24 Hours Deep in the Mountains of Tennessee
My brother is The Mountain Man. He lives about 40 minutes outside of Boone, in a 400 sq.ft. cabin on a few acres in the mountains of Tennessee. Just him and his pure bred German Shepherd, Hunter, who looks scary but is one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met. Joseph, my mom, and I went to visit my brother on Sunday, and came back Monday. It was a short trip, but so worth it. It was great to spend time together, to get a small glimpse of the world he lives in, and to enjoy the mountain air. And let me just say that now I understand why my brother hates the city! Once you’re up there you realize you can live without the fast-paced pressures life has to offer. It’s a laid-back, simple life up there and I LOVED it. Here are some of the highlights from our 24 hours in the mountains of Tennessee:
1. Huge tracts of land, rolling green hills filled with wildflowers and Christmas tree farms that amazingly were not being taken over by townhomes and condominiums. Here in Greensboro, everywhere I look they are building new apartments or condos. I don’t understand why a city needs that many!!! Just keep the trees up and let us breath a little but, for cryin’ out loud!! :-)
2. Seeing my brother’s land for the first time. We went down one road, then turned onto his “street”, which is just a gravel pathway big enough for one car to fit on, and drove up and around and around again until we saw his cabin. It was the cutest thing ever! So tiny, but just perfect for him. He has his own vegetable garden growing out in the yard, and he has a storage shed that he uses to, well, store stuff obviously, but also to set up equipment to record music. So cool. Lots of trees all around, a nice view of the mountains beyond, and total peace and quiet. He’s done pretty well for himself. I was proud of him.
3. One of my worst fears came true. I forgot to pack my underwear. Yes, I did. And yes, I said it for the whole blogosphere to read. I’ll say it again. I forgot to pack underwear. Now, remember, this was only a 24 hour trip, so although you might scoff at the idea, I am not too high maintenance to wear the same pair of underwear 2 days in a row. Sometimes you just gotta live a little. And live I did, with the same dang pair of underwear I arrived in. I thought it was funny, and thought that us sharing a laugh together would make it even funnier!
4. Nature. I love being outdoors, so I had the best time walking around the Appalachian Trail, climbing up rocks to see a waterfall, sticking my feet in the clearest, cleanest, freshest water. It was so beautiful.
5. Nighttime. FREAKY Seriously, it was a little creepy at night when we went to bed because it was so quiet and so dark. I turned off the lights and thought, “Is this what it’s like to be blind?”. I had my eyes open but could not see ANYTHING. It was pitch black. So eerie. And on top of that it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Took me a while to go to sleep because I like a lot of noise while I’m sleeping.
Those are the main highlights of my 24 hours deep in the mountains of Tennessee. Not a very gripping tale, I know, but at least the part about me forgetting my underwear was interesting. There I go bringing it up again. It must have been really life-changing for me to think about it that much!
What did you all do this weekend?
Jessica
I spent a month almost every summer of my childhood camping out in tents for a month, usually in the mountains of NC. I loved it then, but, as an adult, and especially as a mom, that is NOT my idea of a vacation. A cabin in the woods is great — something like your brother's place sounds fabulous! — but I am with Marion these days on hiking the Appalachian trail as well as avoiding snakes! I prefer that “roughing it” include running water, heat in winter, and air con in summer! Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy! My packing issues usually involve taking TOO MUCH stuff rather than not enough. I did leave my whole make-up kit at home once. Vanity made an IMMEDIATE run to the drug store an absolute necessity! I also now own THREE perfectly functioning travel hair dryers. Guess why!??
I spent a month almost every summer of my childhood camping out in tents for a month, usually in the mountains of NC. I loved it then, but, as an adult, and especially as a mom, that is NOT my idea of a vacation. A cabin in the woods is great — something like your brother's place sounds fabulous! — but I am with Marion these days on hiking the Appalachian trail as well as avoiding snakes! I prefer that “roughing it” include running water, heat in winter, and air con in summer! Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy! My packing issues usually involve taking TOO MUCH stuff rather than not enough. I did leave my whole make-up kit at home once. Vanity made an IMMEDIATE run to the drug store an absolute necessity! I also now own THREE perfectly functioning travel hair dryers. Guess why!??
Oooo Marion!! I'm jealous of your son going to Australia! How cool!!!
Wow! While my family has gone on the App. trail, I do not think I can go on the trail unless all snakes are in hybernation. I am terrified of snakes. I can barely even write about. it. We have a house in the NC mountains but not deep in the woods.
This weekend I attended a board meeting where we planned the Wellspring 2009 conference. It's going to be great ladies! I hope to see alot of you out there in the blogosphere at the conference.
This weekend I have two graduation parties for my son who will graduate from highschool next week. He is going to Australia for the summer to visit his Uncle and Aunt. I am trying not to be jealous.
haha, once on a trip to williamsburg with my kids I let my 13 yr old son pack for his brother…..we arrived with no underwear and only play clothes that were too small (read worn out, stained, and too small)…..to spend a week sightseeing with my parents!!! (I had a horrible UTI show up the day we were to pack…that is my only defense.) Needless to say, the first stop on the sightseeing tour was the Bugle Boy shop at the mall.
your brother's place sounds wonderful!!
We had children's church showcase on Sunday. I sang right up there with the kids. ” I just want to be a sheep.” We also participated in the Global Day of prayer. Nick helped his brother move some stuff but I tell you what I liked the most was….. Knowing that God is moving here in the earth and in every nation on the planet. Praise God!