Cute little dresses......

Got these dresses on sale for the grandgirls.  They are hand-painted, and soft and comfy.  My sister will give them to the girls for Christmas.  She is not feeling well, so I did a little shopping for her.  Shhh....don't tell my grandgirls yet!  The little books will be for Joisah...he loves to be read to, and is not so fond of dresses!  :)

Inside the apple orchard store....

The red rockers were outside these windows.  Inside was lots of canned jellies, jams, salsas, pickles, and gifts.  It was a nice place.  Oh, and lots and lots of apples.  You could choose a basket that was a peck, a half peck, or two pecks.  

Still exists! Since my childhood.....

And inside were two guys that were stereotype mountain men....big bushy beards, thick mountain accents as if from the movies, leather hats, willing to barter for anything....Tom and I said when we left, "Were they for real?"  Could not be.  Then we said, "Well, do they do that for tourists?  It is actually kind of fun."   They gave me a free CD (they called it a DVD) of vintage, authentic bluegrass, a family singing.  It was surreal.  But I loved it.  I really respect people with mountain roots, so I am not making fun at all.  I admire their history and the stories that come out of Appalachia and the area.  In fact, it deeply interests me.  I read many good articles from the Foxfire interviews while I was there...first hand accounts of living through a forest fire, and making tree bark baskets....love it all.  But those guys, I could not figure them out but was glad they were there.  The mountain people I have known are trying hard to NOT appear like a sterotype.  This store, along with a couple of others that have been there forever, (one is closed, but still full of goodies) lies along old 441 right by Tallulah Gorge overlook.

Big honkin' tree.....where did the word honkin come from?

We were not sure what kind of tree it was.....but were glad it was still living and obviously has been for a long time!  It makes Tom look like a small kid!

How smoky were the Smokies???

Well, you can see for yourself!  This was rainy Monday, taken from the porch of the cabin.  We stayed on a Christmas tree farm that has old cabins reconstructed throughout the property.  It was a good time to visit.  They were preparing for the holidays.  On this day, we stayed inside and built a fire.  Loved it!!! 

Took a lots of rocker pictures.....who knows why?

These rockers were on the front porch of our cabin.  I was very tempted to put the tables in the back of my car!!!  I would love to have one similar to them on my porch.

Back from the mountains....posting a few photos

This was taken at an apple orchard store.  Near Tallulah Falls on old 441.  Inside were aisles and aisles of apples, jellies, fresh baked bread....and the apples were so sweet!  We bought a kind we had never tried before...Pink Lady.  And I got blueberry, elderberry and strawberry jams, and a bottle of honey.  The day was clear and crisp.  What a nice time.