"Stairway to There!"

A stairway to there! From the top of these stairs you can go  anywhere your heart desires. And no matter where you go ..... there you are!

Steps on a trail at Backbone Rock Recreation Area in Johnson County, Tn. 

"Watauga River"

On Watauga River in Carter County, Tn.

Across from Misty Waters Bait and Deli on Wilbur Dam Rd.

"Shady Valley, Tn."

At the crossroads in Shady Valley, Tn. Home of the Cranberry Festival held each year on the second Saturday of October!

"Corn Crib"

 

Corn crib at the Jim Bales place off Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

"Ima Byrd"

Going back a few months for this one! Stalking a bird feeder in Bristol, Va.

"Backbone Rock"

Backbone Rock in Johnson County, Tn. is known by some as the "Shortest Tunnel in the World"! Near Damascus, Va. and Shady Valley, Tn.

 For more info on Backbone Rock Recreation Area....

click here 

"Mountain Empire Beauty"

It's so easy to find beauty in our natural surroundings. All you have to do is step outside. Looking at Holston Mountain from Blevins Cemetery in Shady Valley, Tn.

"Sunset on South Holston"

The sun sets over Upper East Tennessee. From the top of South Holston Dam!

"Let's Go Fishing"

You ain't been fishing till you've caught one of these! When I took this shot I was thinking Bluegill. Looking at it here I'm thinking maybe Sun Perch. Lines are open..... :) ..... At Appalachian Fair in Gray, Tn.

"Hwy. 172"

A quilt block displayed on a barn just off Baileyton Rd., near Greeneville, Tn.

"Bristol, Va./Tn."

I think this one kinda explains itself!

"Crossing the Road"

I'm crossing the road folks, like it or not! Regardless of what some people might think, this bear is not afraid of people! Crossing the road in Cades Cove, in the Smoky Mountains National Park.

"South Holston River"

 

Looking down the South Holston River from the top of South Holston Dam in Sullivan County, Tn. The feeling can't be trapped in a picture, you just gotta be here!

"God Bless America"

Flag hanging over the Veteran's Memorial in Johnson City, Tn. The wind could have been a little more cooperative, but we will be happy with what we get!

"United States Post Office"

Old Customs House/United States Post Office building in Bristol, Tn.

"Inside White's Mill"

A look around inside the entry level of White's Mill in Washington County, Va.

"Hanging Around the Neighborhood"

A "Writing Spider" (Argiope Aurantia) hanging out in my neighborhood today in Bristol, Va.

"Barter Green Fountain"

Brass sculpture standing in a fountain on the "Barter Green"  in Abingdon, Va.

"White's Mill"

Restoration is underway at the historic "White's Mill" near Abingdon in Washington County, Va.

click here and here  for more information on White's Mill.

"Inside Looking Out"

One can only imagine what thoughts have passed through this window. Found on second floor of White's Mill, near Abingdon, in Washington County, Va.

click here

for more information on White's Mill

"Union Depot - Bristol, Va."

 

Playing around with a new toy tonight at the famed "Union Depot" train station in Bristol, Va. Taken at dusk - 8:30 pm, no flash, no editting but for the "jrd photos" logo, using a star point filter for the first time.

"Pipevine Swallowtail"

A Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

"Six Pointer"

A six point buck off a trail in Cades Cove near the Missionary Baptist Church. Spotted by my wife Audrey, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

"Friday in the Cove"

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

 Butterflies rehydrating and soaking up the sun in Cades Cove.

 A black bear eyeing another black bear up in this tree near the loop exit in Cades Cove.

"Standing Tall"

A sunflower shines in a field at Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge in Kodak, Tn.

"Photo Bomber"

I was zoomed in and focused on this sunflower and right before I pulled the trigger, look who showed up! Photo bombed by a butterfly! At Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge near Kodak, Tn.

"Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail"

 Here is one of my favorite stops along Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, so if you think you've seen this before, you very well may have. Not the same picture, just the same scene!

Just finished up a long weekend in the Smokies. This was our first excursion coming in and the photos here, from our last excursion, on the way out!

"Blue Heron at Douglas Dam"

A Blue Heron at Douglas Dam on the French Broad River in Sevier County, Tn.

"A Day in the Cove"

Okay! This was a little more than "Just Another Day - 2013" This was a day spent in Cades Cove, one of my favorite places ever. I spent around 8 hours in there today and not because it was stand still crowded, but because I just spent that long in there. God is good ..... Here is a little proof! .....

The first encounter. Just after entering the cove I spotted this dew covered spider web!

 My second encounter was this wildflower spotted from a bridge on Sparks Lane, still early in the morning.

 On the other end of the same bridge, I spotted this bee doing what bees do.

 Then after killing the morning away, checking out part of the Abrams Falls trail and having a picnic lunch at a remote cabin on Forge Creek Rd., we finally got down to business. After all, this was a "Bear Hunt"!

 

We finally found our bear looking up into this tree trying to figure out how to get to those cherries!

 

After looking up into the tree for so long, I guess he figured the best way to get to the cherries was to climb the tree!

"Standing Proud"

Standing proud in the forest, this tiny wildflower jumped out and caught my attention! Blooming along side Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.