Highlands, NC

So sorry for the late post. You would think we climbed three mountains or something. Well, actually two and a half. We travelled west to Highlands, NC, home of my mother's family and my long lost kin. There used to be a whole passel of folks I was related to there, but after 50 plus years not too many are left. My mother's cousin Sarah has a pretty home there and after we moved to NC I called her up. We have been wanting to visit and October was the perfect time. All the leaves are changing and the weather is mild. Highlands is 4100 ft in elevation and Sarah took us up on some beautiful hikes as you can see. We hiked in the day and relaxed by the fireplace in the evening. I saw lots of pictures of my family that I had never seen before and heard a few good stories. All in all a great trip. She has invited us back for Christmas. We are so excited.


Seen here: The rare Rainbow tree.


Seen here: The Smiling Rex


Not my best side. Picking wintergreen berries. Yum.


This tree was probably here when my Grandma walked this trail.


Cousin Sarah! Watch out for that giant pregnant lady. Eeek.


The still forest.


Lichen and leaves.


The new fall fashion craze: The mountain beekeeper look. You know you love it.


Rex and Rhonda standing in NC with a view of SC and Georgia mountains behind.


Smiling pregnant woman and tallest mountain in Georgia.


Pink leaves on the hackberry bushes.


Cousin Sarah and Rhonda on a big slab of granitized gniess rock.


The handsomest man in these here hills.


A mountain trail view.


Another mountain trail view.


Christmas colors.


An old-timey cabin in the woods. (not Sarah's)


Sunshine yellow.


Mt. Whitesides: Elevation 4930 ft.


Mountain pond reflections.


More mountain pond reflections.


Colors in the water.


Fall foliage.


Belly update on top of Mt. Whitesides.


A grand view.


Rex in the clouds.


Rhonda, Rex and Sarah.


Mt. Whitesides elevation carving.


Pretty colors.


Kaboom! Fall fireworks.


A shy tree.


Hiking through the oaks.


Buddha and babies. (Rhonda by Sarah's garden art)