[upcountry miss]

If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Blue Ridge Mts, be sure to traverse the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is just breath-takingly beautiful. About 80 miles in length, I have visited it many, many times and never get enough of its beauty, especially in the spring when Dogwoods and Rhododendrons are in full bloom all along the road. The family is well aware that if our travels take us any where near this Parkway, enough time in our schedule must be made to visit.

Another spot you would just love is the Gasby Penninsula way north in Eastern Canada. A combination of mountains and little fishing villages in the Vally's along the coast, leave you alternately driving in the mountains looking down on the little coastal villages and then down in the villages driving along the beautiful coastline, looking up at the mountains. It's a long, long drive, even from here in Maine, but one of the few places yet unspoiled by the modern world. Some of the villages are nearly all French speaking and some are nearly all English speaking, providing delighful contrasts within just a few miles.

Yes, the cold winters do get to me , especially as I get older, but occasionally, I still manage to snowshoe out into the woods where the white pristine snow, the quiet broken only by the song of chickadees refreshes my soul and makes me realize that despite the cold, I would miss the changing seasons if I lived elsewhere.

[CottonBall]

Another spot you would just love is the Gasby Penninsula way north in Eastern Canada. A combination of mountains and little fishing villages in the Vally's along the coast, leave you alternately driving in the mountains looking down on the little coastal villages and then down in the villages driving along the beautiful coastline, looking up at the mountains.

Sounds lovely! I am going to have to start a file on 'places to see' and that will be the first entry (then the Blue Ridge Parkway). I can hopefully get to the Blue Ridge Mountains this year or next. Hubby and I love seeing rural areas, so we may make the one in Canada yet - if we get to move back east before too long.

Yes, the cold winters do get to me , especially as I get older, but occasionally, I still manage to snowshoe out into the woods where the white pristine snow, the quiet broken only by the song of chickadees refreshes my soul and makes me realize that despite the cold, I would miss the changing seasons if I lived elsewhere.

Wow - you have a way with words. Reading what you wrote is reminiscent of when I read Thoreau - and am brought to a beautiful place and get a serene wondrous feeling deep down without even leaving my living room. I suppose that without winter, etc., spring wouldn't be quite as appreciated. It is really boring here in the desert where the weather changes are minor. And I'm getting so I can't stand the heat. I thought it was supposed to be the opposite - that I'd dislike the cold the older I get! Well, not with me....I have to leave in the summer and head to the mountains. Speaking of which, I just bought my first pair of snowshoes! I was hoping to try them out this winter before all the snow is gone, but we may not make it up there before then...

How cold does it get where you live?