Snapshots; Part 9

Here is a glimpse into life around here lately!

We have had a lot of rain over the past few weeks. As a result our garden is doing well.

Our squash plants. I am so looking forward to grilled squash. Yummy!

The last of our lettuce.

Bell pepper plants and volunteer tomato plants.

My flowers are absolutely gorgeous this year.

Bee Balm flower.

More of the beauty

I am trying to bring as many as I can in for us to enjoy.

After weeks of hard work, our flower beds are weeded and in good shape. Although, I will have to start round 2 of weeding soon.

I love our brick patio area.

A decorative touch.

 

My daddy takes old sewing machines and turns them into tractors. This is his latest one.

He built the engine part of the tractor along with the gears, seats, and axels.

He has built 3 of them so far.

The last of our lettuce.

Miss Oakley posing much to her chagrin with a pretty flower. An update on how she is doing is coming soon to "A Life Lived Simply's" FB page.

Living life simply and simply loving every minute of it!

Our Weekend Get Away

Every spring, we take off to our beautiful mountains in NC to spend a weekend. A weekend where we do absolutely nothing. We watch tv, eat, surf the net, eat, go for walks, eat, sleep, eat, read, eat, watch tv, and sleep some more. We don't even cook a meal. We usually get breakfast, feast on snacks throughout the day, then get supper.  

We arrived on Thursday shortly before lunch. We set up the camper and got settled in, then started on being lazy. Miss Oakley enjoyed herself. She got plenty of attention and enjoyed taking walks with us. DD spent her time reading and surfing. DH and I watched a lot of tv and took a lot of naps. It was just what we needed. We had a camp site through Sunday morning, but decided to pack up late Saturday afternoon and head home. We had enjoyed our lazy weekend and headed back refreshed and renewed.

This is pretty much how we spent the weekend.

This, too.

We stayed at the same campground we discovered on a day trip nearly 15 years ago. We have been going for so long the owners and workers know us by name. Flintlock Campground has become a second home for us. It is a small little place beside a creek down in a holler. It has full hook-up sites and tent sites. They also have little cabins you can rent. The office is a gathering place with a big fireplace to sit in front of, along with books and games to pass the time. There is also a nice front porch with rocking chairs to sit in. They have a playground and a volley ball/badminton net set up. They also have big picnic shelter. Throughout the place are flowers and trees of the seasons. We love this little home away from home. 

Front porch of the office.

Back side of the office

One of the blooming trees, a leftover from the orchard the place use to be.

Some of the seasonal flowers.

A few of the little cabins for rent.

The creek running through the campground.

We stayed at camp site no. 36.

We like camping by the creek. The sound is soothing to fall asleep to.

Flintlock is just a relaxing place to spend a relaxing weekend.

If you and your family need a weekend to just get away, like to camp, and live near Boone, NC; check out Flintlock Campground. I think you will find that it is a peaceful, relaxing place to stay that is not to far away from places to eat or shop. 

A lazy weekend away is simply a good thing! 

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To read a little bit more about the places we got food from and the snacks we feasted on visit "A Life Lived Simply" FB page.  

Our Trip To Dollywood: Part 4

Saturday, Oct. 1st, we got up a little early so we could be at the Old Mill Restaurant when it opened at 8:00 am. The Old Mill Restaurant was once a grist mill that was a hub of activity in the Pigeon Forge Community in the 1880's. (If you want to learn more about its history go to the following link: Old Mill History.)When we arrived, we were seated right away and at a table with a view of the river. 

It wasn't long before a basket of banana nut muffins were on our table and our drinks were being served. After looking at the menu for a few minutes, we were placing our orders. DH ordered the Old Mill Country Breakfast with sausage. DD ordered the Old Mill Biscuit Breakfast with ham. I ordered the Old Mill Country Breakfast with ham. It was all delicious and we stuffed ourselves. 

Inside the restaurant is all wood.

 

After we paid, we walked next door to the Old Mill Store to look around. When we left the store, we walked on down to the bridge to take pictures of the river and the water wheel. We enjoyed our meal and visit to the Old Mill. 

(If you are planning a trip to the Pigeon Forge area, I would recommend planning a visit to the Old Mill Restaurant. The food is great and the service was excellent. It is one of those must sees.)

Soon after, we headed back to the campground to start packing up. We go left around 9:30 am. The ride back was just as beautiful as the ride up. We arrived home around 1:30 pm (or there abouts.) We started unpacking the van and the camper. 

It was a whirlwind of a weekend, but one we will always remember!

Simply enjoying the simple life God blessed me with! 

Our Trip To Dollywood: Part 3

As we entered the park, we took the advice we were given when we first went to Disney World - go to your left. People are naturally inclined to go to their right, but if you go to the left as you enter a park you will encounter fewer people. This advice has never failed us. 

When we came to the first ride, - which happened to be a roller coaster called Thunderhead - we got in the very short line to ride it. Oh, my, was it rough but oh, so much fun! They wouldn't let you carry any bags of any sort on the ride. After we got off I knew why, we would have lost them in the midst of the ride. In fact, I lost the cloth headband I was wearing, but it was worth it! 

We went on to ride several more roller coaster. DH rode of them in the park, but DD and I were more selective. My favorite was the Mystery Mine. DD's was the  FireChaser Express.  DH's was the Wild Eagle and his least favorite was the Tennessee Tornado. He also liked the newest roller coaster the Lightning Rod.

My favorite.

Yes, you hang upside down for a second on the Mystery Mine.

DD's favorite.

DH and DD are riding in the back car for their second time on the FireChaser Express.

DH's favorite.

DH's least favorite.

Some of the other rides we rode included; the Blazing Fury, the Dollywood Express, and the  Village Carousel.  The Blazing Fury was a gentle indoor roller coaster through a small 1880's mining town. The train ride was a peaceful way to spend about 20 minutes and the scenery is beautiful. It also gives you a different perspective to some of the attractions in the park. DD and I had to ride the Carousel. It is our little tradition. 

A view of the roller coaster Thunderhead from the train ride.

In between riding we did a little shopping in the many stores in the park. We stopped by the Grist Mill for some of Dollywood's famous Cinnamon Bread. We also stopped by the Sweet Shoppe for some fudge. There were a lot of craft booths and demonstrations set up when we were there. We stopped to watch a man and his horse making sorghum molasses. In the area around the Lightning Rod, there were a lot of classic cars setting around which were neat to look at. 

If you go to Dollywood, their cinnamon bread is a must get. YUMMY!

I looked everywhere with something with my name on it, a key chain or something. All I found was a kitchen. LOL!

A man and his horse juicing sorghum cane to turn into sorghum molasses.

Some of the classic cars sitting around Lightning rod.

The Lightning Rod was our last stop before heading out. We were exhausted but happy about the day we spent at Dollywood as a family. 

Living a simple life and enjoying the time spent with family!