Also check the note (and photo from last year) on the upcoming FloydFest. It's this weekend.

More hot and rainy days

Just colors. But, there's sort of a face in there.....
 

Why do you think they call them the Smoky Mountains? (That's just rain, heading back to the heavens.) 

Peaches. They'll be ripe soon...if the rot doesn't get them first. 

Cat and fence. 

Where we are

If you've just discovered this site and want to know more about the area around here, there's a great new site for the new Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, designated by Congress in 2003.

I hadn't heard about this until this week, when a shiny insert about the Heritage Area appeared in the Asheville Citizen-Times. It looks like they're doing some interesting stuff. The site is a good guide to the area, although a couple pages came up empty.

There's a good list of links to sources for more information on the Visitor Information page, including county chambers of commerce around the area. There are also good guides to crafts, agriculture, lots more.

When it's too hot to go out and take photos....

Just a beautiful stretch of road, and very close to home. 

Another misty after-the-rain sunset... 

Dahlia. 

In the path of progress

Old cemetery next to Hiwassee Lake. The path leads to a swimming area. 

These stones are all that's left of a community now covered in water. According to at least one history, some stones and graves were moved by the TVA when the dam was built.

More photos of stones in this cemetery at Cemetery Surveys (thanks, Lynne and Rose).

 

Unusual writing on this stone: how did they ever carve itt? 

Several children in this family.... 

All to turn the Hiwassee River into this beautiful lake. 

Riding the back roads

On a cloudy day. 

Beautiful old barn. 

Green valley. These are all in the Beaverdam/ Hanging Dog area outside Murphy. 

I hope these old barns last forever. 

Garden envy. This time of year I get it, riding around....some people's gardens are spectacular.