Fall – Withjulespham

Update: Our Christmas Card photo for 2020 at Crabtree Falls

Khang and I went on a long-planned camping trip with friends towards the end of September. It was wonderful to say the least. I mention it because at that time in Virginia hints of fall were beginning to peek through.

Then in early October we snuck away for our Fourth Annual Fall Hike for Christmas card photos. Here are ones from previous years!

But honestly, our main goal was to experience the full effects of fall in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. And gosh, it did not disappoint. I’m sharing photos of that trip here.

Rewind to now and fall is in full swing in Charlotte! So it’s almost been 2 months of a glorious fall for us!

It feels like the loooooongest fall season of my life!

And it hit me…why don’t we do this every single year?? Because y’all, fall is and has always been my favorite season.

Growing up in MS only allowed maybe a full week or two of fallish weather (or what I thought was a fall). Hah!

Excuse me while I secretly plot the same for next year (and every year thereafter).

I doubt Khang will even complain and dub it a genius idea.

I enjoy change and the change of a season is one of my favorite things about Mother Earth.

But with fall, it’s not only the change of the weather, air or trees that I love so much.

It’s the distinct reminder for all the good that has already taken place before the year comes to a close.

Unfortunately there was and continues to be a lot of bad in 2020.

And it throws me into a deeper appreciation for life and the people I love in it.

Tis’ the season to be thankful indeed.

So I thought it would be fun to include more photos than I’d usually share from this year’s annual fall hike.

As always, Khang’s patience with me while experimenting with Hans was much appreciated. I’m excited to send out our Christmas card this year. It turned out better than expected because we felt like idiots running back and forth. Well mostly just me.

I liked this spot so much that we came back for a second round of photos after hiking Crabtree Falls.

Beautiful cascading waterfall! And a very enjoyable and slippery (from recent rainstorm) hike.

I almost broke my rule and thought about using two photos for our card with this one too but ultimately decided against it.

These were taken on our sunset hike to Hawksbill Outlook. GORGEOUS VIEWS!! I almost picked the last one for our card too.

Mainly landscape portraits of Grandfather Mountain. Like WOW! His majesty reminded me of The Grand Canyon. Like poetry.

Last photo taken with Hans and it’s of Khang overlooking the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Perhaps my favorite part of our entire trip that’s not pictured was driving with the sunroof open and taking in all the strikingly beautiful fall foliage with Khang next to me.

Le sigh. Until we meet again.

Thanks for reading and following along

with me,

Jules.

Y’all, fall fall FALL IS HEREEE!!!

This is going to sound lame, but I never associated Autumn with apples.

I always thought pumpkins!

And once I found an apple farm nearby, I saw apple-everything recipes everywhere!

So on the First Day of Fall, Khang and I welcomed my favorite season with farm-made apple cider, apple cinnamon donuts, and apple-picking at Apple Hill Orchard in Morganton, NC.

Just an 1.5 hour drive!

We ate those yummy donuts and downed that cider before I even thought about taking photos. Ha.

But we slowed it down and took photos while wondering around the orchards.

The most beautiful Red delicious, Golden delicious, and Cameo apples I’ve ever laid eyes on.

I have a sweet spot for farms/garden/anything-growing. So imagine my delight during my very first time apple-picking trip.

And oh so delicious!

We might’ve eaten one or two straight from the branch.

Below are Cameos and they have a crisp juicy tartness to them.

Khang liked them a lot.
Hmmm, Golden Deliciousness. This variety has a much sweeter taste to them and are great to bake since they hold their firmness.