♥ Inspiration from the Smoky Mountains ♥

I don't know why, but there is something about a vacation to Gatlinburg TN that inspires me to come home and be crafty! It could be the Craftman's Fair that we go to when we're there. There are almost 200 vendors set up at the convention center and you can easily spend 2 hours or more just looking! yeah, trust me, 2 hours easy! ;)

Fall is our favorite time of year in the Smokies. Of course, we could be just a bit biased since we were married here in October 12 years ago. :)

Gatlinburg goes out of it's way to decorate for Autumn!

Pumpkins and gourds galore!

Soothing!

The Old Mill in Pigeon Forge

♥ Gather ye rosebuds while ye may ♥

I was going through some pictures I took earlier in the year and came across these beautiful roses! These were taken at the Gatlinburg Inn in Gatlinburg TN. They have the most beautiful roses gardens and the security guard was kind enough to let us take pictures on their premises. The fragrance was intoxicating! I don't know what kind of roses they are, but I really would love to find out. Sometimes roses are pretty but have only a faint fragrance. Not these! Beautiful and heavenly! Hope you have a wonderful week!

~~ VALENTINE'S DAY GETAWAY ~~

I hope you had a sweet Valentine's Day! We spent the weekend in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg, TN. A nice little getaway! Actually we were so sick of snow we had to go somewhere free of it! LOL. It appeared they did get a tiny bit, but believe me, nothing like we've gotten here in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. I hope to get our travel blog updated this week with the pictures we took, but until then, here's a few photos:Yes they still have a few Christmas decorations/lights still up for their Winterfest.

Blowing flurries in Gatlinburg.

Smoky Mountains roads closed from Gatlinburg to Cherokee because of snow in the mountains.

Ice hanging from the rocks on the Parkway between Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg.

Happy Birthday to me!

Yep, it's that time of year again...that glorious time of year when I acknowledge I'm 39.999 again today. :)

When I was younger, birthdays seems spoiled because of it being so close to Christmas...you know how it went, birthday presents wrapped in Christmas paper and the yearly "oh we just got you this for your birthday because Christmas is next week". Somehow I always felt gypped, you know.

But the older I am, the more I like having a birthday around Christmas. It's makes the two inseparable with holiday lights, Christmas lights, holiday music. Everyone seems to celebrate. Now that I'm older, and my family has passed on, it's a sad time of the year for me, one full of memories. So I'm happy to have the lights and music and even the funny memories of years gone by.

I was supposed to be in Pigeon Forge, TN, this weekend. My husband and I have made it a tradition to go down and look at all the Festival Lights every Christmas & do a bit of shopping. Nothing like creating new memories and new traditions with someone you love. However, the weather had different plans for us this year! We are supposed to get atleast a foot (yes, 12"!!) of snow starting around noon today!! So I will be "snowed in" for my birthday this year. I can't even remember the last time we got more than a few inches of snow, especially in December! And they're saying we might just see more snow on Christmas Eve. I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!

I hope you're having a wonderful holiday season!

Hugs,
Sheri

Dixie Darlin, Pigeon Forge, TN

Hello friends!

I had to share with you one of my favorite shops when I go to Pigeon Forge, The Dixie Darlin. A wonderful cross-stitch and needlework shop where I can actually find punch needle patterns. One of my favorite things about this shop is they actually cross-stitch each pattern they have and hang it on the wall. The owner and staff are so friendly and you have to meet the office manager...I posted her pic below. ;) I snapped some quick pictures when I was in the shop a week ago (no, I'm really not the best photographer), but it really is a neat shop!

Directions:
Turn at traffic light #7 on to Old Mill Ave. Proceed across the bridge to the 3rd street on the left (Butler St).

My favorite wall...the punch needle!! :)Lots and lots of cross-stitch pattern, kits, books, floss, materials...you name it, Dixie Darlin has it!

Macy, the office manager! ;)

I LOVE this Halloween cat!

Pigeon Forge, TN

Dear friends,

More pics from our trip last week to TN. I just love all the fall colors and decorations! I might be biased because my anniversary is in October, but it is my favorite month! ;)

Hope you're having a wonderful Monday!

Hugs,
Sheri

Views coming into Pigeon Forge:

A drive-thru wedding chapel? This just cracks me up! What?? You're in such a hurry, you can't even get out of the car?? LOL.

The Old Mill Restaurant:

Shopping area around The Old Mill:
"Fall in love" (how sweet!):

Popular showplace (one of the many!):

Popular western wear store:

Arcades and mazes:

The Christmas Inn, owned by The Christmas Store, and located directly across the street:

The Christmas Store:

Another Christmas store!Really, what is about pancakes on vacation??I always thought this looked interesting.Beautiful Smokey Mountains:Arcades everywhere!Of course, I had to take a picture of the quilt store! We bought our wedding ring quilt here the year we were married. :)More beautiful decorations:Decorations at The Dixie Stampede:It's truly hard to capture the beauty of the mountains: