Both sunrise and sunset have always held a special meaning to many. There has never been a better place from which to observe and appreciate sunsets and sunrises than from high atop the Cumberland Plateau, location of Jasper Highlands. There is, and always has been, a serene sensation created by the novelty and freshness of a day's new beginning. Similarly, our mind seems to appreciate the tranquility and reflection period created by the disappearing sun at the end of another day. From some of the properties in Jasper Highlands, one has a bird's eye view of both sunrise and sunset! Statistics on these daily occurrences in our part of Tennessee:

• This time of year (October) we lose about two minutes of daylight each day.
• This amount of daylight time lost lessens gradually as the calendar goes past the autumn equinox (September 22 in the northern hemisphere this year), when the incidence rays of the sun are over (perpendicular to) the equator, and head toward the shortest day of the year on December 21. After this date, the time of day begins to gradually lengthen....to June 21 (2014), longest day of the year, when official summer begins
• During September we averaged about 12.5 hours of daylight, while January is a bit over 10 hours of daylight each day. July averages about 14 hours, 15 minutes.
• We lose about an hour of daylight in the month of September and October, and about 45 minutes in November.
• This time of year, and on through the winter months, due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis, which affects the angle at which the sun's rays strike our part of the globe, sundown is followed relatively soon by darkness. Not so in the late spring/summer months, when diffraction of the sun's rays create a relatively longer period of time between sundown and darkness.

Throughout the ages, we have been mystified and inspired by the periodic appearance and disappearance of the mighty helio. Though the sun is 93+ million miles away, the exact time of the sunrise and sunset at any location on our planet can be determined, even predicted years in advance.

Setting your daily schedule to enjoy the sunrise and/or sunset is an enriching experience,....free to anyone who chooses to make the rendezvous. One thing to remember, the sun will not wait for anyone, so to make the date, be on time! For exact times of sunset and sunrise each day, refer to a good online table and plan your walk, run or bike ride accordingly. Daily inspiration for us all.

Enjoy a few more of these great scenes from both the east (sunrise) and west (sunsets) sides of Jasper Highlands...