Bless Your Heart

We had such a good time this weekend. I wish we could have stayed in the mountains for a week!

Friday Rachel, Brian, & Violet arrived. Violet is so sweet! We toured them around the house and the city then had dinner at Lupie’s. At dinner we talked about the things Rachel & Brian had noticed so far during their trip. Rachel noticed the abundance of children’s homes we apparently have in NC. “What’s with all the children’s homes? Why don’t they just live with their parents? I kept waiting to see roving packs of thieving children on the road!” After dinner we loaded up the cars and hit the road to Valle Crucis. Everyone got settled into their rooms. Rachel, Brian & Violet were in the Chestnut Room and we were in the Bridal Suite .

Saturday we woke up bright and early to go to breakfast at Dan’l Boone Inn. We got our own little room with a huge lazy susan. Brian ended up sitting next to Hale so he got the rub during blessing. So funny!

You see, we all join hands and say blessing before dinner and whoever sits next to Hale gets the rub, as Hale has a tendency to rub your hand while holding it, no matter who you are. Once you’ve gotten the rub, you know you’re an official part of the family!

After breakfast we went to the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk. We bought worms from worm wranglers out front and raced them. Alas, despite rigorous training our worms failed to win, or even place for that matter! We had fun racing and browsing all the booths though.

After the festival we checked in on the dogs then toured the Mast General Store. We then toured the neighboring town of Boone then went back to the house for dinner and Trading Spaces.

Sunday

We went to breakfast at Mountain House where Rachel & Brian told us all about the abundance of meat themed restaurants we have here. When you live somewhere for a long time it’s really interesting to hear an out of towner’s observations. They loved Winn Dixie (the beef people) plus all the bar-b-que & steak restaurants everywhere. Even the meat cutters at Harris Teeter (grocery store) wear cowboy hats! Rachel’s take on how it’s different up north: “We eat meat, we just don’t celebrate it!”. After breakfast we went to Blowing Rock to check out the strip of cool stores and galleries.

Then it was time to pack up and go. We were so sad to see them leave! But we’ll be up to see them before too long!

(More pictures to come once they’re developed.)