Did You Miss Me?????

[queenbee]

We are back from Gatlinburg. Had a most wonderful time. Did lot's of walking and sight seeing.

Did the 8 mile crafters loop, the real handmade stuff not the Made In China junk. Waited to get a hand thrown mug until it was to late and the shops closed but enjoyed the walk and seeing everything, it got my artisticness (new word ya'll) to acting up. Found a wonderful painting that I wanted but it was $1,050.00 so I decided to wait Saw wonderful handmade brooms, pottery, jewelry, old quilts used for new purposes and lilred got to actually get a cold Orange Crush from a pull bottle coke machine. It tasted really good and she was proud of herself.

Spoke at length with spiritual photographer and purchased a picture that really spoke to me. He told me about it and also had a typed story behind it. The cloud formations show an angel in perfect profile detail from the top of her head to her wings. I also pointed out something else I saw in the picture to him. Ya'll will have to wait and see it, that's all I am telling you. The title of the shot is called Breath of God

Found a wonderful art gallery called the Eye's of God that had wonderful works of Nature by another spiritual photographer. It was at the lower end of Gatlinburg below the Hard Rock Cafe. Three floors of pictures he has taken showing nature, mostly wildlife and then books and such on nature. Absolutely beautiful work. Even the picture the studio is named for is there.

We went to the Book Warehouse (bestest place to get books) and for Mother's Day grumpy got me a book of bears and other animals in the Great Smokey Mountain. Nice color photographs. I had mentions before that I need some good pictures of bears for my paintings. All of the ones I have painted look like they were scared, all of their fur was sticking out like a fuzz ball. So now I can practice the drawing to get it worked into my art along with foxes, coyotes and other nature critters. I also picked up the book The Boleyn Inheritance (just like the movie) to read. It had an ink smear on it and was only $5.00. Got a couple of pens for lilred's teachers and got me a new ORANGE GO VOLS PEN. I wore my other one out.

Had Mother's Day breakfast at the pancake house at light #8. I did exercised while eating them of course . They were really good, affordable prices and the waitresses were awesome.

We had some hail and high winds and bad storms in the evenings and about 15 miles north of us was a Class 4 Storm cell (I think that's right). But all worked out well.

Have already gotten several calls from my boy's wishing me Happy Mother's Day, lilred was with me all weekend of course and baby boy spent Friday afternoon with me before we left.

I explained to my kid's that someone on the board felt sorry for them that they had me as a mother. Guess what? The 3 of them, yes lilred too, just can't wait to meet that person. They want to have a talk with that person about what a good mother I actually am, to straighten out any of her concerns or mis-conceptions about my mothering capabilities.

I really did miss ya'll and thought about you lot's and what fun we could all have had together.

Everytime a Harley blew through I thought about Babe.
When I went into the Native American Stores in Cherokee, I thought about Taylor.
When I went by the partying crowd I thought about Sangria and Maddy.
While looking at the handmade crafts I thought about BB & Tulip.
When I saw the older folks kicking it and having a good time I thought about Coosa.
To me diet and workout buddies I thought about ya'll when I was walking by the ice cream stores and fried corn dogs and all of the candy shops.

I thought about Summerrose when I was sitting in the rocker outside the hotel taking it easy and looking at the mountains.

If I have forgotten to mention anyone, I apologize cause I am tired and it was a wonderful weekend.

PS: i was in the shower this morning and remembered I forgot to mention 2C and Nat

I thought about Nat when I saw those people walking their cute dogs in those t-shirts and outfits. I saw one dog in camo.

2C was mixed in with the party crowd having a big old time.

[maddy]

Bee, just by seeing your daughter & being around her just the few times I have, you are an AWESOME mother! It shows in her manners and just the way she's carries herself. She's a very confident young lady and that reflects on you, my lady!!

[maddy]

yes, you were missed & glad y'all had fun!

[coosa]

I missed you too!! I wondered where you were!!

[taylor]

So glad you had a good time and arrived home all safe and sound -

Thanks for thinking about me!

[bb]

Awwwww, bee... that was so sweet to think of all of us! I haven't been on the crafters' loop in years. Hunny and I will have to do that some time. I loved it when I was there years ago.

I was wondering where you were... so, yes, you were missed!

[queenbee]

I could just see us all flittin around Gatlinburg laughing and cutting up and having a good 'ol time.

I tell you what, I saw some strange dressed folks there. It stormed really bad and there was this girl who had on a pair of those huge baggy legged pants, bell bottom type in black and with red handle straps on them. Kind of goth looking. The kind they you could put you head into the bottom of them look liked a flare tail skirt. Well that water got so deep that them britches soaked it all up, and she was a slogging through it. She made it to the trolley stop and I looked at her, grinned and said "I will just bet a pair of capri's is looking real good right now." She grinned at me.

[summerose]

Of course we missed you! Glad you had a great time!

[queenbee]

Somebody had to know in case I need bond money.

[nataliewood]

Sounds like you really had a great time! You deserve it with the hectic life you have. Those bees have been keeping you extra busy. Very glad you are back though. Did you take any pictures of the crafts?

[queenbee]

I forgot my camera, plus they had signs posted not to take pictures or they would take your camera.

Got some great shots of the mountians and other places with my camera phone.

[queenbee]

About 2 hours, give or take.

It took about an hour to Cherokee through the gorge and it's about 30 miles to Gatlinburg
from Cherokee.

The mountains are beautiful and haven't quite got their bloom on yet, if you know what I mean.

It seems to take forever on the road because it is winding but it is worth it.

We stopped the Smokey Mtn. welcome station, I know several of the rangers there and over in Sevierville. I joined "Friends of the Smokies" and felt really good about helping the park.

They also had some great natural herbs planted around the welcome center, that hadn't bloomed yet so with the help of the signs I got to identify them without the blooms, just studying them by their leaves and steams. really educational. Ya'll know I like my herbs ointments and salves. Solomon's Seal favors Lily of the Valley leaves only larger, I didn't realize that. Seeing them for real is better then trying to see them in a photograph.