Magnificent Monday!

My kids minus one

Rowdy, rowdy rowdy!!

Birthday Cake for Birthday Girl

How bad am I?? I think Monday has become my favorite day of the week. My work week doesn't begin until tonight and the rest of the family are in school or at work, leaving me the house to myself. I crank up the local AM station ( WHEO 1270) ; Monday is big band. I do some laundry and chores and get caught up on my blog.

I enjoyed a wonderfully packed weekend. Saturday was the Apple Dumpling Festival and Sunday we had family over for some birthday fun. 

I never been one for the big themed birthdays. I usually have my Mama and Daddy, brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces, and some close friends and the fun's on. I give the kids the chose of what cake they want for their birthday. Tori wanted the new favorite, pecan coconut cake. This has become the go to cake.

I've taken it as a bundt cake to family event, and school bake sales. Sometimes it's iced; sometimes it's glazed ; maybe no icing at all but everybody loves this cake. When the kids we're small I've asked them if they would prefer a cake from the bakery but they want mine. So that's what I go with. 

Birthdays are like holidays for me. They are extremely special but I don't prefer an over abundance of hoopla. It's about family, food and togetherness. If you're loosing your enjoyment for special occasions maybe it's just that you have too much hoopla.

Many blessing!

I'm lookin' for a wonderful week, I hope you are too.

Sunday at Tweetsie Railroad

All aboard!!

Tweetsie's Vintage Steam Engine #12

 

 

Hey! I'm so excited to share my weekend travels with you. Our adventure took us to beautiful Blowing Rock, North Carolina to spend the day at the Tweetsie Railroad Amusement Park. From our home in Stuart, Virginia, it was an easy getaway only taking about two hours in driving time. Tweetsie Railroad is located on Hwy 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock in the northwest corner of the state.

 

My adventures!

I barely got them to stop for a picture as we were goin' in.

 

Tweetsie is wonderful for young children and the young at heart. The park is like stepping into you own wild west movie. The train is the main attraction. Your ride will start at the depot and you'll be accompanied by the sheriff and his deputy. You never know when train robbers will try to jump the train or when and Indian raid may breakout.

 

Don't hide in the outhouse!

 After you've taken a trip on Tweetsie, you should take in a show or visit the County Fair.

 

See the dance hall girls do the can-can

Ride the chair lift to the top of the mountain. There's more to see.

There's even Deer Petting Park.

 

As you can see there's no limit to how much good family fun you can have. The park was not over crowded but had a good number of visitors. I only saw smiles everywhere I turned. The park employees all wore smiles and were most courteous.

But..don't get too rowdy or you may wind up in the Tweetsie Jail

or...

Lookin' for a quick horse.

or ...

Catchin' tha last train outa' town.

I've enjoyed sharing my trip to Tweetsie with you. Thanks for stopping by

Southern Direction. As always I wish you a blessed day.

 

Tweetsie Railroad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Pilot Mountain

Pilot Mountain, North Carolina

 

Wow! Isn't that a view?

I just can't wait to share the families little weekend getaway with you.

We headed out for Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Our destination Tweetsie Railroad. What fun, fun, fun! I couldn't resist sharing a picture of the Pilot Knob with you. We always know we're getting close to home when the Knob is in full view.

I've got a post coming soon that's just dedicated to Tweetsie Railroad. I know I desperately need to do some hiking at Pilot's Knob; I think you'd really enjoy a look around up there but for now.....

enjoy your day and..

BE Blessed.

As for me, I'm drinking from my saucer cause my cup has overflowed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scarecrow Saturday

 

Yes, We've finally got our ole friend out for the season. This has been our project for today.

Here's what we started with.

My old bibs, flannel shirt, and my hat I thought

I had to have but have never worn.

Okay....Let's wear it.

 

I'm terribly cheap and hate to waste money if I have something

that can work but I did purchase some burlap for the head.

Last year we used an ole panty hose for the head.

I think the burlap will work a little better.

We tied knots in the legs of the pants and arm of the shirt.

We've decided to stuff it with pine cones. I know that sounds

a little crazy but last year we stuffed with straw and when it

rained everything was really slouchy. This time we'll be stiff

and sticky.

 

We also just safety pinned most of everything together. We thought he'd

be on a stick but it didn't work out so we used a cinder block and set him

on a stump.

All in all, we liked the way he turned out. Jack parked his John Deere

wagon with some corn stalks and a pumpkin next to him. Now the only

thing to figure out is what's his name. Jack wanted him to be called

Jack. Alisha wanted her to be called Becky. I keep calling him Fred

since that was his name last year.

Fred was a little on the skinny side.

He's put on a little weight this year.

Jud don't know what to think.

There you go, one more do-it yourself,

go by the seat of your pants

Saturday Scarecrow Project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adventures to Mayberry/MT. Airy,NC

My adventurer's

Well here I am loking into another weekend and I still haven't shared last weekends pictures and travels. This was one of those Sundays' that had no real plan the old man(hubby)said, "ya'll goin' with me?" We gladly said, "yeah." When he's ready to go he's ready; so I had neither knowledge of where we were going and I didn't grab the camera so all pictures are thanks to baby girl's(Alisha's) camera. I think you'll enjoy seeing them.

 

The destination was MT. Airy, North Carolina, which for us isn't a long drive. It takes us about twenty minutes from Stuart, Virginia. We go there often but people travel to Mt. Airy from very far away in search of Mayberry. Yes, Mt. Airy is the home town of Andy Griffith and the inspiration for all those wonderful Mayberry shows.

 

We only came to visit Main Street where there is alway, always,  interest and excitement.

Pickin's in the Common's

Our first stop it the commons area because we all have to hit the restroom.( you know how us girls are) Well I honesetly would have been content to set there and listen to the bluegrass all evening. Mt. Airy is full of wonderful musicians but bluegrass is truely king around here. This the kind of wonderfulness I think you only get with bluegrass music. These guys are not a peticular band they just come walking up start pulling out guitars, mandolins, and banjo's and start picking. The picker's are growing because people keep walking up with instruments in hand. Several ladies can't help but do a little flat footing(dancing). Oh, but my crew is ready to walk about.

 

Main Street

Definately motorcycle friendly!

Mt Airy loves the motorcyclist

and they love Mt. Airy.

Do you remember the Blue Bird Diner from Mayberry?

No shortage of hot rods.

If ya' got it..bring it!!

Fantastic Shops.

shops,

shops,

and more shops!

You say,"you lookin' for artisianship,"

they got it.

anything you want

 

it's here.

 

Bear Creek Gifts, LLC

Did I remind you your in the South?

 

Well that's a quick look at Mt. Airy. I hope you saw something that either entised you or interested you. By the time we'd walked both sides of the street we we're hungry so we ended the day with a fish supper at the Libby Hill restaurant. I recommend them for good affordable family dining.

 

Thanks so much for visiting Mayberry with us,

and as always...

Be Blessed.

 

 

A few links for ya...

 

Surry Arts Council

Andy Griffith Museum

Surry County Music and the Earle

Memories On Main Antiques & Collectibles