Thursday, February 21, 2013

Sweet Southern Comfort

My blogging is off kilter. Getting sick right after the New Year rolled in really threw me off, both here and in real life. Mostly in real life of course, but my blog is a reflection of that so its all felt like a mess.  I am really hoping I can pull it together before the April A-Z challenge, and will begin by catching up on what we did six days ago. Hey ya gotta start somewhere, right?  

We spent last weekend in Tennessee. Hubs and I had plans to visit his parents over the long weekend and daughter2 said she'd love to drive over from South Carolina. She asked if it would be okay if her boyfriend came too, because they are living many states apart and Tennessee is sort of the middle. Daughter1 was supposed to have a friend coming to DC for the weekend, but when that fell through she decided to take a vacation day on Friday and meet us there too.    


Be still my heart.


We rented a cabin in a favorite spot in the Smokies, and I absolutely fell in love with the house. Oftentimes rental properties have 'livable' furniture, but this one was furnished so beautifully I was ready to move right in.  The view was not bad either.


We had every kind of weather while we were there, but Friday afternoon was glorious. Sunny skies and not too cold so we spent some time sitting right here-


Mountain air. 
There is nothing like it.  


Temperatures dropped and a few flakes fell on Saturday, but we could still enjoy the breathtaking views from inside the comfort of our cozy cabin.


I had daughter2 and her boyfriend step outside for a picture in the snow.  It's possible I overwhelmed him with my photography, but he was polite and didn't let on.  


I promise the Smokies are still there, right behind them in fact.  The mountains begged all weekend to have their picture taken. I love that they are ever changing depending on the light and weather, and what's the point of having beautiful daughters with you in a magnificent setting if you can't snap a picture or ten?


The girls really enjoyed spending some time with their grandparents while we were in town.  fyi-Grandparents don't mind at all if you take a thousand pictures.


We also played some Dominoes-


...and we gabbed more than a little bit. You might say we have the gift.  


Saturday we relaxed, napped, read, played games, and grilled steaks for dinner.  A cabin in the Smokies with a stunning view does not require much activity on your part.


It's a place to breathe deeply, put your feet up, and count your blessings.


On Sunday we bundled up and headed just a few miles down the road to the Y.  This is one of our favorite spots in all of Tennessee, and it's here the river splits to form what looks like a 'y'. A little slice of heaven on earth, made for skipping stones and clearing the cobwebs from your head.


Some of us get super excited when the rock actually skips instead of kerplunks...


We went a little further into the park and rode around the Cades Cove loop.


The deer were out in herds and we stopped several times for a closer look.


He wanted his picture taken.  
Just sayin'.  



As always Monday morning came too soon, too fast.  We were greeted with a watercolor sunrise  which made leaving all the more bittersweet.  As your children grow up it becomes something of a challenge to land all of you in the same place at the same time. When you succeed-


...it is a very precious thing.  

25 comments:

  1. Beautiful! I want to go there! Thanks for sharing :)

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  2. What a wonderful time it looks like all of you had! Nothing like spending time with your daughter(s). Your pictures are absolutely beautiful. We drove through the area when we were on our honeymoon, but did not stay there. I would love to go back! Enjoyed this!
    until next time...nel

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  3. Such pretty pictures of what looked to be a wonderful weekend get away!

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  4. How lovely, what a great weekend you had with fantastic views and a loving family altogether.

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  5. wow what a beautiful place. I would love it there. Glad you got in some family time with everyone all under one roof. I know its rare.

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  6. sigh....the beauty has me speechless. Can't wait to get back there. Soon!

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  7. So glad that y'all had such a wonderful and memorable time together in the beautiful Smokies! Seeing your pictures makes me long to go back there, again, very soon. I really love Cades Cove and have never failed to see wildlife there. It is true...as your kids grow up and move away, it is next to impossible to get everyone together under one roof. In fact, this summer, Brittany won't be coming home for the first time due to summer school. It's going to be both sad and strange not having her here.

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  8. I LOVED that recap of your weekend!! So glad you pulled it off! Your favorite water spot is most beautiful.

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  9. What a great weekend! What could be better - beautiful mountains and family.

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  10. You got some amazing photos of your family. What great memories to treasure :-)

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  11. Wow ... perfect weekend - family all together and beautiful mountain views. Perfect!

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  12. Well, after reading this I'm thinking it's time for Hubby and me to go back to the Smokies. What a sweet time with family. I love the pic of you and your girls. Great post!

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  13. Love reliving such a great weekend through this post! You got some really wonderful pictures. Wish we could all go back this weekend. Miss you! xo Daughter1

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  14. I am glad the stars aligned for you all be together for such a wonderful weekend. I'm sure the grandparents were thrilled to have you all there. Your pictures, as usual, are beautiful and a great record of the memories you made.

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  15. loved this so much! It was so sweet to see your daughters all snuggled up to you.

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  16. Great family photos! You are so right, it's a precious thing to be able to gather the entire family together again. I'm looking forward to being able to do just that again on Friday evening :)

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  17. Ahhh that looks fabulous! Daughter2's BF is super cute. :)

    btw: I totally LOL'd at your comment about my being in a cabin on a mtn. You totally 'know' me. Ha ha

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  18. I am so amazed at how many different kinds of beautiful views there are in this country. Mountains, oceans, prairies . . . and the variations even among common geography. Your Smokies barely resemble the Rockies.

    God does amazing work.

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  19. what a wonderful getaway...we LOVE cade's cove..have been there many times...have you ever been to The Swag? If not, you certainly need to check it out...a wonderfully quaint, beatiful mountain top lodge outside Waynesville...a fav of ours!

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  20. *sigh* East Tennessee is my home ... a home I have not lived in for 20 years now - but always HOME. Loved seeing the pictures.

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  21. Beautiful! I know you love it when you can get everyone together! That looks like the perfect place to do it!

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  22. I love all the beautiful pictures. I can't wait to be there and see it for myself again. It's been about 3 years and oh how I've missed it.

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  23. It couldn't have been more perfect! So glad you got to spend time with your girls and the cabin looks like it was wonderful.

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  24. I just love your family! What a great get-away!

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  25. I had to comment on this one...as I scrolled and read and looked at your photos, I actually took a deep breath at the ones of the mountains! I realized what I was doing and chuckled. There really is nothing like mountain air, even if it's just in your imagination at the moment!
    I also laughed out loud at your commentary regarding your hands in your more recent post. I was not expecting "Grandpa's" hands...but I can totally relate! :) You have a wonderful way with words!!

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