Cades Cove Drive

One of our very favorite Smokies adventures is an early morning drive through Cades Cove for the wildlife count.  It was a gorgeous morning as we began our drive...

 Some pink blush on the clouds from the sunrise.

 Deer in the meadow...

A sure sign of an animal siting!  It can get to the

ridiculous point however, when folks just stop

in the middle of the road to take pictures.

 a young bear...

A quick stop at the church..there are frequently 

deer in the cemetery next to the church.

 a young doe licking the soil under the barn...for the salt & other minerals in the soil.

 love the old barns in the Cove.

 a pair of deer near the stream...

 rushing stream...they've had alot of rain so the

streams are really full.

The last deer for the day.  Not so many today...maybe tonight.

 This bluebird house is across the driveway

from the deck.  We had a great time watching

the pair of bluebirds feeding their little ones.

It was another wonderful day in The Smoky Mountains National Park!  We headed back to the cabin and got packed up...we head home in the morning.  Thanks Judy and John for sharing this wonderful place with us!!

The Lily Barn

Into the car today to see where the road across the highway leads us.  It was a beautiful ride through farmland and then we arrived at the Lily Barn, our intended destination.  It is a display garden for the multitude of Day Lilies they cultivate and sell as well as a wedding venue.  

 Flowering shrubs as you walk into the area.

a gazebo for the service...

a mountainside of blooming daylilies - beautiful!

All sizes, colors and shapes of daylilies.  They sell commercially as well I believe.  It was a delight afternoon of wandering through the garden and riding through the valley.  Then home for wine on the porch and a wonderful dinner yet again!!  Another Great Day!!

Catch Up Day

It's a catch up day around the house.  Judy and John rent this cabin out and the grill had decided it had worked enough and quit.  Time for a new one.

 They do a lot of grilling while here along with

baking cookies and biscuits :-)

Ah...the joys of a nap...such an angel!

Cades Cove Picnic

There is a wonderful picnic area just outside the Cades Cove entrance where we have enjoyed many picnics with this family.

 Set up is fast - they do this a lot!

 Always on the lookout for birds!

Avery and Tyler raced back from their walk to

tell us of a bear siting.  The elders had been about

to head out for a walk up the trail so we moved

out quickly!

One of the triplets...

the other two...

and Mom...

not looking happy at our presence so we moved on.

Great siting!!  (John had the telephoto on..he wasn't really this close!!)

Some nice mushrooms along the path.

Dylan and the other younger kids spent most of

the time in, over or next to the stream.

It's a peaceful place to be...beautiful.  Great day.

Back to the Smokies with the Wolcott Clan

Up early to pick up Gretchen at the airport after her Japan adventure.  Dropped her off at home and headed to Tennessee for our annual Wolcott family week at the cabin in Townsend, the "quiet side of the Smokies". We've done this for a good number of years and thoroughly enjoy ourselves.  We're lucky they keep inviting us back!!  Judy and John have a cabin and then Lynn and Becky's families rent the two on each side so there's plenty of room.

The results are always fantastic when Dave and Lynn

and family do dinner!!

The family elders enjoying wine on the deck.

Games always going on...

lots of reading...a lot of it the electronic type...

but Judy is true to the book in hand...

watch your hands in four hand solitare--it's dangerous!

and there's always a puzzle going!  Very fun day!

Bishop Anne's Consecration

A very proud day for us all as Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple is consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina.  Also a very sad day as we say good bye to one of the finest Rectors St. Luke's has had.  She'll do a grand job!!

 Let us begin...

 Family

 Clergy...

 familiar faces...

 another familiar face...

 visiting Bishop's...

 proud son...

 Bishop Curry & the 

Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jeffers Schori 

The Presentation... 

 The Examination...

 The Consecration of the Bishop...

 Laying on of hands...

 Congratulations from John - a new stole...

 new vestments...

 congratulations from Mom and Richie...

 Presentation of ring by Bishop Bob and Connie...

The Proud Family together...

Walk down the aisle... one of our favorites!
An honor well deserved!  Congratulations!!

 First Eucharist as Bishop...

 Bishop Curry and Bishop Anne...

 Party time at the EC for the new Bishop...

back down to earth with some of her old students!