mountain celebration

I must post about this before a new weekend arrives...

our day at home
6.17.09

So, I've been wanting to post about our trip to the mountains for weeks--asking opinions & the like. BUT it was a surprise. Drew officially turned 30 on June 17th & we had a fun day. Grits & Turkey bacon for breakfast, a trip to the Farmer's market to buy whatever we see, home again for some down time, dinner out with some friends at a new place (brazilian buffet), mini golf (where I unleashed the putting beast), and back home for cake & Ice cream. It was great! Per Drew's request there were no huge surprise parties, or unexpected guests.

don't compare with other cake. please.

Little did he know...& he didn't until we pulled up a VERY steep driveway to a mountain getaway--very unlike the primitive campground he thought we were headed to!

cherokee lodge drive

So, the surprise worked, the friends came & we had a blast. 30 is a big deal, not because you're old then, but because there are now SO many things experienced. I believe at this age we're only just beginning to understand all the possibilities--good and bad--and appreciating what we have, who we are, and who we love. (cheeeeese)

did I mention she hiked 4 rugged miles? with minimal complaining?

Did I mention the cake? Out of this world.

blueberry cake with lemon curd filling. mmmmmmmmmmmm. & look at that great decor!!

But, we also celebrated the 4th and what a magnificent show. Being only 3-4 miles from the Tenessee border really had some pluses, i.e. "real" fireworks. The boys had quite a display for us, as did the dozens of others in the holler we shared. There were explosions on mountains tops miles away, in valleys just down the drive, left & right, everywhere we looked. We couldn't have asked for a better show. Not to mention the weather--sweaters necessary makes Lacey very happy!

2 birthdays at once!

Other things not elaborated on: Art Crawl in downtown boone, bear scares while picking pounds of black raspberries (not to be confused with blackberries--mind you), hours soaking in hot tub, king size beds, Va-poo-rize, 4th of July surprise cocktails, babies, corn on the cob, candy, coffee, black cat, mountain home dreamin'.