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10/26/2014

Trip to the Mountains

Hi again. Back with some pictures, and before I share those, I should answer a question posed by a UK blogger as to why I used the term 'punkin' instead of Pumpkin. Well, most properly, Pumpkin _is_ correct term. However, here in the South USA, the regional idiom is primarily 'punkin'. That can refer to the item or it can also refer to a sweet little child. F'instance, when our daughter was very small, Punkin was one of her nicknames. Sugar (pronounced Schug-AH here in the South) is another term of endearment, either for a child or a loved one! Some sweet Scottish blogger recently explained to me what a Hoolie was (Thanks Kate!). Anytime I use a term that is odd to you, please do ask me, and I'll try to explain. I find the different terminologies used by all of us - that mean the same thing but we use another word - to be so very much fun & interesting. To me, that's just one of the joys of this blog hobby. Hmmm...maybe I should add Hoolie & Punkin (and Sugah) to the Blog-i-nition section. Also do check the tab Cards by Friends for a nifty Halloween card we received last week.

Ok, on to the mountain ride pics. I'll just share a few so I won't bore you to death. I tried to share some that had the lovely blue color of sky that we refer to as Carolina Blue - when it's an intense shade, with absolutely no clouds to be seen. I will keep these photos in the small size.


Entrance


 


The water in the picture is part of a reservoir that supplies water to many counties that are quite distant from here.

The blue haze that can be seen in the pictures is part of what makes up the name Smokey Mountains. This particular area is not part of the Smokey Mountain chain (at least I don't think it is) but I think it is considered part of the Applachian Mountain chain. We've been to the Smokies and it looks very much like what is shown here. Actually we're not seeing a real blaze of color, as it has not been that cold in the area as yet. Next week would be an even better show, but a Ranger told us rain is expected Tuesday - Wednesday, so the rains will wash off a lot of the leaves. We were glad we chose to go out today. It was just very lovely. Wish I could have shared the magnificent sun & scenery with all of you who are enduring the nasty rain & storms around the world.

DH looking at an old truck that was parked outside Aunt Sue's, a famous restaurant up in this area. Very rustic & atmospheric, some nice gift shops to enjoy...only the restaurant was open by the time we got there, about 4:30 pm. We were lucky to still get a meal!

Some decorations in front of the restaurant. It's a very pretty place to eat and the food was good too. Had some delicious ice cream - pumpkin pecan & cherry amaretto. Yum.

DH, SIL, and Bro #2 and Sunshine the Schnauzer at Cesaer's Head. Everyone loved the dog, and she doesn't like strangers, so had to be very careful with her that she didn't upset somebody!!



 
Hoping to make some pretty screen savers of the leaf closeups. Isn't that hanging rock something? Who knows how long it's hung this way.

OK...that's it for now. Hope I didn't put you to sleep, and that you enjoyed seeing a little part of the area that we call home.

One more little story and then I'll close: In Europe, small hamlets are called Villages. Here in the USA, they are called 'towns', and the South is literally dotted with tiny little towns. One close to us is called Pumpkintown (yes there is a sign to let you know what the name of the little town is named), and we traveled through it this afternoon to get to the Mountain Park. All the locals call it Punkintown!!! Have a great week. Thanks for visiting tonight. Big Hugs.

42 comments:

  1. Great pics Mary, sounds like you had a lovely time visiting this area. It's lovely to see other parts of the world as I don't think I'll ever get to travel much IRL! Cathy x

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  2. What a beautiful part of the world you live in - we do not have the extremes of temperatures you have, so our leaves around here are not as colourful, but in the South Island they are quite something!
    Thank you for sharing
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  3. Loved your pics and commentary. Beautiful country. TFS. - Jim

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  4. What a great post Mary. Wonderful pictures of blue skies and those autumn trees look surreal. Thanks for sharing your fabulous journey. Have a Good Day. Hugs Rita xxx

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  5. What spectacular snaps Mary, the colours are magnificent!! Interestingly my (taken too early) Darling Daddy used to refer to Halloween as "Punky Night" when we were small so Punkin may well be perfectly acceptable here in the UK too!! xx

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  6. I feel like I have been on this awesome journey with you , thanks for sharing.xxx
    aNNie xx
    The Journey is the Start

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  7. Hello Mary. Southern speak is a language all of its own - really! I work in a call center and I listen to calls for QA and hear so many people commenting on our staff's accents, voices, and words. Your pictures are beautiful - the changing of the colors is the prettiest time of the year to me. It is prettiest in the hills and mountains - I didn't get to do a trip to see them this year and I am glad I stopped by to see your pictures. Hugz!

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  8. Mary thank you for sharing your lovely pictures and for explaining Punkin! We had our only trip to America four years ago when we celebrated our 25th anniversary touring New England in October. Although we had missed the full glory of the Fall colours (restricted to half term holiday which is at the end of October), there was still plenty of colour around especially in the piles of leaves on the ground. I love the countryside in any country!

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  9. How gorgeous. What a beautiful time of the year! Don't you just love the fall? Thanks for sharing, Mary.

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  10. Your photographs are beautiful Mary. I love all the colours of Autumn. It doesn´t really happen here as either the trees lose their leaves as soon as the hot weather arrives, or else the trees are pines, and ever-green. But October was my favourite month in UK, especially if we got an Indian summer. (A few days of warm sun and blue skies). I´m glad you enjoyed the trip. The ice-cream sounds rather good too! Kate x

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  11. Hello Mary

    Oh wow your pictures are breathtaking, I especially love the Autumn trees, they are breathtakingly beautiful. The colours are stunning Mary, you do live in a fabulous part of America.
    Thank you for sharing your pictures with us.

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  12. Beautiful photos Mary, the autumn trees look glorious against the blue sky. It looks a really lovely place to visit. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
    Jean x

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  13. Brilliant scenery and photos love all the Autumn colour-we sometimes call our youngest grandaughter pumpkin too lol
    Carol x

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  14. Wow! Gorgeous pics Mary. The autumn colours are glorious especially on a beautiful sunny day with that wonderful 'carolina blue' sky. It has just struck me that there is a song which I have heard with that title. Always wondered what it referred to and now I know. That wonderful scenery would win out over blogging any day! x

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  15. What a great little day trip Momma Mary! I am so loving the pictures, they are so beautiful. Our leaves aren't real showy here in PA because of all the rain and of course because it was so cool all summer. Love the Smokey Mountains too and yes, our little mountains will have that "smokey mountain "flog" too. Our mountains are the Appalachian Mountain chain too. I also love the southern words and still use them even though I don't live in the south anymore. My favorite now and when I was a kid was "youngin's". I used to say I wasn't a onion! lol I still say punkins to this day. I loved "Aunt Sue's", looks like a great country restaurant with great home cookin'! Glad you all had a beautiful fall outing!!! Hugs, Brenda

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  16. oh wow, Mary! What stunningly beautiful photos. the colours are breathtaking!

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  17. Oh, Punkin, you sure did take some might fine pichures! Seriously, Mary, these are outstanding! How great that you were all spontaneous and took advantage of that beautiful day with the brilliant sky and those incredible fall colors!! TFS!! Hugs, Darnell

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  18. Very nice post, Mary. I really enjoyed the photos...like the hanging rock.
    Leaves are beginning to turn here but will be much prettier in middle November.

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  19. Well Schu-AH, youall seemed to have a Hoolie of a trip, what fantastic photos, and the colours are so beautiful, beautiful scenery too.
    I must say the icecream sound wondeful.
    Thanks for sharing your photos with us, hugs from your Punkin Scottish friend, Kate x

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  20. Looks like I'm going to have to come visit you now! HOW GORGEOUS!!!!! We don't get to see beauty like this around here so this is a real treat. Sound (and looks)like y'all had so much fun!
    Lynn

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  21. How brilliant that you did this on the spur of the moment and it was so worth it - those photos you took are just amazing Mary - makes me feel a tad homesick (in a good way though). Anne xx

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  22. Mary, it's funny but I use the term Punkin when I am talking to the little ones. I see my friend Kate been teaching you about our hoolies too. Your photo are stunning oh to be their In person, Hazel xx

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  23. Wow thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos of your trip, the scenery is beautiful and sounds like you had a great time.
    Lorraine

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  24. Gorgeous photo's Mary.

    Kath x

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  25. Absolutely stunning pictures!!! would love to visit there..huggles Sue xxx

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  26. Beautiful photos, Mary! What a wonderful day trip! Wish we were closer to the mountains.

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  27. hello mary:
    beautiful photos and nice language lessons!!! Thanks so much for your long comment left on the AMATE paper tutorial, I appreaciated very much as I know it takes a long time to visit everybody and leave messages...
    glad that you liked it
    hugs from sunny california
    bibiana

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  28. Oh, I soooooo enjoyed your beautiful photos, Mary!!! What a wonderful time you must have had!!! The colourful leaves are just amazing!! Such a beautiful place!!! Thanks for taking the time to post this!!!
    Have a great day!!!

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  29. Gorgeous pictures! Hope you had a nice time :)

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  30. Thanks so much for your comment on my Whimsy DT card.xx
    aNNie
    The Journey is the Start

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  31. Such beautiful photos, they remind me of our trip to Cooks Forest Pennsylvannia in the 1974 We still talk about the wonder of the colours, something we don't get in the UK, certainly not as bright and forest wide.

    Just thought I would add a word that is used quite widely here in Wales. "CWTCH" it means to hug and keep close, for instance to a child who has fallen "come and have a cwtch". It sounds like cootch, with a short sounding oo as in woo, hope that makes sense.

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  32. Beautiful photos, looks like a great trip! Your tree card in previous post if gorgeous. Please do not apologize for slow visiting, I've been MIA a lot due to the move and life is still busy. I find it hard to visit blogs as much as I would like. Take good care, Shirleyx

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  33. Wow, what gorgeous pictures!! The colors are so pretty!! What an amazing area of the country you live in!! It's so fabulous and it comes through beautifully in your pictures!! Thanks for sharing these awesome pics!! Have a great day :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  34. TFS these gorgeous photos! I looks like you had some wonderful time enjoying the splendor of autumn! I love that old pick-up truck your DH is admiring :)

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  35. Beautiful photos Mary! TFS!

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  36. Hi Mary,
    what fab photos of your trip to the mountains.
    My this looks soooooooo lovely.
    Sounds like you had a wonderful time.
    Thank you for sharing them with us.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  37. Oh my, Mary, what amazing pictures of such a beautiful part of the world! Thank you so much for sharing them!

    love Mags B x

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  38. Love your photos. As to the "Punkin" statement, I have a grown step-daughter that is still called "Punkin" as that was what she was called when a tiny tot. I live in the South by the way. :)

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  39. Amazing views Mary, the hanging rock is really something. Such a fabby name for a town at least this time of the year.

    Warm hugs and love
    Maarit

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  40. Those pictures are gorgeous and I'm so jealous. I miss fall.

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