Weekend Wrap-up

After being on the road the last 2 weekends, it was nice to stay at home, clean house, and do laundry. Crazy, right? I kicked off the weekend with a pedi. One of my SIL told me about the young lady who does my pedis, and, y'all, she's just the cutest thing. I felt like I had known her my whole life. It's such a joy to see her.
Saturday I did some cleaning and the laundry. I even managed to cook a decent meal for supper. I was ON!
Sunday I went to Mass, and then CH & I took a ride up to Cades Cove. We turned off at Rich Mountain Road, which is the road the settlers took to Maryville. Just as we turned off, traffic was backed up, so we knew what that meant:

We headed up the mountain & stopped for a picnic lunch. Not a bad view, huh?

Of course we had to get a selfie before we got back in the car:

We had a bit of a surprise as we continued on to the top:

He was definitely a young bear, but we didn't see mama anywhere. Hopefully he'll be okay.

That was our excitement for the weekend. It had been a couple of years since I'd seen a bear in the Cove, so it was a nice surprise.

Another busy week is ahead for me. What's your week like?

Weekend Wrap-up

What a great weekend! It started off kind of slow. Friday night CH & I took Daddy out for supper. Then, we laid everything from my camera bundle out on the kitchen table so we could see what I got.  Then, I organized what I thought I would need in the camera bag.
Saturday, CH & I both had things to do, so we did what we had to. I played for Saturday Evening Mass, then we went to eat with Daddy, one of my brothers, and one of my favorite couples from church.
Sunday was such a good day. We went back out to Cades Cove so I could play around with my camera. It was a beautiful day, after having several days of rain.

The scenery was beautiful:

The skies were so blue:

There were some animals out & about:

The water was flowing:

And, the jonquils were blooming:

Yep, the new camera did a pretty good job for the first try!

We ended the weekend with dinner where YS works followed by meeting some people at a local craft beer place. After we got home, I watched a documentary on John Denver. I had no idea that he wrote Leaving on a Jet Plane made famous by Peter, Paul, & Mary, or that the original title was Babe I hate to Go. It was a very good documentary; I just love his music.

How was your weekend?

InstaFriday

According to Tori atHome Away From Home:

"So I've decided to do something new on Fridays; INSTAFriday. I'm gonna use Friday to share some of the pics from my Instagram from that week for all those who don't follow me and actually care. *WINK*"

Tori is taking a couple of weeks off from blogging, so there's no link up this week. I didn't do an InstaFriday post last week, so I'm sharing a few pictures from 2 weeks.

It was pretty cold last week, so YS made sure Pepper was bundled up.

Since we didn't have school last Friday morning, I went to  Rosary & Daily Mass with my Daddy. He still goes every morning.

We saw these adorable Australian Shepherd puppies on Saturday when we stopped by the Vet to get refills on the dogs' medicine.

After the Vet, we rode to Cades Cove, in the Great Smoky Mountains. We picked up some sandwiches and had a tailgate picnic. This was our view.

And, a selfie during lunch.

There are no coincidences: The song Let them See You by JJ Weeks Band was on the radio when I got in the car after Sunday Mass. It just happened to be what part of the Homily was about.

I snapped a picture of the Chicken Parmesan Roll-Ups we had on Monday.

I didn't post any personal pictures to Instagram the rest of the week. I was kind of surprised...I get a little "IG" happy sometimes!

What about you? Did you post a lot of pictures to Instagram this week?

Historic Grist Mills

There are 2 historic grist mills in the Great Smoky Mountains:  1 is in Cades Cove, Tn., and the other is Mingus Mill, in NC.

John P. Cable Grist Mill (Cades Cove) was built in the early 1870's.  When Cades Cove had around 700 residents, there were around 4 mills.  This mill is still standing, and in fact, is still working.  At different times of the year, you can buy cornmeal from this mill.  If you want more information about how this mill works, click here.  

There is something comforting about hearing and seeing the water go around the wheel.  I can remember going there when I was young, and standing on the wooden platform to see the water in the "chutes" that feed into the wheel.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. April showers bring May flowers, or so the saying goes. When did you last 'shower' attention on someone or have attention 'showered' on you? Did you love it, or did all that attention make you squirm?
This wasn't me, specifically, but rather a family gathering on Saturday.  My nephew and his wife recently adopted 2 children.  We all gathered at the nearby park for a potluck.  I never even saw the oldest (who is a girl) because she was off playing on the swings, but here's a picture of the youngest:

Isn't he just a doll-baby?  I just hope that when they're older, they realize just how lucky they are that they were chosen by those 2!

2. Share a favorite 'spring break' memory. Not talking about just the 'college spring break' thing, but any favorite spring break memory you'd like to share. Keep it family friendly please!
This is so weird, but I can't think of a single one.  

3. It's National Pecan Month...are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite dish that calls for pecans?
I love pecans!  I don't have a favorite...I like them all!

4.  'Put all your eggs in one basket', 'egg on your face', 'rotten egg', 'walk on eggshells', or 'a good egg'...which egg-spression could most recently be applied to your own life?
I'd have to say "good egg".  None of the others fit.

5.  In my experience___________________________________.
It's really difficult to get a child with a low IQ to correct an /r/.  (Sorry...that's the first thing that popped into my mind!)

6. What's a  favorite song with the word rain in its title or lyrics?
"The Rain, The Park, and Other Things" by the Cowsills.

7. What does the word hope mean to you?
A reason to believe.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Talk during lunch yesterday revolved around a story in the newspaper:  A guy led a high speed chase through a small community just outside of the Great Smoky Mountains into the Park, and into Cades Cove.  If you know anything about Loop Road in Cades Cove, you know that at times it's a big slow-moving mess.  Needless to say, he was caught and had a 2 handfuls of charges.

Cades Cove

Cades Cove is my "special place" in the Great Smoky Mountains.  If you've been reading my blog for any amount of time, you've already seen some pictures of it.  If you look at my header, you'll see it.  If you look at my button, you'll see it.  It's one of those places where it doesn't matter how many times I go, I have to take at least 20 pictures.  It's that pretty.

"The Cove" is described as an "open air museum".  Once home to the Cherokee Indians, then European descendants from Va., NC, and upper E. Tn., it is now dotted with former cabins/houses, as well as a couple of churches.  An audio tour is available to inform the visitors of its past history.  

Loop Road is an 11 mile, one way road that goes around the Cove.  Halfway through "the loop", there is a community built to demonstrate life as it was in The Cove.  There is a working grist mill, sorghum mill, a barn, a corn crib, smokehouse, blacksmith, as well as the Becky Cable House.  (The house was moved from its original location.)

There is a picnic area as well as a campground right before the beginning of Loop Road.  If you're planning on camping, be advised that it is somewhat primitive:  no electricity or water at the campsites.  There are toilet facilities, but that's it.  Loop Road is closed to car traffic on Wed. & Sat. mornings until 10:00 for the bicyclists to ride the loop without having to look out for cars.

Campground:

Deer in The Cove

The Oliver's Cabin:  This is actually the "honeymoon cabin" built for their son; the original cabin was the first cabin in the Smokies.

 Horses in the Cove

 Dan Lawson Place:  Pre-Civil War

 Cades Cove circa 1971

Weekend Wrap-up

Joining Stephani with Weekend Wrap-up!

Salted Dulce de Leche Swirl Brownies.  YS didn't like them...I probably put just a little too much salt on the top.

CH off for a bike ride.

Cades Cove.  One of my favorite places on earth.  I probably have a million pictures, but every time I go, I have to take more.  We saw the deer just as we entered the cove.  The next 3 pictures:  John Oliver's Cabin and a couple of views in the Cove.

My dad's sister and her daughter were in for the weekend.  Bottom left:  the sister that gives me stuff with my cousin, who is also my birthday buddy.  Bottom middle:  a fly had gotten in the house, and my dad & aunt were on the hunt.  Bottom right:  cousin, parents, and aunt.

Check out Stephani's new link-up!  She's just getting it started, and would love to meet you!

Falling into RD

Linda did a really good job with the questions this week, especially since she "gave" her original questions to her daughter and had to come up with new ones!  Here are this week's questions:

1. Have you, or has someone close to you, ever won an award for anything? (I just came from my dad's ceremony wherein he was given a medal of honor by the French government for service in France in WWII. Pictures to follow.)
My father-in-law was awarded the Order of St. Michael.  According to AAAA:  "the Order of Saint Michael recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to the promotion of Army Aviation in ways that stand out in the eyes of the recipient's seniors, subordinates, and peers. These individuals must also demonstrate the highest standards of integrity and moral character, display an outstanding degree of professional competence, and serve the United States Army Aviation or civilian aviation community with distinction."  Very proud of you, Pop!
My maternal mother-in-law was honored with a papal award for lay persons for outstanding charity work.  I'm not sure what it was called; maybe the Order of St. Gregory?  

2. Who is the nearest relative to you who has served in the US Military?

My husband went to USMA for a year to play football  (but he hurt his knee) and then went into the National Guard until right after YS was born. 

3. Share something that stirs the patriotic spirit in you.

Seeing the flag and hearing the National Anthem being played.

4. Where are you in the birth order in your family? Do you think your "placement" made a difference in your personality?

I'm #8 out of 10, the youngest girl.  Comparing myself to my older siblings, I would say my placement definitely made a difference in my personality.  I'm pretty much a "go with the flow", peacemaker, don't rock the boat kind of person.

5. Name one trait you hope you carry that was evidenced in your parents or grandparents.

Compassion.  Nothing else needs to be said about that.

6. If female, do you prefer wearing a skirt or pants? If male, shirt and tie or polo?
I've always preferred wearing pants.  They're just so much more comfortable!  

7. Approximately how many times do you wake during the night? What do you do to go back to sleep?
Once.  I usually go right back to sleep, unless CH is sawing some logs.

8. Share a favorite movie quote.
"You're supposed to be the leading lady in your own life, for God's sake! " (Iris in The Holiday.  LOVE that movie; I've probably seen in 50 times, but it never gets old!)

9. What is your favorite Fall candle scent?

Pumpkin spice.

10. What is one Fall activity you're looking forward to?

A few years ago, CH, YS, & I went on a hayride around the Cove.  I really would like to do that again.  It was so neat:  we left around dusk; by the time we got back it was dark.  Crisp, cool night, no streetlights, and coyotes in the fields.

11. Tell us about a pleasant surprise that happened to you recently.
I can't think of any surprise recently. 

12. What was it like when you first met your in-laws-to-be? 

I met my future FIL at a McDonald's in Knoxville.  CH was going home to Alabama with his brother & father, so I met them there.

I didn't meet my MIL until a couple of days before we got married.  They were both extremely nice, even though I don't think they were too hyped up on CH getting married to a girl who was 2 years older than him.  I couldn't have asked for better in-laws!

Don't forget to link up at 2nd Cup of Coffee!