Month: March 2019

We bought the Athens House in December 2017, and started moving in around February 2018. How did we know this was absolutely the house for us, and that everything was meant to be? Because in March, our yard came alive with flowers in Ribby’s two favorite colors… Purple and Yellow. Now, a year later, in March of 2019, these Purple Irises in our yard bring a little warmth to my heart. My baby girl is with us every season, every step of the way. Love you, Ribby. Miss you so very much, my precious Baby…

Sapphira doing what Sapphira does BEST! Keeping those keyboards nice and warm! Thanks, Girl! Keep up the GREAT work!

Yay! It was Opening Day at the Athens Farmers Market in Bishop Park in Athens, Georgia. We’ve been looking forward to this event for QUITE a while! We absolutely LOVE all things fresh produce, but, surprisingly, incorporating purchases from Farmers Markets is a relatively newer thing for us. And I am even more ashamed to admit that, because, growing up, my Grandfather ran a produce stand in Martinez, Georgia; and I have countless fond memories of spending afternoons with him while he worked. Setting up tempting displays of the brightest tomatoes or the greenest peppers; helping customers make their selections;…

Such a perfect Spring Day to be checking out the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, also known as the UGA Botanical Garden, as it is a part of the University of Georgia here in Athens. Enjoy a few shots of these stunningly gorgeous Tulip Beds! We were certainly enamored by their beauty while taking these pictures! Happy Spring!

Because EVERY Saturday morning should involve spending time on a Goat Farm with these precious little cuties! Oh, their little bleats! What could be more adorable??

When driving through Cherokee, we often stop here, at Cherokee Veterans Park. It will always be a special place to us, as we were here the day the park officially unveiled to the public and dedicated the PFC Charles George Statue. PFC George is the only member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service. There’s still a bit of construction going on, but we hope this means the Park will continue to honor and represent the ultimate sacrifices made on behalf of our country by members of the Eastern Band…

We LOVE Bear Hunting in Cherokee, North Carolina! No, not THAT kind of hunting! Searching for Painted Bears throughout town from The Bears Project! The Bears Project started in 2005 to showcase a variety of talented artists within the Qualla Boundary. Bears are a large part of the Cherokee culture and appear in many of the stories and legends that the Cherokee people hold sacred. The culture currently recognizes contributions from the clans of Bird, Blue, Deer, Long Hair, Paint, Wild Potato, and Wolf. Through multiple trips, we have located most of the Bears, but we still have a few…

We celebrated a GREAT First Day of Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! We drove from Gatlinburg, Tennessee to Cherokee, North Carolina on Newfound Gap Road, stopping to hike in a few spots such as Chimney Tops, Alum Cave, Newfound Gap, the Appalachian Trail, and Oconaluftee. But, for now, the road must go on! And next on the agenda is Cherokee, North Carolina! Happy Spring, Y’all!

Newfound Gap, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is a mountain pass situated at the border where Tennessee gives way to North Carolina. The border sign is one of the more iconic GSMNP photos for the take-home. We also had a little photo fun on the Rockefeller Memorial. Newfound Gap is a quick and easy stop along Newfound Gap Road, about halfway between Gatlinburg, Tennessee and Cherokee, North Carolina. The Appalachian Trail crosses through the area, and you’ll also find some signage about the CCC creating some of the park’s facilities. If you’re feeling adventurous, other phenomenal hikes are…

The First Day of Spring in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an exquisite juxtaposition of warm sunshine, cool breezes, unfurling wildflowers, and dripping ice formations! Check out some of these super cool icicles as they take on a frozen representation of the geologic phenomenon of stalactites and stalagmites… Growing as they drip FROM the upper level, but also growing from the ground up, as the water droplets refreeze on their lower surface! Gorgeous! Fascinating!

Rivers and creeks are a beautiful part of the grand scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. But they are even more integral as part of the ecosystem that provides life for so many species in this protected area. For us, experiencing a River has become a solemn experience, as we remember the life of our precious Ribby. I always thought I had a lifetime of silly “River in the River” posts, but life doesn’t always flow the way we assume it will. So, now, these quiet moments have become a sacred time for us to honor our beloved…

In November 2016, something horrific happened that changed our lives forever here in Tennessee. Fire. Now, our Tennessee House is about 3 hours from Gatlinburg, so we were NOT directly affected in any way by the fires themselves. However, in Tennessee, we are ALL family. It IS the Volunteer State. And we readily answered the call to help our friends and neighbors in their time of need. Fresh from the reality of our own loss of Ribby, and raw in our own devastating grief, we knew what we had to do… And we spent the next 4 months helping to…

It’s been a minute since we’ve been in for some caffeinated goodness from the amazing folks at Campfire Coffee. We were thrilled to see that this gem of a coffee shop in Jamestown, Tennessee is still going strong, making high quality coffee and espresso drinks while providing a great place for community to gather! They host Open Mic Nights, as well as a variety of performances from area musicians; and they have added a fantastic little stage area, perfectly campfire themed! We can’t wait to come back on an evening where we can catch some great tunes with awesome Jamestown…

We don’t usually eat at the same place two days in a row… But, when the food is as awesome as the tacos are at Simply Fresh in Jamestown, Tennessee, why the heck not? More Pulled Pork Barbecue Tacos and Shrimp Tacos… And more Onion Petals! But, my true craving here might very well be the Cilantro Dressing and the Tzatziki Sauce! I can’t get enough!

Ahhhh… The first day of Spring! A nice morning to put the top down and enjoy sunshine and blue skies!

Whoa! It’s hard to believe this fabulous place exists in little ol’ Jamestown, Tennessee. Incredible tacos made of perfectly grilled shrimp, delectably seasoned pulled pork, or mouth-watering ground beef, paired with lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and THE perfect tzatziki style sauce… Mmmmm…. It’s a good thing they come in threes, because you CANNOT eat just one! Nope. Don’t even try. You need ALL THE TACOS from Simply Fresh! Housemade seasoned chips and fries serve as your choice of the perfect accompaniment. And, what the heck, we needed a Gyro Wrap and Bloomin’ Onion Inspired Fried Onion Petals with yet another perfectly…

Sunshine and clear skies in the Upper Cumberland today! Woo Hoo! Definitely THE perfect day for taking the back roads home! This might not be the most noteworthy collection of scenery photos, but it has been so cold and SO wet here, that the sunshine and blue skies alone deserve their own mention! So, here are a few shots leaving Livingston, TN, and heading into Jamestown, TN. You’ve got farms and fields in the lowlands; and then you climb into the mountains, eventually scaling the Plateau, to look back down in the gorgeous valleys below! Zoom Zoom!

Few things in life excite me more than the thrill of finding a Painted Rock! Especially when I’m least expecting it! We found SOOOO many Painted Rocks last summer in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. It was AMAZING! However, I’ve only seen ONE since then. And I’ve been pretty bummed about it. I don’t know if they are more likely to be a seasonal thing, or a regional thing. But, for whatever reason, we just don’t tend to find as many in the Southern States as we do in others. So, lo and behold, when I found this cutie today,…

Today was a bright, beautiful day on the Upper Cumberland, and it offered a rare moment that I had some extra daylight time at my leisure after my appointments for the afternoon. So, I opted for the scenic route home; and it took me through Downtown Livingston, Tennessee for some antique shopping and a walk around the Overton County Courthouse Grounds and the surrounding Historic Square. I even found a painted rock! I’d say it was a great day, indeed!

Heading back to the Tennessee House from an afternoon appointment in Cookeville, I decided to take advantage of the lovely day and cruise home the scenic route instead of just jumping on I-40. Highway 111 North takes you into the small town of Livingston, Tennessee. I got there with a few minutes to spare, and I invested those minutes into browsing through one of the many antique shops located along the Downtown Square. I hit All Things Vintage; and even though I only had a few bucks left to my name, I lucked across some inexpensive costume jewelry, and picked…

We’ve been meaning to try Broast in Cookeville, TN for a while now. It’s a block off my standard beaten path through town, so I’m a bit guilty of forgetting it’s there when we instead run into Poet’s Coffee for our caffeinated indulgence. But, wow, I’m SOOOO glad we finally made it in today! The urban industrial atmosphere beckons you to come and relax with a hot cup of your favorite beverage, made with love by the friendly baristas. They have lots of unique choices of locally roasted coffees and unusual teas. You can even get several of these choices…

I’ve been seeing posts from Ah Mah & Son Asian Eatery on Facebook for a few weeks now. On our way through Crossville this afternoon, I decided to quench that craving for Thai Tea I’ve had for a few weeks now… Are those two conditions merely a coincidence? Probably not! We had a Thai Tea and a Milk Tea, and added Tapioca Boba to each. The Thai Tea, according to their VERY tempting Facebook post, includes notes of vanilla and star anise. Oh, it was SOOO delicious! The first time I had Thai Tea was in Valdez, Alaska this past…

Holy Fiesta! This place is AMAZING! I’ve always loved Cali N Tito’s on Lumpkin Street in Athens, but a lot of our friends are always hyping up the Eastside location like it was something made of pure magic. And, WOW, is it EVER! There are few words to describe this absolute gem of an establishment located on a side of town I don’t tend to frequent very often. But, if you’ve ever been to Mexico in Epcot Center, it delivers much of the same incredibly festive ambiance! Once I get to the point where I’m writing Pinterest-worthy “Top Destination” lists,…

We are very fortunate to have such a high-quality, dedicated, professional Community Theatre group so close to us! In Tennessee, the kids have been lucky enough to grow up with the Cumberland County Playhouse being such an integral part of our cultural entertainment experience. We’ve seen hundreds of plays there over the years; and Alysia event spent some time dancing with them, performing in two productions during the 2006/2007 Season. Winder-Barrow County Community Theatre might be smaller than Cumberland County Playhouse, but even in comparison, the quality of acting, sets, props, costumes, and attention to production details with WBCT is…