The past couple of weeks I’ve had an itch to go to Cades Cove during the day… mostly because I wanted to scope out some places to go back to when it is dark and the stars are out (it is, after all, not as convenient when you can’t see anything and you’re on a bike)… but also because it has been so long since I’ve been there during the day that I’d almost forgotten what it looks like!  Anyway, yesterday Holly, my nephew Andrew, and I went up there to goof around a bit.  I had it in my head that everything was going to be brown and not very conducive for pictures… but what the heck, I’ll take my camera anyway (because really, the time you don’t a black bear would roll around in the street for all to see).  The weather was cool-ish and mild as winters can be here in East Tennessee… and low and behold, there were patches of buttercups blooming everywhere.  Several of the famous spots were full of other park-goers taking family pictures amongst the beautiful display; however head down any of the side roads and there were lots that were free of other people.  We seized the opportunity and took some pictures and it reminded me, that even though they’re calling for snow today… and I’ve had Spring flowers blooming in our beds since before Christmas…  Spring is just around the corner!

    Maybe if it is cold and nasty out next week we’ll go somewhere warm and sandy for next week’s Picture of the week! 🙂

–Dan Thompson