A little walk with a friend down at the creek...

I had a friend, Jennifer, visit from Austin, Texas. She is a fellow photographer and takes some awesome photos. We meant to get out early for our walk but didn't manage to get out until mid-day and it was HOT, whew!! We did manage to find a few subjects to photograph in the heat!

 Robberfly with his kill, a grasshopper

 Love the color of his eyes...wow!

 Black and Yellow Argiope spider with a dragonfly, yummy!

 Jennifer focusing...she is very patient!

 Rattlebush blossom

 Taking a break

 Love the color of this ones body and eyes, cool



 Rocking

 Shrubby Water Primrose

And another beautiful rattlebush bloom

The creek is not flowing and it is so dry once again...We might get some rain tomorrow and sure hope we do...

Still working on our trip photos and will post some more soon from the Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee...



Can I help you?

Somebody was staring at me today!!



He did it!!

Our little Man has a special day coming up soon and with this heat and having to stay inside most of the day (he doesn't handle the heat well) I decided to give him one of his gifts early to keep him occupied...I honestly thought it would take him a few days but he proved me wrong...He built it in one day and with just a little help from me...(He did 75% of it himself, woohoo)...He's growing up and I love that he can do these items by himself now!!

 He's pretty darn proud of himself, I'm proud of him too!!

Way to Go Michael!!

You did a great job and I'm so glad you are enjoying your tank!!



July 17th, Day 5 of our trip...Hwy 411, Gatlingburg and Roaring Forks Motor tour...

 We left Chattanooga TN on July 17th and headed too Gatlinburg Tennessee...I decided to get off the main expressway and take a more scenic route...Hwy 411. 

 I see some Smoky Mountains in the distance...

Oh how I love the Smoky Mountains...so green and pretty!

 Our Hotel...Picked this one as it was North of Town away from all the mess that is downtown. I didn't come here to see Gatlinburg I came to see the Mountains...

 One of the girls at the hotel recommended this restaurant...Smoky Mountain Brewery...Food was good and reasonably priced, the service was great. Most of the people working there are young kids from (literally) all over the world...They come to the Smoky's to work for the summer! Great bunch of kids too...We ate here every night for dinner.

 There is a little cluster of stores and restaurants out of the way towards the South end of town and we really enjoyed our time there, plus free parking with a receipt from the restaurant, love that...There was a small creek running along the driveway and a park on the other side of the creek...Nice to just sit back, swing, play in the creek and take a much needed break...

 Looking for pretty rocks...

~

There is a motor tour trail to the East of Gatlinburg that was recommended to us...So after eating and playing at the park that evening we decided to drive the Roaring Forks motor tour...absolutely gorgeous....

 I love that sign, it means wonderful things await us...

 One of many settler cabins through out the Smoky Mountain National Park...I wonder what those people would think if they knew people were going to tour their cabins 150 years later?

 Wow!! Look at the view...

 Very nice road...lots of switchbacks and one way only...

 Roaring Falls Creek...

 Michael did NOT want to go on this auto tour...but once we stopped at the creek to play he didn't want to leave...He had so much fun!!

 I love my boy and I'm so glad we got to share this adventure...

 He found something...It was a salamander or Lizard, I'm not sure as I didn't see it.

 Posing for me...Love you Michael!

 Gotta love those self-timers on the camera!

 This was some creepy looking Fungi we found...

 Reminds me of a creature from all the syfy movies...ewww...

 Michael wanted to walk a trail and I said NO!! We have no maps and it's late and we are not prepared to go hiking...No, No, No...

 Playing around...

 Another cabin...

 One of many bridges...

 Roaring Falls Creek...ahh I could stay for awhile.

 Another waterfall we spotted...

 It's so quiet and peaceful and oh so green...

~

It was getting late so we headed back to the Hotel...

 One of the pools at the hotel...

 WooHoo water slide!!

 Weeeeeee.......

After the pool we went and did a little mini putt putt course...

 We were there until midnight...made for a really long day!

It was a long day but it was so much fun...

Stay tuned for day 6...Smoky Mountain National Park here we come!!

Perseid Meteor Shower

Tonight I took Michael down to the pool at about 10pm so we could watch the Perseid Meteor Shower. There is nothing like laying in a pool full of warm water (90 degree F. water temp) and watching the night sky...It was gorgeous...We saw 11 meteors (falling stars) and Michael was in awe...I love moments like this, no photos but plenty of memories.

I remember my Mother and I laying in lounge chairs doing the same thing when I was his age...