Autumn in the Mountains

 
 

It just wouldn't seem like autumn without a family trip to the mountains. I should say family, plus friends, as we typically allow the kids to bring a few extra buddies along as well. While we had to send the kids home on Sunday to attend Monday classes, the Mister and I stayed on for a few extra days. Wait, let me clarify that...college kids were sent back to college and high school kids to a home with surrogate parents in place!

While this largely tourist area of Western North Carolina is decked out to the nines in fall decor {manmade and nature made}, this was by far my favorite manmade display. How creative is this?!

 
 
We could not have ordered nicer weather. Beautiful sunshine and warm afternoons. But the mornings and evenings were chilly...even "frost on the pumpkins"--and flowers in the morning....

 
The Mister and I agreed that the fall colors weren't quite as vibrant as last years' offering, but still beautiful. The locals said we missed peak by about a week. Nevertheless, the natural beauty of this area never fails to delight. While I took a ga-jillion photos, I'll share a few today and maybe some more later... 
 
 
 

 
 
I spotted this nest about 25 feet off the ground on one of our walks. It was still an active nest. Returning with a zoom lens to keep my distance I still had a few inhabitants of this abode dive bomb me. But I brought my doggie along...as if that would offer any extra protection! Doesn't this look like an ugly halloween mask? [start in the lower right hand quarter of the hive and zero in on the dark spot for the eye and then the nose prodruding from the same area...] The kind I would never let my kids wear when they were trick-or-treaters much to their bitter dismay at that place in time...mean mother that I was!

 

...a view from our deck...so peaceful...

 

 Ahhhh...but the reality of two trips back to back has left a wake of disaster when it comes to my real life and normal responsibilities...not to mention the need to catch up in bloggieland as well. But I wouldn't trade these times and the memories we've been blessed to gather together for anything.

But as I think about that last statement, I realize that many of my fondest memories of times together with my family have even been as simple as taking a bag of bread to the park and feeding the ducks. The important part is doing something together...

Comments

[Mrs. Magpie]

The photographs are just breathtaking, Sue. You are really turning into a world class photographer! You have the artist's eye! Just stunning shots.

And I adore that funny scarecrow on the hay bale tractor! LOL!

Thanks for sharing the beauty of NC with this poor fall deprived Floridian. I enjoyed it much. Glad you had a great trip!

XO,

Sheila :-)

[Jill]

Stunning fall beauty! I'm glad you had a nice time! Funny you mentioned the ducks..we are going to the park to feed them tomorrow!

[Wendy Wirth]

Beautiful pictures, I love the tractor.

[Zuzu]

Oh Sue - it's gorgeous!!! I'm glad you had a good time, and that you also found the time to bring us along with you! Thank you!!! :)
Hugs,
Zuzu

[~*~Patty]

beautiful
stunning
and so very touching

your thoughts and images are splendid Sue and touch my heart!

that nest does have an evil troll look to it ... fun!

I too have the fondest memory of a bag of bread ends for the ducks
oxo

[Nathalie Thompson]

What an amazing variety of FALL foliage! Leaves, I would expect to be "blooming", but the flowers are gorgeous! Love that wasp's nest (yes! I can see the "mask"!)

I followed you from Patty's (Magpie's Nest)

[Lynn]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us Sue, your photographs are always so wonderful to look at, it's almost as if I can reach in the screen and touch things :) I just love the beauty of Fall.