TENNESSEE VACATION

We left home Friday morning, July 15th, and headed to Georgia to spend a couple of days with our dear friends, Robert and Sharon. After attending church with them on Sunday, we ate a quick lunch and then headed to Tennessee. We arrived at our cabin late Sunday afternoon.

This is the view that greeted us from our porch.

Our cabin.




On Monday I got to meet a dear blog friend.  Betty, Through My Backdoor, and I have been emailing back and forth since I mentioned on my blog that we were planning a vacation to Tennessee. Betty lives about an hour’s drive from our cabin so we made plans to meet for lunch on Monday. We met at Cheddar’s and enjoyed a great lunch, but the highlight of the day was getting to meet and spend time with Betty – she is a delight. After lunch she took us to her favorite prim shop, The Speckled Hen. The shop was closed but Betty had permission to open the shop for me – what a treat to get to browse to my heart’s content. And I was fortunate to find something on my wish list – Tobacco Cloth curtains for my blue & brown guest room. I will think of Betty every time I look at those curtains. After the stop at The Speckled Hen we drove into town and visited Betty’s favorite Antique shop, Corner Antiques. I have never seen so many beautiful colonial and primitive antiques in one place – we do not have shops like this in Florida. Thank you Betty, for a wonderful day.

Betty and I outside Cheddar’s.


In front of the Speckled Hen.
 

On Tuesday we had a leisurely morning, and after lunch we took a drive to Cade’s Cove. What a beautiful and historical drive – several old churches and homesteads scattered around the cove. As we were driving through the cove I said to DH, I wish we would see a bear – and about two minutes later we came upon some people who were out of their cars and looking into the woods. We pulled off at the next available spot and DH said, it’s a bear. The bear was walking through the trees toward our car. Then DH said, there are two, no three of them. He took a picture and then the mama bear turned and ran across the road several feet behind our car and the two little cubs ran across behind her. I was so excited – it just made my day. We also saw a turkey and a dear on our drive, along with some beautiful scenery – God’s creation in abundance.

Mama bear and cubs walking away after crossing the road.

We woke up Wednesday morning around 5:00  to thunder and lightning – and then it began to rain. The sound of the rain moving through the trees is indescribable – it sounded almost like it was singing.

View from cabin after the rain and as the sun was coming up– the clouds were below the mountain tops.


Thursday our friend from Georgia was in town on business, so we met him for lunch; then we picked up a few groceries and returned to the cabin for a relaxing afternoon.

On Friday we packed a picnic lunch and headed to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Our first stop was Newfound Gap – we took a short hike on the Appalachian Trail and enjoyed the scenery. Next we headed to Clingman’s Dome – we hiked one half mile up the mountain to the lookout tower. It rained off and on all day and the view was very limited due to heavy clouds, but it was still breathtaking. On the way down the mountain the sun began to break through the clouds and we did get some great pictures. The wildflowers were beautiful, I even got a picture of one with a bumble bee sitting on it. We also saw a mama bird feeding her baby just a few feet from us – so cute. We ended the day with some great barbeque and then headed back to the cabin.

Adolph at entrance to the Appalachian Trail – Newfound Gap.


View looking toward entrance to trail as we came down the mountain.


Lookout tower at Clingman’s Dome.


We made it to the top.


View on our way down the mountain after the sun began to come out.


Some of the wildflowers.



 Saturday we headed to Clinton for their “Christmas In July” shopping day. We visited Betty’s favorite antique shop again, along with several other great shops – we got a few goodies, but I will share those another day as this post is getting long. Our drive back to the cabin took us near Betty’s home and she had invited us to stop by.  I was so excited to actually step  Through My (Betty’s) Backdoor.  We visited for a couple of hours, enjoyed a cup of coffee, and toured Betty’s lovely home.  You know how you can meet some people and feel like you have known them for a long time?  Well, Betty is that kind of person – we could have talked all day!  I had mentioned to Betty’s that I wanted a tobacco basket and as we got ready to leave Betty gave me one to bring home with me – I love it Betty!  (Will share pictures when I get it hung up.)  This was another special day!

A picture of Betty’s back door as it looked on Saturday.


We headed back to Florida on Sunday.  We had a wonderful vacation, but I am glad to be home.  Can’t wait to see our grandkids!


I hope you are all enjoying the summer and are able to take a little time to recharge.
Blessings,
Sue