Not snow yet

But the Southeast is having a very foggy day, today, before the cold hits.

Sun for a day

Amazing light over the mountains last evening....




...and the Christmas decorations on the Cherokee County courthouse, yesterday. We went back today (had to pay the property tax, and they were closed yesterday) and the wreaths and all the poinsettias were gone.

A rainy Christmas day

Christmas eve, at Crane Creek Vineyards.

A gorgeous December day

With temps around 70 and pure sunshine, a good day for a backwoods ride in the northwest reaches of Cherokee County, passing by Apalachia Lake at one point:



First day of sun in several days. The rain hasn't been enough to make the creeks flow any faster, but there may be more later this week....and maybe cold.

Car show in the drizzle

In Blue Ridge, Ga, the Saturday car show was nearly rained out. It's a big part of life around here, you find these old cars on display on many weekends, somewhere:

Another courthouse

Union County, Georgia, the old courthouse in downtown Blairsville, used now as a museum and concert hall. All dressed up for the holidays.

Sunday at the Folk School

The view from the John C. Campbell Folk School is spectacular, even on a threatening day:

Inside, the annual Fireside Sale brings crafters back to the school to display their beautiful things.

Saturday afternoon in Hayesville

Quiet time after stores close and before the holiday parade: the old courthouse:


the People's Store, closed since death of the owner a couple years back, has been reopened as a museum. Too bad it was closed, looked pretty interesting inside:

In the old days, several men would be gathered out here, chewing the fat:

This photo was taken inside about 5 years ago.

Downtown Murphy

Just a couple shots showing end of fall/beginning of Christmas decorations:

It's the day after Thanksgiving

And this Tom is probably really happy he made it thru another year.......and can continue to chase this hen, after dealing with the annoying car on the side of the road.
There was snow on top of Big Frog in Georgia,
and snow on Waucheesi Bald, in Tennessee. (This could be rime, but considering the drizzle late yesterday, and the below freezing temps at higher elevations, I suspect snow. This stayed all day in the sun.)
Still color around Apalachia Lake and some other areas near water.

Backroads in Unaka and Suit

Cherokee Lake

This little lake, formed from Persimmon Creek where it runs into Hiwassee Lake, is always full because of its runoff dam. Color near the lake is nearly gone:

The low section in middle of the dam always has water flow (especially now since we had a pretty good rain Wednesday), but normally there is water overflowing the whole dam. Not so now.
There is nothing left of Hiwassee Lake in this section.
Just over the hill, much more color.
The road to our house has had lots of changing colors for several weeks now.....

In between the rain showers

Color reaches here

The hills around us, here at lower altitudes of 2000 ft. or so, have suddenly become color patchworks: the next few days should be best of this fall, although it will be cloudy and (hopefully) rainy. The maples are redder than I remember in other years: