Back from vacation....

So we're back from the week in the Smokies....We kept busy all week...Stayed in a gorgeous cabin in Sevierville.  The cabin was on a mountain and the drive up was a little intimidating the first time.  Lots of winding roads and steep climbs..  We think our Jeep is completely ticked off at us now...LOL

We played a lot of putt putt (golf golf as our nephew called it) and rode quite a few go carts.   Also did a lot of eating....and I mean a LOT!  Made our regular stops to the Pancake Pantry, Flapjacks, and The Red Rooster.  And ...I got to go to Paula Deen's kitchen!!  I was so excited to eat there.....Words cannot describe how yummy the food was....Fried Chicken, mac & cheese, meatloaf, and as John said, the best brownies we have ever had.....OMG they were fabulous!!

It was absolutely gorgeous down there.  All the leaves had started to change and temps couldn't be any better.  One day, as we were driving to Cherokee through the park, we encountered snow in the higher elevations.  It definitely was strange to see the sun shining down in the lower elevations and see the snow higher up.

As soon as I get pics uploaded, I will post a few more here....This one was taken on my cell phone of the snow on the ground......

Tennesse Bound!

I am so looking forward to our annual trek tomorrow to Tennessee!!  I am definitely needing the break!!  It'll be nice to get away from the stresses of life for just a little bit....From what I hear, the colors are spectacular already down there!  I cannot wait...

One whole week of this:

See you later....after I am refreshed from my hiatus!

One more week....

I can't even put into words how excited I am that vacation is only one week away!  I cannot wait to be back in the mountains again!!  So much to do though before going....Laundry and cleaning and laundry and packing.....eek....But in one week I will be in the Smokies!!  YES!!

I got to go to a dinner theatre for the first time today.  Hubby's grandma got tickets to La Comedia for myself, his sis, niece, mom, and aunt! The show was good and the food was great and then after eating all the sweet potato souffle, we stopped at The Cheesecake Factory for some pumpkin cheesecake....Yum!

So I guess I should get back to the laundry so I can start packing...It's going to be a long week....I can feel it!

Missing...

Today is the 6th anniversary of my Mom's passing.  She battled cancer for almost 5 months and fought a very hard, tough battle.  Mom still managed to smile even when she was hooked up to chemo or had tubes coming out of her back. Watching her battle taught me to cherish every moment because you never know what the next moment will bring.

They say it gets easier as time marches on, but I don't think so.  I think you just learn to deal with it.  I still have moments where something gets me and I end up in tears.  I'm sad because I know my future kids will never know her, but I know she'll always be with me, watching over me. 

Miss and love you Mom!

Where did my weekend go?

I would like to know where my weekend went please....I feel like I haven't had a day off....

I just keep thinking of this place and being there for a week next month!  Yeah, I know....I'm excited!!!  Just have to get through a few more weeks!!

I need a vacation....

Our yearly excursion to Tennessee can't come soon enough!!  I love the Smokies in TN so much...I'd actually love to live down there someday in the mountains.....Maybe when we retire!!

Since we're less than a month out from vacation, I decided to post a recent layout from our trip last year!

This is part of a two page layout that I did for some of the many pictures from our October 2010 trip to the Smokies.  John and I went on a hike up at Clingman's dome and also near a creek just inside the park.  We were there over Halloween last year and the colors were phenomenal!  I could never take enough pictures of the foliage down there!  So many beautiful colors.....And it seems like we don't have those colors here in Ohio...

We're going back again next month, a little earlier than we went last year, but it will still be just as beautiful.  We're going with hubby's mom and step-dad, and his little nephew Will.  Will is 4 and an absolute riot so I am sure that we will have a blast down there with him.

We've rented a cabin with a spectacular view and I am so looking forward to time away from everything.  It'll be nice to relax after Oktoberfest and get a little breather from work...We're going to G-burg and Pigeon Forge and of course all of the touristy things: WonderWorks, Magiquest, Ripley's Aquarium.  And of course we're going to play lots of Putt-Putt....I can't wait to wake up in the morning and sit on the porch and see this view:

                                                                                                  
Off to finish watching the Bucks and then to the craft room to finish work on Oktoberfest.  Later! 

Been busy....real busy....

Ever get to a point in your life where you feel like you don't have a chance to breathe??  That's how the past couple of months have been!!  Between work, a garage sale, vacation planning, and Oktoberfest prep I haven't had a free second!  Good news is that after the first weekend of October, the stress should be gone and I should have more free time!!

Speaking of Oktoberfest, we (hubby included) are churning out alcohol inked altered dominoes.  We're making them into magnets, pins, and pendants.  There won't be so many pendants because they are such a pain in to make!  I'm not much of a jewelry maker....

I am SO glad the Fall tv has started....Been busy watching X Factor, Survivor, Vampire Diaries, Secret Circle (a new fave), ANTM, Glee, and a few others....The TV relieves some stress!!

Well, back to making some dominoes.   I'll post more when Oktoberfest is done on 10/1.  Fingers crossed for a good showing at my first craft show!!