Cades Cove: Cable Grist Mill

Cades Cove at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular destination in the United States most visited national park. The isolated valley was the home to many early settlers and today several of those sites are well preserved. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sight-see the wildlife, scenic beauty and historic district structures on the National Register of Historic Places at a leisurely pace.

One of the most successful -- and enduring -- grist mills in the cove was the John Cable Mill, built in 1867-68. He had to construct a series of elaborate diversions along Mill Creek and Forge Creek to get enough water power for the mill's characteristic overshot wheel. The mill, which processed logs, wheat and corn and was originally operated by millwright Daniel Ledbetter, continued to function in some fashion until the 1920s, and was still in use when the Park was formed.

Waterfowl in Winter: The head of a Canadian Goose

A few years ago on a day like today when it was a couple of days after a big snow and freeze, the sun came out and I went to Percy Priest Lake by the dam. this has been my favorite place to feed the ducks and is now my favorite place to photograph them.

Canadian Geese don't seem to be as scared of people as the mallards. They don't run away when I get close.

If you like this type of thing, about 50 of my photos from this day have been posted to my website in the gallery "Waterfowl in Winter"
seemidtn.com/gallery/index.php?album=nashville/waterfowl-...

Ruby Falls Visitors Center in the Winter

Walnut Street Bridge with Winter Snowflakes

The Walnut Street Bridge is a Six-span through truss bridge over the Tennessee River on Walnut Street. It opened in 1891 and is a length of 2,370 ft. The bridge was closed to auto traffic in 1978, sat in disrepair for about a decade and then was converted into one of the world's longest pedestrian bridges. Now, the bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Frozen Shoreline of Percy Priest Lake

On a freezing evening, It looks as the water came in to shore, it would splash over the rock and then freeze before it could come down on the other side.

A couple of days after a big snow and freeze, when the sun came out I went to Percy Priest Lake by the dam. Years ago, this was my favorite place to feed the ducks and is now my favorite place to photograph them.

Winter Wonderland - seen at the 2009 TN State Fair

In the Creative Arts building of the 2009 Tennessee State Fair was this interesting entry. I believe this wasn't a cake design but it was nearby with other decorative desserts, maybe a "cookie." Whatever it is, liberal use of white frosting makes for a nice snow scene.