Dreaming

These pictures are from a trip we took 2 years ago this month.  Does anyone know where we were?  We are all wanting to go back.  Maybe next year!

Cade's Cove--My Gatlinburg Finale

No words needed, but can I just say--- I want to move to Cade's Cove when I grow up!!  Gorgeous!!

The Forge

One day while on our vacation in Gatlinburg we took the Arts and Crafts Trail.  I had seen in the brochure that there were several stops where the artists were actually on-site and demonstrating their art or craft.  On of those stops was The Forge and I thought it would make an interesting stop.

This stop far exceeded my expectations!!  The Forge makes and sells recycled aluminum decorative plates and Christmas ornaments.  After seeing the ornaments I wished I hadn't already purchased ornaments for all the children at another stop.  They were really nice!  The artist (I don't recall his name) talked with us and told us that he had been featured in Southern Living a few years ago.  He was very friendly and joked around with us while we were looking at ornaments and plates.

My mom picked out a plate for my youngest sister and was choosing one for herself when the artist asked, "Wouldn't it be more special to you if the grandchildren made it for you?"  Of course, we were all excited for this opportunity and he took us back to his workroom.  Now, when we get creative here at home, we generally can make a real mess, but the mess at The Forge was well....really messy!

 Here we are going into the back room.  Lots of junk to walk through!

Kaelan is preparing to start the process at the automated hammer.  The artist has a template made with a raised design.  He places a square of recycled aluminum on this template and the automated hammer does it's thing.....with some help.

Kaelan directs the hammer blows under the supervision of the artist.

This process was EXTREMELY loud!

Now Aaron takes a turn.

Now Kaelan and the artist cut the hammered design out into a circle.

After the artist files the edges of the plate and wipes it down with chemicals to darken it,  we all walk out to the anvil where the children take turns pounding the edges.

The artist was very trusting of the children.  Throughout the entire process his fingers were in close proximity to hammers and cutters that the children were operating!

Kaelan's turn.

Jackson takes a turn.

That was fun!!  You can see the smaller ornaments just over Jackson's shoulder.

The finished plate!  Isn't it beautiful?  I think mom put it on her mantle.

If you go to Gatlinburg take the drive out to The Arts and Crafts Trail.  It's not as nice and neat as downtown Gatlinburg, but you will see real craftsmen and artists at work.  It is definitely time well-spent!

More from Gatlinburg

This is the deck at our cabin.  Every morning we woke to more leaves scattered across the deck and the stairs.  By the time we left the leaves were several inches deep!

Devin in the drive of our lodge.

Jackson on his dad's back as we were riding in the tram up to Ober Gatlinburg.

The view from the tram.

Kaelan and Jeff ice skating.  It was the first time for Aaron, Kaelan and Jackson.  And no, I didn't skate! Someone has to be able to take care of everybody else!  Kaelan and Jeff were just talking about how they hadn't had a tumble when they decided to circle and promptly fell on their backsides.

Jackson pretty much held on the the rail the entire time except when a  couple of the older ones would take him in between them and go to the middle.  He did manage to stay upright most of the time.

My mom and Kaelan coming down the Alpine slide.  Jordan is quickly approaching.   They had to ride in the open ski lift to the top of the mountain to come down the Alpine slide.  This was the most fun for everyone, but wasn't cheap.  Next time we will buy all day passes and just let everyone ride all day long.

Jordan, Kaelan and Devin waiting for the rest of us to finish window shopping.

The view on the ride down.  We were just in time to see all the beautiful fall colors.

The other tram going up as we were going down.

In front of a restaurant in Gatlinburg

We only saw one LIVE bear while in Gatlinburg this time and it was a baby bear crossing the highway before going into Pigeon Forge.  We  had been told to be careful about leaving food outside our lodge as a moma bear had been seen in the area several times.  Made the kids a little anxious about getting in the hot tub at night, but not enough to keep them out of it!

Enjoying a treat!  We only bought treat like this a couple of times.  We took a bag filled with homemade cookies, water, crackers,  pretzels and even carried summer sausage and cheese for snacks and lunches.  Buying treats for 8 of us each day would have cost a fortune!  We try to save where we can on vacations and food seems to be one easy way we can cut back.

Caedmon eating a leaf shaped cookie brought from home.

Jackson with the remains of his chocolate ice cream cone.  He couldn't finish it, so Jeff and I split it!

And so ends another fun day in Gatlinburg!

Back to Gatlinburg---day two

On the second day of our trip we finished settling in at the Living Large Lodge and spent the rest of the day walking around downtown Gatlinburg, investigating interesting stops and sampling fudge.  Everything was decorated beautifully for fall.  Everywhere were these giant misshapen pumpkins that the children are sitting on above.  I have never seen such pumpkins, but they were beautiful!  Downtown Gatlinburg has become very Hollywoodish and has lost a good bit of its local flavor, but we enjoyed several of the shops anyway.  At a local craftsman shop, I purchased a simple unpainted wooden car for one of Caedmon's Christmas presents.  Another shop we enjoyed was called All Sauced Up.  They carried every imaginable sauce and dip that you could think of along with several interesting kitchen gadgets.  I think their claim to fame, though, was the HUNDREDS of samples they had available throughout the store.  We actually stopped at All Sauced Up two days. ; )   And yes, we did make some purchases!!  We bought a great BBQ sauce for our pulled pork sandwiches that I had planned for later that evening.  Delicious!!     The children ended our first day with a soak in the hot tub before family worship.

In front of a local crafts store.

In The Village shopping area.  One of our favorite little side areas.  They had a Celtic heritage shop where I purchased a small book on the history of the Sullivan clan (my maiden name) and a keychain with the Sullivan crest for my father.  Jackson thought the horse was put there just for him!