On the way home from the gym this morning, as I rounded a curve in our road, I was thrilled to notice that the top of the distant mountains was coated in white. Even from a distance the icy branches shimmered in the sunlight, a perfect blue sky beyond. Arriving home, I ditched my plans for a day in the office, grabbed my camera gear, plenty of warm clothes and headed back out, driving towards the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Anyone who has ever had the good fortune of spending time on the Parkway knows it is scenic and beautiful at any time of the year.
But today it was spectacular!
Today was the kind of day that inspires AWE. The kind of day that I think should stop the world, or at least make all present shout in pure joy and amazement. My gosh, there is such beauty in our world!
The sky was a deep, perfect blue, not a cloud in sight. The oak and beech trees still held copper and reddish leaves, which now were outlined in a thick layer of white. When the sunshine hit them from behind, they shone with golden light. Wind every gust of wind leaves detached from the canopy and came swirling down through the cold air, landing soundlessly on the frozen ground. Every trunk, and limb and branch and leaf was outlined with a thick white line, tiny rows of ice clinging to everything. The sunshine made it glisten magically, like something out of a fairy tale.
Since the Parkway was closed to cars, we walked on the road and then on a narrow footpath that followed the ridge line, admiring the way the white and dark branches decorated the sky, the way the rhododendron leaves looked like white-lined flowers. What a glorious way to spend a Friday!
I hope you find something that inspires AWE this weekend! Don’t let the cold temperatures stop you from getting outside; just wear lots of layers.
If you want to see more pictures from the day, including a most unusual and BEAUTIFUL view of The Biltmore Estate, CLICK HERE.