Sunday, after Madison’s fun but exhausting Halloween Sleepover party on Friday/Saturday, we needed some peace and quiet. (Come to find out, when you send six 12 year old girls to bed at an already questionably unhealty hour, they don’t actually put their heads down on their pillows and lay still and quiet, until they fall asleep! Who knew?)
So we took a drive up to Clingman’s Dome.
It took a little over an hour to get there but the drive was breathtaking! The colors were so vibrant. I think the Smokey Mountains have provided some of the most beautiful scenic spots I’ve ever seen. Madison and I took over 300 pictures of the landscape! (I think 20 were mine…)
Wes took pictures of me looking at the landscape. Hehee
Once we got to the top of the mountain, the trees were not as colorful. In fact, lots of them are dead. (Insect imported from Europe and these trees have no natural defense… So sad.)
It’s a half mile hike to get to the “dome” after you park. It was steep! But the path was paved and we got there in no time. It was a beautiful 360 degree view for as far as you could see. Depending on the air quality, that can range from 20 to 100 miles.
Luckily for us, it was a clear day! When we hiked back to the parking lot, the sidewalk was lined with people jumping on the opportunity to catch the sunset on this beautifully clear evening! My camera felt rinky dink compared to these things so I took a picture of THEM and then we left for home. :-)
Actually, before we left we got a couple family pictures.
We brought our tripod and remote so we could take our own family pics for our Christmas cards this year but I forgot that the attachment to connect the camera to the tripod had been put on another camera. Luckily an older couple had to sit on the bench nearby to rest so I asked if she would do the honors.
She was so cute. She kept saying, “This is so fun, I’ve got to get myself a nifty camera like this!” I might have been nervous she might bolt with mine but for the walker she had to release to hold the camera! (JK, She totally didn’t have a walker!)
Unfortunately, there was no mirror in the vicinity… It’s a cute pic but not really Christmas card worthy.
Although, it was a complete miracle that we remembered to bring the camera with us on this little adventure as we so often forget – so it probably will be our Christmas card picture!
I like this one too.
And my absolute favorite picture of the day!
Thanks for indulging me in a post that has absolutely nothing to do with Sawdust or Paper Scraps today! All work and no play… makes me very cranky so we TRY to have project free weekends as often as possible! 
I hope you had a great weekend too!
Tomorrow I’m sharing tips on drywall patching. Don’t forget it’s Trick Or Tip Week and today’s Tip is presented by Jenna of SAS Interiors. Go check it out and I’ll see you here, tomorrow!
That looks like fun! Great pictures. I always love the ones of my daughters and my husband. Something so precious about a big man and his sweet little girl.
Beautiful pictures! Don’t ya just love fall! Thanks for sharing your part of the world!
Love it! We went to Gatlinburg last weekend. It’s one of the prettiest places ever, once you get past all of the tourist.
Hmph, and you didn’t stop by and see me?
It looks beautiful! That’s one thing I miss about living in Florida… no foliage!
Hooray for weekends off! You have to do that every once in a while. Especially when you have SO much to do that you think you can’t take a day off. At least that’s my experience. What beautiful scenery! I vote for the bottom two pictures on your Christmas card – they are way cute. Not that the family one isn’t, but those last two are perfect.
I think when you think you have so much to do that you don’t think you can take a weekend off, you need to take some things off your plate! That’s my philosophy anyway. Life is too short to waste it working all the time!
Hi. I love the pictures, why don’t you do a montage of pictures from the year for your cards with the one of your husband and daughter in the centre – that is just a lovely shot and too good to keep to yourself – it needs to be shared with family and friends.
Thanks for sharing your day with us, it was lovely to see the landscape.
Great idea!
Next stop….AUSTIN!! We miss you all!!
I remember that walk, it was steep! And it was soooo windy at the top. Gorgeous views. You got some great shots!
Anita, I feel so connected knowing you and I walked the same path. Fun!
I think you guys all look like you fit right into life in TN! Are you loving it yet? At least the natural beauty?
I like Wes’s hat. Did he have it before you moved there?
We are enjoying TN and Wes bought that hat when he got here.
Like, right away!