The Great Smoky Mountain Railroad trip was beautiful...

All aboard! We left Bryson City's train depot and headed out toward Fontana Lake, followed the Nantahala River and went over a really high train trestle! Can you see the trestle? The lake was a beautiful green color. I'm not sure what makes it that color. As you can probably see, they've lowered the water level for the winter so it's not as picturesque as it would be mid-summer. We stopped at the Nantahala Outdoor Center for lunch on the river. I'd recommend this outing to families! Way fun!

The Dillsboro Inn

This is where we stayed during our vacation. We were right on the Tuckasegee River. Neat place. They had marshmallow bonfires every night for the guests and a neat multi-level deck with a little pebble beach. The owner was a little kooky but I guess that comes with the territory when you stay at a small owner-operated inn deep in the mountains, right?!

Biltmore Estate

We went to Asheville with Shawn's dad for the weekend. What a great town and check out this HOUSE! ;-)

Bruno

Our dog is so funny! I just thought this picture of him all laid out exposing himself was really funny. That's how he lies around in the house, too. Love him!

World Champion Horse!

And I got to ride her! Jamie Fiocco, Gael and Pete's older daughter, trained and rode Carmen Miranda in horse shows for many years. This horse won World Champion, Hunter Pleasure Division. I can't remember which year. Now she has the good life of just hanging out at Flintlock Farms. It was great! Thank you Jamie! The little girl is the daughter of the farm's horse trainer. They live on-site and little Zoe gets to roam the farm all day and apparently already rides like a pro. The little man is our nephew, Matthew. He's 2 1/2 and wasn't even scared a bit.

Mary and John's Wedding Celebration Weekend

What a great weekend it was. The picnic pavilion held all sorts of family and friends for two days at Gael and Pete's Chapel Hill farm, Flintlock Farms. Check out the brick pizza oven! And the wedding cake was beautiful and from Fearrington Village's pastry shop. My parents came, too, and had a great time. Mary and John are honeymooning in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Hope they're having a ball! Thank you Pete and Gael for hosting such a fun event.

Old Friends Reunite

What a great crew! Here's who they are from left to right on couch: Land Arnold, college and Deli friend, Peder Hollinghurt, college and Deli friend and author of buck64aday. Jarrod Clayton, college and Deli, father of the two munchkins on the couch, Gwen Clayton, wife of Jarrod and great friend, Marla Darden, wife of Joel and great friend. On the floor is me, Shawn, and Joel Darden, college and Deli friend. Oh and of course BRUNO! :-)