Like a lot of folks and especially photographers, I spent much of the last four weeks chasing fall color. It started in mid-October when my sister and I took a weekend trip to Damascus, Virginia. Here’s what we found right across the state border in our home state of Tennessee:
But guess what? Fall color wasn’t the highlight of the weekend. The highlights came the next day.
What can cause more excitement than fall color? Snow! Yes! Our Sunday morning adventure began with snow. Granted, we had to drive to the top of White Top Mountain (that’s really the name), but here’s some of what we saw:
White Top Moutain 
looks like flocking 
or a Christmas tree
Admittedly, not a blizzard, but for this Nashville girl escaping 80 degree temperatures, it was way cool (in fact, really cold). Certainly an exciting and invigorating way to start the day.
We next visited Grayson Highlands State Park and just a short hike down the Appalachian Trail we found THE highlight of the weekend – wild horses. Needless to say, I love wild horses. They’re so beautiful and free. I think the last time I saw some was several years ago on a trip to Wyoming.
Okay, so these horses weren’t running wildly with wind blowing freely through their manes like you see in the movies, but …
here are a series of images, shown in chronological order, that are very tender and sweet. It started with this:
and then this happened:
Now how many weekends have you found beautiful fall color, been surprised by the first snow of the season, found wild horses on the Appalachian Trail, and a foal nursing from her mother? Whatever you may think of the images, it was all pretty awesome.
I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to spend this “fall color” weekend with my sister and to share it now with you.
So here’s a thought – as we move from Thanksgiving to Black Friday and beyond, should you get a little overwhelmed by it all, you might think about these images. Why? Because they might help you keep things in perspective.
No matter the deal you may land on the internet, the best things in life are actually … free. Better yet: “the best things in life aren’t things.” – Nancy Whitfield
Thank you for following my blog. Happy Thanksgiving.
Mary Rice's blog 
As Dave would say, “ I like the way you think”
You have made me want to go on a road trip to Damascus!
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Thank you. The big draw in the area is the Virginia Creeper Trail. You rent bikes in Damascus and then they shuttle you up to the top of the mountain and you ride/coast down a former train track & now bike trail. It’s a lot of fun but the weather kept us from doing it this trip. Also, Abingdon, VA is only one mile away and draws a lot of folks from Knoxville because there’s a playhouse there that’s supposedly great. Lots of fun B&B’s in the area. Our was supposedly haunted. 🙂
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