Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers and friends!!  This morning, I will be enjoying parades and hot coffee in my flannel jammies with DH.  Breakfast is baking and filling the house with the aroma of sausage, eggs and cheese.  Later will be football games, and phone calls to family out of state.  Turkey will be baking, dressing to be made with sourdough bread and pie for dessert.  It is my favorite day of the year, and we enjoy it to the fullest.  I did a post on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade last year, if you’d like to read some history of the parade with some of the permanent floats.

On this most Autumn of holidays, I thought it would be a perfect time to share some color from our mountain region. Recently, we went hiking on Fryingpan Mountain to see some autumn color and climb the tower for the views.  Driving up to the trailhead, we didn’t take any time to take pictures as we wanted to get there and start our hike.  On the way home, we had more time to stop at overlooks and really take in the colors of the trees. This part of the parkway is at a lower elevation than Fryingpan Mountain and its next neighbor Mount Pisgah, so the colors were at their peak.

Elevation here is closer to 4000 feet above sea level, and the colors are more vibrant.

It was mostly gold in this part, just a hint of burgundy here and there.  The gold is more prominent as there are more varieties of trees turn that color in autumn.  American chestnut, hickory, black birch, elms, locust, walnut, hazel and poplar trees are all shades of gold in fall.

Through the trees on the left you can see the mountain behind.

All along the parkway, there are areas that tuck between mountains, and some that go through.  This was the first of several tunnels on the parkway, all have the same look – stone entrances with curved openings.

Coming out the other side, the bright sunlight made the colors just sparkle.

More color.

It just kept going, so wonderful to see.  Cruising along the road, it is so relaxing to see nature in its Autumn glory.

The next tunnel is one of the longest on the parkway.  It is also curved inside, so it is pitch black in the middle.  Having your lights on is essential.

There are rock faces on many parts of the mountains as you drive past.

There are a fair amount of evergreens as well.

Here is one of the smaller overlooks.  It was starting to rain so we made our stop quick.

The next tunnel had more gold around the entrance.  Raindrops are on our windshield.

Light rain was still coming down as we approached the next tunnel.  More reds and oranges in the trees are seen here.

I like the reds and oranges, so I search out the trees with those colors.  The purple-red in this photo may be a sumac.  The vibrant orange is maple.

Maples, sourwood and dogwoods provide the most red colors.

Another overlook had the long views obscured by the low clouds, but the near mountains can be seen.

Looking in another direction, the colors are muted in the shade and mist of the clouds.

Leaving that overlook, going around another mountain.

I wish the sun had been shining on this view, but the color is still evident.

Getting closer to the entrance, you can see the lovely stone work.

Stopping at a last overlook, some sunlight was peeking through.

More reds were visible here.

Then it was time to head home.

Of course, Thanksgiving memories wouldn’t be complete without the funny stuff and the foibles that are the stuff of legends.  For some great stories, see my 2014 post, Thanksgiving 101, and be sure to read the stories in the comments.  Comments are still open, so feel free to add your own, I love reading them.

The Etsy site is featuring shops having sales this weekend.  My shop is newly stocked with more fabric and notions, more handmade and vintage items, and it is all on sale at 15% off through Monday.  Click on Craftnuts Studio on Etsy.

Check out today’s Flash Sale at Fat Quarter Shop, it changes everyday at 10 am.

Get started on your holiday shopping for family and friends, or better yet, treat yourself with these links. If you want to get some of gorgeous fabrics for your holiday sewing, check out the Fat Quarter Shop’s Moda Line.  Get spools and cones of the fantastic Aurifil Threads at Fat Quarter Shop Aurifil Threads.  You’ll love the extra light with the Sewing Machine LED Lighting Kit.  If you would like to have a pair of wonderful serrated edge scissors, click on Karen Kay Buckley’s Perfect Scissors to get your pair from Fat Quarter Shop.  Get your Olfa Splash Cutter at FQS too – Olfa Splash.

If you use a lot of Best Press, the price per ounce is the cheapest by the gallon, plus it will qualify for free shipping.  Click on my Amazon affiliate link – Best Press Unscented Gallon size.  Get the  Karen Kay Buckley 4-Inch Perfect Scissors while you are there.   Thank you for using my links!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!