Newfound Gap

We recently returned from our trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We stayed on the Tennessee side but went over the mountains through the Newfound Gap into North Carolina 3 times, all early in the morning. By far, the best time of the day!

The first trip over, it was sorta overcast and the fog and blue mist hung low below the mountain peaks. A typical and beautiful site. It was made more so because of the fall colors of the foliage. Fall just happens to be my favorite time of the year.

The second time, while still overcast, the fog and mist weren't as prevalent. As a result, I managed to get the sun as it rose over the mountain top and peeked through an opening in the clouds.

The last time we got there really, really early. Dark! A storm was brewing. It rained a couple of times on the way and while we waited for sunrise, but stopped in time for me to get this shot. Actually this is 3 separate exposures combined into 1 to capture the entire tonal range. Note to self: Buy some fingerless gloves.

We didn't go over again, but the last day we were there, it snowed in the upper elevations, including Newfound Gap.

Holy Guacamole, Batman!

The other day my hubby was sitting at his desk reading something on his Ipad and I was at my computer planning our trip to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. My husband's desk sits in front of a window because he likes to look outside. Mine faces a corner on the opposite side and, as a result, I can't see what he is doing.

Needless to say, both of our tasks were rather benign and certainly no cause for alarm so you can imagine my surprise when my husband jumped up like his pants were on fire. He had glanced outside to find two beady eyes staring in at him through the window. Scared the bejesus out of him and in turn he scared the bejesus out of me.

Guess what it was?