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The second week of October, we were blessed to be able to visit the Smoky Mountains! Mom, Dad, Mohammad, my niece Mahdieh, and I drove up to our cabin in Sevierville on Monday. My daughter Alexandria and her pooch Porter arrived safely a bit later. Niece Sydney and her hubby Casey also arrived separately later Monday. Daughter Roxanna, her hubby Jeremy, and my Jooniebug would arrive Wednesday. I so wish that my son Cameron could have been with us but he could not take off from work.
The cabin brought back memories of visiting my grandparents on Anglin Branch. The road to the cabin was very curvy. It reminded me of the road that we took to Anglin from Ohio. The road around Dale Hollow Lake was curve after curve. My brother David would get carsick. He would sit up front around Dale Hollow. It seems that scenes viewed coming at you through the windshield discourage carsickness more than scenes flying by through the side windows.
So that curvy road of the present, reminded me of a curvy road from the past.
The cabin driveway was gravel, steep, and rutted! I was driving and I am not used to driving up such “four-wheeler terrain”! I had to slide backwards a ways and try again more than once before making it to the top. I feared that we might have to park at the bottom and walk the rest of the way to the top before we finally made it.
I told the kids that visiting Grandpa and Grandma there on Anglin wasn’t steep like the cabin driveway, but it did have curves and hills. When it rained it became a mud slick that would occasionally prove too much of a challenge for my dad, who is the best driver. We would have to park the car and walk the rest of the way to Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
Once Alex was driving the van and had trouble getting up the drive. Dad asked her to let him drive. He made it without any trouble. The neighbors across the way gave a round of applause!
When we got to the cabin, Alex had pulled off her shoes and was walking around barefoot. Before going to bed, she happened to see the bottom of her feet, they were black! She had to wash her feet off before going to bed.
I told her that David and I would run around barefoot outside when visiting our grandparents. We would bring the dust from the lane inside on the bottoms of our feet and would have to wash our feet before climbing into the squeaky-springed bedsteads for the night.
On most mornings, a short shower played on the metal roof of the cabin. This reminded me of the music the rain played on the porch roof at Grandpa snd Grandma’s. I don’t remember hearing the rain on the metal roof inside the house; I suppose because the attic space served as a buffer. On Gpa and Gma’s porch though, the raindrops were readily heard playing on its tin roof!
Our cabin in the mountains was surrounded by nut trees. Dad called them pignuts. The “music” of those nuts bombarding the roof during the night could be rather startling, kind of a “heavy metal” vibe.
Fortunately, Grandma and Grandpa didn’t have nuts hurtling at their roof. I imagine that my young self would not have been able to sleep a wink on that bedstead, wondering what creature kept violently knocking on their Anglin roof; especially if cousin Glenna Faye had been around telling scary stories!
Of course, sitting on the porch was a reminder of sitting on Gpa and Gma’s Anglin porch. In the evening, while swinging on the porch, night sounds were music to my ears. The scent of rich earth carried in the air, reminding me of Kentucky air. The cabin did apparently need a septic tank emptying. Sometimes, the scent of rich earth was replaced by a septic tank scent more reminiscent of the outhouse!
The tranquility of the setting seemed to settle in my soul, replacing chaotic thoughts with serenity, much as that porch of the past did. It was easy to close my eyes and imagine the whisk, whisk of Gpa’s pocketknife across his sharpening stone. When the septic tank was cooperating, I could even imagine the scent of the cedar stick he whittled.
The day after we arrived at our cabin, Mom treated us to first class tickets on a Great Smoky Railroad steam engine through the Nantahala Gorge. I think this is our first, and perhaps only first class experience!
Casey drove the approximately two hour drive to the depot in Bryson City. The mountains had not yet put on their fall frock, but a few trees were beginning to prime the fall pump.
Mom, Dad, Alex, Sydney, Casey, and I rode on the train. Mohammad hadn’t wanted to go, and we didn’t know Mahdieh joon could join us until it was too late for reservations. They stayed back in the cabin. Mahdieh joon had school work to do anyway.
We enjoyed a nice meal on the train, a “free” tote bags for the women, free mimosas and a free slice of cheesecake with a pumpkin swirl, history and “comedy” from our guide Steve B, and last but not least, beautiful scenery.
Even the kudzu, which was very present, was lovely! I even found out that kudzu has medicinal uses! Now I need to search for some kudzu, send hubby to the store for some high-octane vodka, and get busy making up a batch of Grannyma’s Magical Kudzu Tincture!! My Grannyma’s Magical Sweetgum Ball Tincture is getting lonely sitting on the shelf and could use some company!
The train ride was about 4.5 hours. The drive to and from was another combined 4 hours. Elk are usually present at sunrise and sunset at the Ocanaluftee Visitors’ Center. I really wanted to see the elk but knew that we needed to head back to the cabin before it got too late.
Well, guess what we passed right by on our way home; the Ocanaluftee Visitors’ Center! And, guess what was in the meadow beside the center, ELK!!! We stopped and I took a few photos!
We were all tuckered out when we got home, especially Dad. I think the trip exacerbated pain that he has in his side and back at times. It kept him pretty much cabin bound for most of the trip. Wishing Dad wasn’t hurting was the worse part of the trip.
Wednesday, Mahdieh joon had zoom classes to teach but Mohammad was antsy to get out. He and I drove to the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge. Dad and I wanted to get some of their meal to take home. Dad makes the best cornbread and their meal makes it even better!
While I went into the mill, Mohammad walked around, visiting the little shops around the mill. I bought 50 pounds of white, unbolted corn meal and then took some photos of the old mill.
It is a beautiful place. Watching the waterwheel turn is very mesmerizing and calming. It is easy to imagine how back in the day, settlers waited while that turning wheel was turning stones to grind the corn they had brought in. That corn meal was a blessing for those families. We consider it a blessing today but we could likely survive without our cornbread. Corn meal probably had a major role in staving off starvation back in the early days.
Roxanna, Jeremy, and Jooniebug arrived later Wednesday evening. Before coming to the cabin, they drove on to North Carolina. Jeremy had ridden on the Tail of the Dragon as a child, but wanted to drive it. I think that it was a bit much for Roxanna. I am not sure how little Cyrus felt inside his cozy womb, but Jooniebug wasn’t bothered at all.
Thursday, we lolly-gagged around the cabin all morning. Mom, Dad, and Mohammad stayed home. I believe that Mohammad had the misfortune to lose in Rummy while we were gone.
The rest of us loaded into two vehicles and made our way to my favorite place to visit, the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail.
Just before the one way loop for the trail starts, the Noah “Bud” Ogle home site lies on the right. The Bud Ogle homesite is my most favorite place to visit in the Smokies. Mahdieh joon and Jooniebug had never been there and I loved being there with them while they experienced this beautiful, magical, and serene setting! Jooniebug loved clambering over the very prevalent rocks and flitted from here to there like a butterfly in a flower garden!
Jooniebug, saw the Roaring Fork and decided she wanted to go swimming. Somehow in the stop and go traffic of a bear sighting, she changed into her swimsuit!
We made it to the convention center. There were more beautiful crafts than we had time to see. One lady made beautiful pictures from dried, pressed flowers. She had a sign asking folks not to take photos. I sure wish that I could have, as her pictures were truly lovely. Mahdieh joon could not resist purchasing one to hang in her living room. She bought one and then went back and traded it for a different one. We got a photo of those two.
We didn’t have time to see all the craft show had to offer, but some flavored honeys and fruit jams were bought. Alex bought some spiced honey for Cammy which he has already enjoyed. I believe that Sydney and Casey sampled some hot honey and bought some because it was so good. Roxanna bought a sampler pack of jams.
Jooniebug had a huge apple that had been dipped in caramel, then chocolate, and then marshmallows! The entire huge apple was consumed, but I heard it on good authority that Jooniebug’s daddy helped to finish it!
After the craft fair, back to the cabin we went! During our down time, we just enjoyed time being together in the cabin.
Mahdieh joon wanted to treat us all to a nice dinner. We went to the Old Mill but there was a two hour wait. We ended up going to Pollo Loco for Mexican. It was different from an Old Mill dinner, but it was still good, and we were all together except for Sydney and Casey! We did miss their company.
Friday was a cabin day for me. I stayed home with Dad and Mohammad. Roxanna, Jeremy, Jooniebug, and Mahdieh joon got up early and went to the aquarium. After that they did a little hiking along the way.
Mom, Alex and I watched The Barbie Movie and Alex painted Mom’s fingers and my toes. That is the second time in my life my toenails have been painted. I reckon that I must have been overcome by the Barbie world!
Mom and Alex then went to the Christmas Village and the Moon Pie General Store and Book Warehouse. Roxanna’s bunch met up with them there. They all ended up having a late lunch at the Old Mill. I think that most enjoyed their food!
Early Saturday morning, Mahdieh joon had to fly home so she could be at work on Monday. Alex drove her to the airport in Knoxville. We missed her that last day but she got home safely and said that she had a great time during her first visit to the Smokies.
Roxanna, Jeremy, and Jooniebug got up early and visited Cades Cove. I think it took them over three hours to drive the loop but they stopped and walked to all of the cabins.
In the Betty cabin a park ranger was playing some type of dulcimer. She played Amazing Grace and another tune that Roxanna said was beautiful. The ranger made Jooniebug a junior park ranger so that was exciting!
Jooniebug enjoyed hiking amongst God’s beautiful nature but I think that all of the activities of the week had succeeded in making our Energizer Bunny a wee bit tired! Roxanna was tired too! Of course, Roxanna is due to give birth to Cyrus in December, so she may be tired for two. Jeremy seemed to hold up fine.
In the afternoon, Alex, Mohammad and I went to the Apple Barn. Dad wanted a bushel of apples to put up and Alex wanted a frozen cider slushy. Mohammad wanted to get out of the cabin for a while.
We shopped in their little store and I bought a bushel of Arkansas Black apples for Dad. He wanted to smoke them, but Mom thought that we needed to freeze them. I am not sure how we will end up preserving them. They are delicious either way.
When we got home from the Apple Barn, we had what I call an ancestor meal. My parents, grandparents, greats and on back through generations have enjoyed a similar meal.
Mom had peeled a mess of apples and put them in a big skillet, ready to fry. She was making buttermilk biscuits when we got back from the Apple Barn.
I made fried pork loin chops, pork loin chop gravy, and fried the apples. Alex scrambled some eggs. We enjoyed a wonderful ancestor meal.
We did most everything we had wanted to do. Our cabin was supposed to be very close to Douglas lake and I had wanted to at least drive around the lake. Unfortunately, we ran out of time. I am not sure if there really was a lake there but Alex and I heard geese honking one evening. We surmised that there was indeed a lake whether we had seen it or not!
Before we left, I asked Jooniebug what her most favorite thing about our mountain vacation was. She said that being with her family was her favorite part! Roxanna said that Jooniebug had told her that being with family was her favorite part too. We surely enjoyed being with her too. The aquarium was her second favorite part. When you rank higher than jellyfish, seahorses, sawfishes, sharks, and rays, I reckon you are doing alright!
Roxanna’s crew had a longer drive and got an earlier start than the rest of us. Alex and Portie went home a different way. Alex saw this scene and pulled over so she could send me a photo because she knew that I would love it.
On the way home, we stopped by the Smoky Mountain Knife Works. Dad and I went in while Mom and Mohammad waited in the van.
Dad looked briefly at a knife display or two, but was looking for a sharpener. He found one and we returned to the van to begin our trip home.
Despite, Portie sneaking out the backdoor once, and Alex losing her keys just as we were leaving for home, we all made it home safely. Everyone was tired but we all enjoyed being with family in the beautiful peace of the mountains! Thanks God for both! Thanks God for all of our blessings!
In one of the gift shops on our trip, I saw some cute plush bigfeet. I loved them. Alex got one for me as an early Christmas present. Here, Houdini and I are chilling after our trip!
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