Good morning, kittens and dawgs. I’m happy you decided to join this week’s not-so Wordless Wednesday! 
I took this photo from the Blue Ridge Parkway. We had just left Water Rock Knob heading south toward Cherokee, North Carolina when we noticed the beautiful fingers of God shining through the clouds. I love how the Jerusalem Artichoke flowers (I think that’s what they are) frame the bottom.
It’s mid-September and before long we will see autumn changes but I can’t wait so I photo edited the next image because it really needs a fall touch.
Elk sightings scream autumn and September is a good time to spot them. We were fortunate to see these beautiful creatures in the big field near the North Carolina Smoky Mountains Visitors Center in Cherokee the weekend we went to watch for shooting stars.
[tweetthis]Fingers of God & elk sighting #photos – #WW linky party now open! #BlueRidgeNPS #CherokeeNC #scenic[/tweetthis]
I’m making headway on repairing broken links and videos, but it’s not getting done fast enough to suit me. Next week, I’m thinking about stepping away for just a bit to try to get this job done. Today’s photo contribution for (not-so) Wordless Wednesday I plan to share with photo enthusiasts from around the globe participating in Skywatch Friday.
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That’s a beautiful sky shot!!
Thanks Peter! It was a good day to be in the mountains but any day really is good no matter what the weather is doing. 🙂
There’s an elk sanctuary near here (western Oregon) where elk can nearly always be sighted from the highway. That’s the only place I’ve ever seen them in the wild.
Elk are amazingly big animals. I really didn’t understand that until the first I actually saw one up close. It’s a real thrill to see them every time! That’s awesome you have a place to go see them, too.
The colors are so pretty in the elk photo!
I’m glad you liked the photo-edit with the elk photo. I just thought an autumn scene was a better backdrop for the elk than the lush green summer landscape. 🙂
Two great pictures. I love the autumnal effect you used.
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Thanks, Keith for joining in and for your kind words. ?
Nice shots! I love the Parkway!
Very cool pictures of the parkway.
I look forward to what you capture for fall. These are gorgeous!
I love your photos. I used to eat Jerusalem artichokes but they are not readily available where I live now.
Very beautiful photos. Part of me is sad that I live in such an urban area. I miss out on views and wildlife.
Patrick, there’s different kinds of beauty all around us and you certainly share some interesting sights for my viewing!
Nice! I had to smile at your impatiens, it reminds me of myself. I am so ready for Autumn colors too. 😀
Nita, you’re right I am impatient when it comes to the arrival of fall, especially after the heat and humidity we’ve had this summer. Phew, I need a break! Right now, I’m wishing I were in Maine with my DD#2 and her husband. They are in Bar Harbor on vacation and that’s another of my favorite places to be. I hope next year we can visit Maine’s coast. The last time we were there was 2004 for our 25th wedding anniversary/family vacation and we had a blast!
Fabulous captures Cathy I have never heard of that saying before must remember that I am gonna make a note of it or elk I will forget. (couldn’t resist that 🙂 LOL
Very good captures Cathy.
I love seeing the animals and scenery.
We don’t get to see any here where we live.
Colette, it’s always a thrill to see wildlife when we visit the mountains. The elk aren’t always visible when we go through the Smoky’s but when we do see them it’s a thrilling experience. You just don’t realize how big these animals are until you’re next to them and that’s when you know it’s not a good idea to ever venture outside your car if they are nearby.
Hi Cathy,
marvelous photos of a rainy day and the first sign of Autumn. So beautiful !
Yes, indeed, we finished our journey in the end of July. But it was gorgeous. We need a green card now. 😉
Best, Synnöve
Seraphina, well I’m glad you had a good visit while in the states. We don’t travel, except for what’s local to us and it’s nice to see different parts of the country and world through other people’s eyes. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by and I hope you’ll come back!
There you go making me homesick for East Tennessee. My wife and I were looking for elk all summer. I might have seen one in Canada, but now I don’t remember for sure.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Lee, usually we don’t see a lot of elk activity until August but really now should be a good time to spot them. Every time we’ve seen them have been near the Visitor’s Center in Cherokee with the exception of that time in July 2013 when we saw some right beside the road on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Heintoonga campground (that’s off the main parkway about 15-minutes from Cherokee). That was a super experience, too. It was the month after my surgery and I didn’t have all my strength. The elk were literally 10-12 feet from the car door, so all giddy like I snapped some pix with little point n’ shoot. I even made a vid. I don’t believe I share the vid, though. I’m gonna have to dig it out of archives.
I love them both. I’ve never heard the rays being referred to as the fingers of God. I love that! What a great way to look at it.
Your edit of the elks photo is great, too. It looks so warm…the good kind of warm, not the horrendous heat kind. 🙂
Have a blessed week!
Suzanne, I can’t recall when the term “Fingers of God” was introduced to my ears, but you’re so right it’s a fabulous way to look at it and I love the expression. It makes me think every time I see this that God is touching the earth. 🙂 So, glad you enjoyed the photo-edit. Thanks for dropping by!
I’m glad you heard the phrase so that you could share it with us. I am glad that He touches this earth and paints it with such beauty all around. What a wonderful artist He is and how blessed we are to be a part of His creation.
You’re welcome and thank you for hosting Not-So-Wordless Wednesday. Have a blessed week. 🙂
Beautiful captures! They are both inspiring.
Thank you, Annie! So, glad you liked them. 🙂
These pictures are really full of life and drama. The first picture does seem dramatic to me with the clouds and colours. The bottom picture is amazing with the lush golden hues and the elk right in the middle. Doughnut nut signing off:) or should I write donought.??
Birgit, The top picture is very dramatic. You can see for miles and miles of rolling mountain tops in various shades of blue. I love looking across the mountains at such awe-inspiring beauty! The elk were like icing on the cake that day. I never miss an opportunity to shot them when I can.
Hi, Cathy!
I am eager to see pictures of colorful fall leaves that you will be posting in the weeks to come. Recently I came upon a live “Elk Cam” that gives you a live panoramic sweep of a rural area in northern Pennsylvania where elk are known to roam. Be careful. Once you visit the site and start waiting and watching, you can get hooked on it, reluctant to log off for fear of missing a bull elk with a giant rack of antlers.
http://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/WildlifeSpecies/Elk/Pages/default.aspx
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Cathy!
Tom, you’re right it’s infectious to start watching for elk. I will definitely be careful about clicking your link. lol It’s so exciting to see these majestic beasts in the open fields in the Smoky’s. They always create a traffic problem with folks clogging the road to stop for a quick picture or trying to find an opening along the road to get off. The Park Ranger is usually around directing cars and keeping people safe. I can’t believe how stupid some are to try to inch up on these huge animals. I’m eager to see the fall colors and feel the cool air! I get giddy just thinking about it.