My Daily Smile

Life is short - begin every day with a smile!

Video: Winter Wonderland in the Lofoten Islands of Norway

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Living (and loving) Life

“What good is the warm of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.”
     –John Steinbeck

The Lofoten Islands of Norway boast some of the most beautiful scenery on planet Earth, and that incredible beauty kicks up yet another notch during the wintertime.

If you ever get the opportunity to pay the Lofotens a visit I urge you take it. That little corner of the world really is quite spectacular.

But if travel to Norway simply isn’t in the cards for you, the extended-length video below will take you there via the magic of video.  [Read more…]

Time-lapse video: Check out these awesome Northern Lights

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Living (and loving) Life

The colorful auroras that dance in the night skies above the north and south poles are among the most beautiful and intriguing phenomena in all of nature.

These amazing light shows brighten and beautify some of the most unforgiving landscapes on planet Earth, and the shows are entirely free for all to enjoy.

I know most folks will never have the opportunity to see the auroras work their magic in person, but this wonderful short time-lapse video makes a pretty decent substitute.  [Read more…]

How many gallons of water flow over Niagara Falls each day?

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Living (and loving) Life

In my humble opinion, Niagara Falls is one of the most intriguing natural wonders in all the world.

Consider the following, and let it sink in…

According to the official Niagara Falls State Park website, a mind-boggling 681,750 gallons of water goes over just the the Horseshoe Falls section of Niagara each and every second.

Yes, you read that right. Well over 1/2 million gallons flow over just the Horseshoe Falls section of Niagara every second of every day!

[Read more…]

Video: Drone’s eye view of the mountains that surround Shady Valley, Tennessee

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“When snow falls, nature listens.”
     –Antoinette Van Kleef

Today I’m going to share the beauty that winter can bring to a locale that’s just a very short drive from my home.

If you have ever visited or driven through the rural northeastern Tennessee community of Shady Valley you surely must have noticed how beautiful it is there.

And if you’ve ever crossed one of mountains that ring the valley while snow was on the ground you were probably treated to one of the most awe-inspiring experiences of your life.

This wonderful short video shows what you just might encounter if you ever decide to drive across one of the mountains to Shady Valley in the wintertime. (Recommendation: Don’t try it when the road is covered with ice or snow. That might not end well.)

Note: This video really needs to be viewed at full screen. Just click the little square icon in the lower-right corner of the video after it begins playing.

How’s this for a winter vacation?

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Most folks love heading south to spend a little time in the sun during the winter, but there are actually many among us who prefer to head north instead.

New England is famous the world over for its breathtaking fall foliage, especially when the leaves are at full peak color.

But truth be told, there’s plenty of beauty up north even after the last of those gorgeous leaves have fallen to the ground.

[Read more…]