back to school

It's Back to School for these three today!

 

Parker starting the sixth grade at Watertown Middle School.

Brynn and Brooks starting second grade at Springdale Elementary School.

july on the ponderosa

July on the Ponderosa has looked a lot like this!

our new favorite place

Last week we spent a couple of nights at the Gatlinburg Inn.   The inn was built in 1937 and has been family owned and operated since that time.

It is right in the center of the Gatlinburg strip and you can walk to everything.  I can remember seeing it in the 60's when our family would visit the Smoky Mountains.  Many famous people have stayed there including J. C. Penney, Lady Bird Johnson, Andy Williams, Liberace, Chief Justice Earl Warren and Present Herbert Hoover.  Its main claim to fame is that the song Rocky Top was written there in room 322!

Walking into the inn makes you feel like you entered a movie set.  The wooden doors, the key you use to enter the room and the furnishings speak of another era, but the restrooms are modern and there is wifi.  It is exceptionally clean and the staff are friendly and courteous.  Each morning there was a delicious hot breakfast for us in their breakfast room.

 

Our favorite place at the inn was the porch filled with rocking chairs. In the late afternoon about every half hour live entertainment would appear on the porch.  The entertainment was part of Tunes and Tales sponsored by the city of Gatlinburg.

 It was our first time staying there but will not be our last!

junior showmanship winner

 

This grandson had a great day at the Central Regional 4-H show. He was the champion in the junior showmanship class and three of his does won blue ribbons in their class.  He works hard preparing for the show and even in the ring while showing and we are very proud of him. This show was in Bedford County.

Parker and Primrose

Parker and Ruby Shade

Parker and Stella

waiting for spring

I'm waiting patiently for spring.  My kitchen counter looks like spring.

My front door looks like spring.

But my thermometer says its winter with highs in the 30's and wind chills in the 20's. And a hard freeze is predicted for tonight.   I saw this forecast yesterday so I took a walk with my camera to capture some of the spring blooms and tender shoots that will probably get frozen tonight!

Hurry Spring!

peach lemonade

Peach Lemonade

29 ounce can of peaches, in juice, drained

Country time lemonade mix, enough to make 2 quarts

Place peaches in blender and puree until fully liquefied.

Fill two quart pitcher halfway with water.

Stir in drink mix. Add peach puree and fill the rest of the way with cold water.

Stir Well.

Serve over ice.

I like to add a couple of maraschino cherries to my glass!

easter 2018

Last weekend The Ponderosa hosted our annual Easter picnic and egg hunt.  Seventy plus friends and family members gathered for some good food and to visit with each other.  We had egg hunts for the littles and the adults!  I'm not sure which one has the most fun.  The weather was ideal.  This party is an annual tradition and we always  have it on the Saturday before Easter. We grill ribs, and chicken and hot dogs and everyone brings a dish to create an Easter feast.

Chloe the Easter Bunny.  She's been hunting eggs here since she was little bitty!

Granny Lerion's jello eggs--another Easter tradition

The little hunters

Kreelynn had to have a taste of her eggs!

The big hunters!

Looking for prizes!

Friends at the egg tree!

BeBe the Easter Kid

Ruth and Delilah friends since birth.

Betty Jo and her nieces Lerion and Sybil

Cousins sharing a little mac and cheese!

Abby and Bebe

If there's an orange ring around your mouth, its been a great afternoon!

Happy Easter
2018