Today is Veterans Day.  It is a day to honor all veterans:  all the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of our country.  Some other countries call today Armistice Day, to commemorate the end of World War 1.  

 

There is a nice history lesson in Wikipedia if you'd like to learn more.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day?wprov=sfti1

 

I hope you are flying your flag proudly today.  We have so many people to thank for our freedoms.  

 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!

 

Here I go again.  

 

I think the Maple trees may be my favorite trees in the Fall.  Well, at least they are today.  This one is just outside our North facing deck.  It has multiple trunks, and they are all changing at different rates.  It is really pretty in the sunshine.

 

I hope you are enjoying your maple trees, wherever you find them.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

This is our beautiful cinnamon fern, getting ready to sleep for the winter.  I love watching it through the seasons.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

Our friends, the Lachances, had a dog, Clifford, who would walk "the Loop" with us.  Riley was about 6 and Clifford was probably 12 years old.  When Clifford would fall behind, I would worry.  But Riley assured me that he knew the way home.  

 

Clifford always made the whole walk, sometimes with us and sometimes 15 minutes behind.  Slow and steady, that was Clifford's way.  And Riley was right:  he knew the way home.

 

This is the top of the first big hill on our Loop walk.  We have always called it Clifford's Hill.  We have to take it slow and steady, just like Clifford.

 

Sure is pretty right now.

 

HAPPY HIKING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Look how pretty our mountains are today.  

 

This is the view to the west from our porch.  Beautiful!!!

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

This is the view from part way up our mountain walk.  

 

We are looking south toward Georgia.  Our house is to the left just beyond the colorful trees.  

 

You can see Lake Nottley, and almost see the TVA dam.  

 

We love this view, and our walks.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

I promised to show you the Hickory in the meadow as it changes.  

 

This picture was taken on Sunday.  It is absolutely gorgeous in the sunshine.

 

Wish you could see it in person.  It is so exciting to watch, day by day, as Fall comes to the mountains.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

We still have marigolds.  With all the rain and wind, some branches got broken, so I brought them inside.

 

They make me so happy, inside and out.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

What did you do with all those rainy days?  We cooked.

 

Here is Jon kneading raisin bread, and Gizmo waiting for a raisin to escape so he can chase it around the kitchen.  

 

We have fun.  Even in the rain.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!

 

I saw this Pyracantha bush in a parking lot, and was really surprised at the bright redness of this branch.  

 

I suppose the whole bush will turn red eventually, but for now it just has this one branch.  I love its boldness.

 

HAPPY FALL!!!