Monday, August 23, 2010

Mountain Beauty!!!!

My mountain vacation last week started with dropping this sweet girl off at her apartment for her Senior year in college. I can't believe that she will be graduating in May. I miss her already, but I know what an exciting year she will have as a Senior!
After getting Adelaide settled, I went to spend the week with my sister. My parent's house is next door to my sister, so I got to see them too. August 22nd was my sister's birthday, so we celebrated her while I was there! We also had some fun times sitting out on her porch. (more pictures to follow another day)
My sweet parents love to sit out on their porch too. This house belonged to my Grandparents when I was a little girl and I have vivid memories of my Grandparents sitting out on this same porch. This is the cutest little house and it is full of memories of times spent with my own Grandparents when I was a child. My Mom loves flowers, so the porch is covered with her flowers. She even has a fountain on the porch.
Here is a close up of my Mom and Dad. My Mom is 86 and my Dad is 89.
On Sunday, we attended an old time singing and Homecoming service at a local church and they had a covered dish lunch afterwards. Lots of our relatives go to that church, so it was fun to visit and the food was delicious. This creek flows right behind the church. They hold baptisms here during the summer I am told.
We visited the local Farmer's Market and these vegetables were so pretty I wanted to share them with you. We ate lots of good food while I was visiting in the mountains. (more pictures to come another day on that)
Wouldn't you love your yard to look like this? This was at a motel in the area.
North Carolina grows a lot of the Christmas trees that are shipped all over the United States each year. The mountains are covered in Christmas trees and it is so pretty. Each year our family cuts our own trees, as they grow all around my parent's and my sister's houses. We have even cut them before in the snow, which is so beautiful and so festive!
In this picture you can see the New River, which is not too far from my parent's house. We love to go tubing on this river in the summer. The water is a bit chilly even in the summer. And this river is older than the Nile River, so it has been around for quite a while. You can also see the Christmas trees in the background.
We pass this barn each time we go to my parent's and my sister's. I just love the look of this old barn. More Christmas trees in the background.
When you look at this picture, you realize why the mountains are called The Blue Ridge Mountains. They have a blue cast to them on most days. On this particular day, it was extremely foggy. On a clear day, you can see forever from these overlooks on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
This is a view of my niece's front yard. Don't you love the old chair? She lives in a log cabin and the whole front yard is a wild flower garden. It is just beautiful!!!
This is a picture of my niece's front porch. I love how she took the old work boots and planted "hen and chickens" in the boots. She has a green thumb and all her plants are gorgeous!
This barn is near the house too. I love the quilt painted on the front. This was another foggy day.

I hope you have enjoyed some of my pictures. I took so many that I decided I better divide them up and share them with you over several days. I didn't want to overload you with pictures. You can see from the pictures why I love the mountains so much. It is truly "God's Country"!!!!! I feel so relaxed and rested after having spent the week there.

**My mountain vacation pictures to be continued another day!

24 comments:

  1. You have taken the best vacations this summer. I love your mountain pictures...enjoy yourself. Patty

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  2. WOW! I feel like I've taken a trip to the country. Love your photos, the barn, and that yard with the adirondack chairs was so inviting!

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  3. The photos give such a serene and peaceful view of what you got to experience first hand! Beautiful!! I was touched when I saw your parents sitting on their porch....

    Thank you for sharing this!

    ~Beth

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  4. What beautiful pics...love that old red barn and seeing all those Christmas trees in the fields...thanks so much for sharing with us.

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  5. What beautiful photos! How fun to spend time with those you love in such a beautiful place.

    We cut down our own Christmas trees too. I feel so fortunate to live in these beautiful Blue Ridge mountains of NC.
    Hugs,
    Penny

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  6. I love your parents porch. I also love the mountains. Some of our best vacations have been renting a house in the mountains and hiking. Glad you had a good trip.

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  7. Love the pic of you and Adelaide ... I know you will miss her.
    The pictures of your parents, your sister and the wonderful gardens are beautiful. I have an old chair like your nieces with flowers in it.
    Can't wait to see more pics.
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  8. Your pictures are so special. I just love each and every one of them!

    Barb ♥

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  9. Looks just wonderful! So peaceful and relaxing. Glad you had a great time.
    DD

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  10. Looks like such a beautiful, peaceful spot...those eggplant look yummy too. Did you buy any?

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  11. Oh, I love all your pictures! Once again, it makes me want to be right there on that mountain porch with all of your mom's flowers!! Glad you had a great time. I would weigh 400 pounds by now with all that great cooking!

    (Beautiful picture of you and Adelaide!)

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  12. Melinda, all the pictures you took are absolutely wonderful! I love the picture of one of the Christmas tree farms down on the bottom are some Joe Pye weed in the picture! I love those plants! Thanks for sharing your trip with us! Glad you are back safe and sound!!

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  13. Yes, I really did enjoy your pictures! They mountains and the Christmas...the rivers and all the beauty just make you feel calmer! I'm sure it was a wonderful week. How nice it would be grab some ice tea and just the afternoon away on your parent's porch. Hopefully, my children will be thinking the same thing about Hubbie and I and our front porch one day!!:) So glad you shared....

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  14. Wow! Those are gorgeous pictures!!!! What a fun vacation!!!

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  15. Enjoyed reading your post today and looking at the wonderful pictures!

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  16. I loved looking at all the pictures. I could have kept looking if you'd put more. :)
    I'd have to agree about this being "God's country." Simply beautiful!
    I love your mom and dad's home and love the picture of them sitting on the porch. They are precious!
    Isn't it great that you have so many special memories of this home?
    Thanks for sharing.

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  17. What a treat to get to see all of these pictures at the end of my day. Thank you for sharing them! I love your niece's flowers!
    I envy the continuity of a family home. The interstate took my parents home when they were in their 60's and their parents home also. What an adjustment for them. Life was never the same. I'm glad your parents and you are getting to enjoy the home place.

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  18. I feel like I've been to the mountains after looking at all your beautiful pictures. Hopefully we'll be able to make a trip this October for our 30th anniversary.

    My daughter began her senior year and will graduate in May also. Only as you know she's married with a baby!

    Thank you for all your kind words and prayers during this difficult time. We'll miss Joy every single day, but we know we'll see her again someday. She's in our future!

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  19. Your blog name caught my eye in the comments on the Wordless Wednesday post! I've been a full-time empty-nester for just over a year (with both my babies married).

    It must have been a weekend for Homecomings -- our church had one as well! Sounds like you had a lovely weekend. :)

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  20. i love your pictures! please share more.....they are all so beautiful. your parents house is so charming. i love it too! can i just come live there?

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  21. How beautiful! I think I'm jealous ;) Beautiful countryside, family all together, big front porches...lovely!

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  22. Your photos are gorgeous! I can see why you enjoy visits to your parents and your sister's homes. I can only imagine how heavenly it must smell to walk through all those Christmas trees.

    Hugs,
    Kat

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  23. What a beautiful journey, you shared with us. :o) Your pictures are just gorgeous and I loved reading about the house your parents live in. :o)
    The name "Adelaide" is on of my very favorites. :o)
    I hope that you are having a wonderful weekend.
    Sincerely ~ Tricia

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