Jan 26, 2010

Outdoor Wednesday



Join out hostess with the mostess, Susan, A Southern Daydreamer, to find many posts filled with outdoor beauty!

My husband and I spent most of the last couple of weeks in east Tennessee after my father had a heart attack.  We spent every day for a week at the hospital - and you know how tiring and stressful that can be.  When Dad came home we worked around the house for a couple of days and then the two of us spent a day in the mountains.  My parents live just outside the Smoky Mountain National Park so it's stunningly beautiful all year round.  The mountains in winter look completely different than in warm months.  I miss being able to hop in the car and drive a mere minutes to be be in the middle of complete beauty.  Michigan has it's own claims to fame, but we don't have mountains!  I snapped some pictures as we drove and went to a few of our favorite places in the park. 

Tennessee has actually had winter this year and more than the usual few weeks.  The water that streams out of the rocks continuously froze, creating strange looking shapes - natural works of art!



The streams ran over the rocks rigorously after months of rain and snow.


One of my favorite views is in Cades Cove.  It is the place of the first non Indian settlers in the Smoky Mountains.  In fact, the first was my great-great-great-great grandfather, John Oliver.   If you visit the Smoky Mountains in east Tennessee be sure to go to Cades Cove and drive "The Loop" to see the original homes of the first settlers.  It's interesting to see how incredibly innovative these strong people were and the beauty is incomparable. 
 


The deer are plentiful in the Cove and because hunting is against the law, those gorgeous, graceful creatures come very close.



John Oliver certainly knew how to pick a gorgeous spot to homestead.  What a front porch view!
 

  






John Oliver II was a minister at the Primitive Baptist Church.  The church and graveyard are beautiful.







After several hours of satisfying my "mountain fix" it was time go go back to Mom and Dad's. 




I adore the beach, but these mountains are the place of my childhood and I NEED to be surrounded by them from time to time. Cades Cove in particular, brings a sense of peace and familiarity. When I was a child we spent Sunday afternoons picnicking in the mountains, jumping from rock to rock in the cold streams.  On Memorial Day, or Flag Day as we called it, we picnicked on the Primitive Baptist Church grounds, afterward we cleaned the grave sites and placed flowers on the graves of our ancestors.  I have wonderful memories of the mountains and they still bring a spirit of peace to my soul like no other place can.


Now...I just have to mention one of my very favorite blogs, Miss Gracie's House and suggest that you stop by for some serious inspiration!  Rene and her husband purchased a 100 year old farmhouse and are in the process of making it a beautiful home.  To entice you further, Rene has recently published her 300th post and she is having a give-a-way to celebrate.  Stop by Miss Gracie's soon!

26 comments:

The Little Red Shop said...

What wonderful history. Thank you for sharing. I'm praying for your father's health!

God Bless you!


: )

Julie M.

Hootin Anni said...

What a fantastic road tour!! I especially like the old log cabin....I could reside there...no problem.

My Wednesday post..."Alligators in the Sewer?" is published...come see if you have a bit of time today. I'd love your visit.
HERE

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

First, I am glad to hear that your father is doing much better. I appreciate your stopping by my little corner of the world for Silver Sunday. Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures of Tennessee. I took a road trip with my aunt from Michigan to her twin sister's in North Carolina so we drove the mountains through WV/TN/NC -- just gorgeous! And how wonderful to have such a history to the land. No wonder you go back again and again. Your silver is all so lovely and you were able to find some wonderful things during your time away. Wishing you a beautiful day. Blessings :) Tammy

A Hint of Home said...

I loved this post Kathy. I love it at Cade's Cove. Makes me want to take a trip there. It's only 2 1/2 hrs. from us.
First time I was there we saw the wild horses. Did you see any?
Deer would cross in front of the car as we drove slowly through the park.
The snow on the mtns. are beautiful.
Hope your Dad is gaining strength.

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hubby and I and two kids were there 10 years ago and we loved it~ Cades Cove, so cool! Cindy

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Ooooh, so pretty. I have been to Tennesee and it is gorgeous...would love to go again sometime...

Self Sagacity said...

love your pictures! so interesting to see them, thanks for posting.

Heather said...

absolutely breathtaking photos! i would love to visit someday.

Melissa/Piney Rose said...

Oh, it's Cades Cove! I love it - it's about an hour from us - and did you visit Townsend? You must go there too next time. You're from Michigan? I've never been there or very far north for that matter. Another place of serenity and tranquility is Burk's Garden near Tazewell, Virginia.

Light and Voices said...

Thank you for the wonderful cyber tour of the Tennessee mountains. It is a lovely post.
Joyce M

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

The photos are beautiful! I see the frozen ice coming out of the side of the mountains especially when we visit my daughter in up-state NY. I have never been to TN so the picture were very interesting to see. Just beautiful mountains. I sure have enjoyed my visit!

Kindly. ldh

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I enjoyed seeing your ancestors homesteads and the beautiful Tennessee mountains. We drove through portions of east Tennessee years ago around Chattanooga, and I'd love to return someday to see more.

I hope your Dad is recovering well. I will pray for him!

Lori E said...

This was a very interesting post. The pictures are lovely. I am very close to mountains here and do find it strange to be in places where you can't readily see them somewhere.
Don't you just love the waterfalls?

aspiritofsimplicity said...

OH how beautiful. I have always wanted to visit that part of the country and your pictures have made me want to even more.

Eden said...

I hope your father is doing well now. I enjoyed so much reading your post. The place is so beautiful and thank you for sharing its history.

Kat said...

Beautiful photos. The first shot of the church with the sun streaming through the trees is magical. Thanks for the wonderful trip, this is such a lovely area. Hope that your father is doing well. Kathy

jeanne said...

Hi Kathy, I was so delighted to see the Smokey Mountains on your post today. I live one hour (Franklin, NC) from that park and love to go there. My favorite place is Cades Cove too. I have been there countless times and I am very familiar with the story of that beautiful area. In fact I have several of the collection of the homes, churches etc. that they sell in the visitors center. My daughter lives in Knoxville and she started my collection with one of the churches. They are so expensive now so I haven't added to my collection in a while. John Oliver's homestead is part of my collection. Your post really touched me. Thank you.

Hugs, Jeanne

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Great photos! I have not been in East TN in years. It is beautiful in that area. Thanks for sharing.
Glad your Father is doing better.

Anonymous said...

This is such a wonderful trip for me through your post!

Beautiful pictures, and a prayer is sent to your dad!

Baba said...

Hi Kathy, I love looking at all of your wonderful pictures through the mountains..the frozen water falls are great looking!! I would be jumping out of the car every minute to snap pictures..

I hope your dad continues to get better and stays well..my prayers are with him and your family....

My husband grew up in Oxford, Mi.and completed high school there.He joined the Air Force and has stayed in Savannah ever since.

Thanks for your visit to my place.
Hugs, Baba

Hannah - Zukan said...

I love going out on scenic drives and the Smokey Mountains is one of the best places for it. Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories and experience of Cade's Cove!

Thanks for your visit. Warm greetings from Florida!

Tootsie said...

I love the photos you posted...the hills look so soft and graceful! It was very nice to meet you...I hope to see you again.
My wishes for your father's health!

Jane said...

Hi Kathy!
Your post brought back some wonderful memories...We lived in East Tennessee for a few years...both Kingsport and Knoxville. When I found myself stressing out, I would drive (from K-ville) to Cades Cove and hike, watch deer, picnic, and dream. And on the days I couldn't get there...especially if the skies were clear...I would drive to the ridge behind my neighborhood and look east to the Smokies and west to the Cumberlands. The views were spectacular. When I couldn't get to the beach, I gravitated to the mountains...

I pray for your father's health...and quick recovery.
Jane (artfully graced)

ps Thanks for stopping by today.

Laurie said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog; I hadn't had a chance to view many Outdoor Wednesdays and this was a wonderful post you did. I hope your father is doing well, and I am glad you had a chance to be there with your parents. I have never been to Tennessee and I really enjoyed the photos and your family history, and I thank you for sharing it. The mountains are beautiful!

deb said...

hubby and i honeymooned near here. we love cades cove and the smokies. beautiful. thanks for the pics.

dj

Unknown said...

I have been to Tennessee and it IS BEAUTIFUL. Sorry you went there under sad circumstances but I'm glad your father is doing better!