If "Field of Dreams" weren't already taken that's what I would have called this incredible place. You can walk for hours and hours totally lost in space and time. Cades's Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains seems to last forever. It would take a full day to walk its length. It's a huge valley with some slight rolling hills, but often totally flat. It's surrounded completely by the Smoky Mountains. Little wonder that the early settlers eked out a life here. It was the only farmland around for many miles, and supported an abundance of wild life and fresh water too. This photograph was taken late last October. The remains of summer are clearly visible with the dried thistle and ragweed still standing. And although the trees still have their leaves, many have already succumbed to the demands of the advancing autumn, which of course is a major delight! Back in the olden days this would have been the harvest season of corn, apples and wheat. But now, it's a peaceful and quiet time of the year. A time of silent transition. The growing season has moved on, but the challenges of winter's ice and snow have yet to appear. However, there was some serious activity taking place. We could see the squirrels busily gathering acorns for their winter supply, and the deer were grazing constantly in the open fields in preparation for some difficult days not so far away. But what struck me so profoundly about the whole setting as we strolled through the cove that sunny afternoon was the powerful feeling of peace and serenity that prevailed. Everything was exactly as it should be on a beautiful October's day. Cade's Cove, and the whole Smoky Mountain Park have been isolated and still remain mostly immune from the thoughtless advancement and destructive intrusion of man. It's an oasis of sorts, a lone microcosm of what once was, in total peace and harmony with itself. That's what I remember when I look at this photograph. And of course we were careful to leave this dreamy existence exactly as we had found it (no wine bottles tossed in the fields!). 3rd post from this series of Cade's Cove. Here's the link to the other two. Thanks much, marshall