Letter To Santa

Dear Santa,

In my entire life I don’t think I’ve ever written you a letter, but this year is special and different and my list is very long. I don’t know if I’ve been particularly bad or good but that’s okay because most of this stuff is not for me anyway. So here goes:

1. Santa, the hospitals are crowded and some people have to postpone the treatments they need because there are so many COVID patients so could you heal the sick? Hurry up that vaccine and make this nasty virus go away!

2. Also, leave something very special for all of the medical people who interact every day with the sick. They don’t need courage because they are some of the bravest people I know, but maybe you could give them some rest and peace.

3. And Santa, everybody that has to do public work, give them safety and good health. Cover them with a magic shield that will protect them from harm. 

4. Santa, I’m concerned about all the teachers, parents and kids out there who are trying to figure out how to do education. Could you give them lots of energy and patience? Give them a long restful Christmas break. May they enter the new year with a new desire to learn/teach and get all the tools they need to be successful. 

5. This is a tough one, Santa, but could you leave lots of peace and comfort to all the families who lost loved ones this year? Christmases will never be the same for them. They need to know that they have not been forgotten. 

6.  Also, give lots of love to all the families who will be doing Christmas a little differently this year. So many people will be alone. So many traditions will be broken. But Santa, remind them all that they are loved and help them look forward to better days. 

7. And most importantly, could you give the whole world hope and joy and cheer?  So many people are angry and argumentative. So many people are afraid. As the old song says, “we need a little Christmas right now”! So Santa, can you help?  Could you tell people to stop arguing, to just get along, and pray for each other? When you fly that sleigh through the sky could you just spread some empathy and compassion all over the entire world?

 I know it’s a long list, Santa, but it’s really important, so maybe if you ask Him and I ask Him, the Big Guy upstairs will help us out. I’ll be sure to pray real hard.  Thanks for listening and be safe out there on Christmas Eve. 

WEAR YOUR MASK!

Love,

Linda

Gatlinburg Corona

Greetings from my isolation in the Mountains!  

Yep, we’re in that “vulnerable age group” so we are taking the necessary precautions, not out of fear, but compassion and common sense.  My preparations included stocking (but not hoarding) my pantry with a good supply of canned goods. My freezer is full of casseroles and meat. We definitely won’t starve during the next few weeks. 

How do I feel about the situation?

Personally speaking this whole thing hasn’t changed my lifestyle that much. I’m an old home body who doesn’t mind solitude. I’ve always said “a good day is one where I don’t have to go anywhere or do anything!” I guess that’s about to be put to the test.  I do miss sports and close contact with my kids, but I’ve got yarn, lots of books and WiFi. And if I start feeling cooped up there’s over 900 miles of trails to explore! I’m isolated but, let’s face it, the weather is good and the view is not bad!

What I’m really concerned about is:

-Corona Patients. Get well soon!

-People who are on the “front lines” and are testing or treating confirmed patients. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and all other medical personnel. Stay healthy!

-Large businesses and corporations who are tasked with trying to make the tough decisions concerning the safety of their employees and customers. 

-The workforce from managers to janitors!  Bless you and stay safe!

-Small business owners and employees who may lose their only source of income. We’ve all got to find ways to help them get through this tough time!

-Young working parents trying to figure out childcare. 

-Parents who are trying to educate/entertain their kids at home. There are lots of resources online, but let’s face it, kids like to be with their friends. 

-Kids, Youth, Teenagers and college students. Bless their hearts!  I know they must be bored out of their minds! And some are so disappointed about spring break plans, proms, graduations, tournaments, and all manner of things being cancelled. I’ve got no answers for you except maybe this can be a time for families to slow down and play games or just talk. Life after Corona will be even sweeter. Keep the faith. 

-Friends and family, especially those in the Davidson County area. My goodness! A tornado and now Corona! My thoughts and prayers are with you. Please take this thing seriously and stay safe!

Whew!  That’s a lot to be concerned about but my life is good. I’ve got nothing to complain about and my Mama taught me to always put yourself in the other guy’s place. Think about what they’re going through, how they feel, and how can I help? My heart goes out to you. Please accept this great big virtual hug!

How are things in Gatlinburg?

To my knowledge, there has only been one confirmed case in Sevier County.  I watch those numbers daily and hope that they stay low. At the same time, I’m being realistic. This is a tourist town and the tourists have not stayed away. It’s Spring Break and I think a lot of people who had Disney plans decided to go to the mountains instead.  Most of the rental cabins around me are occupied. The crowds in town are thinner for this time of year,  but there’s still a good number of people wandering around. I’m not sure how they’re  occupying their time. Dollywood is closed. All dinner theaters are closed. Sky Bridge is closed. Several of the restaurants are closed or doing drive through only. I’m told that Tanger has about 70% of their stores open. I expect more and more places will be closing as time passes. Of course if you love the great outdoors, there’s always hiking! What a great “social distancing” way to see some beautiful wonders of nature!

You may have heard or read that the park is closed, but read closely. The visitors centers are closed and the large planned events such as The Wildflower Pilgrimage are canceled, but the trails are open and spring is almost here!

About the grocery store situation

The last time I went to the grocery store (Saturday) there was plenty of food. There was no hand sanitizer or wipes and they were rationing toilet paper and cleaning supplies, but there was plenty of everything else. I’m not sure if/when it will get crazy but I’m going to stay away as long as possible and let the “crazies” fight over my share! A brand new Food City opened in Pigeon Forge today (we stopped for gas) and the parking lot was full so maybe everybody can get what they need. If I get tired of my own cooking, we’ll try to support the local eateries by doing some take out or drive through. And yes, I know how to do Grub Hub and Door Dash!

Well that’s about it from the mountains. I leave you with this:

Be kind to your friends and coworkers. Check on your neighbors. Be patient with your kids. Smile. Breathe. Pray. Count your blessings. Wash your hands and keep your distance!

Peace

Security!

We’ve been in the house a year now. I haven’t written anything in about six months, but not because nothing’s happened. There’s a lot going on. I could write about all the new amusements and restaurants that are being built in the area or all the company I’ve had, but I’ll save that for another time. Today I want to talk about security. Security, as in cameras, motion detectors, digital locks, window sensors, etc. Nowadays they make devices to control everything! Our previous system, at both houses was Iris by Lowe’s, but wouldn’t you know it? Right after we bought everything for the new house, they went out of business. Fortunately, we were reimbursed for the devices that couldn’t be converted but we still had to buy a few new items. The biggest priority was a camera. We knew where it would be located. We wired for it. But which camera would work best for us that would be compatible with our home security system? There’s a lot of stuff out there and it isn’t cheap! 

Do any of you watch TheVoice? (No I haven’t got sidetracked and I haven’t lost my mind. This is all related. Bear with me!) A few years ago a guy named Dave Crosby was on The Voice and his daughter Claire, a YouTube sensation, sang with him. Well, I was intrigued so I started following them on YouTube.  Dave used to work for Amazon but he and some friends left Amazon to start their own company. They went to Japan to find a quality product that they could mass produce and sell at a reasonable price in America. Their company is Wyze and their first product was Wyzecam, a $20 security camera!! I don’t know if you’ve priced them but security cameras can cost hundreds of dollars, but now there’s one out there for $20? Would it work? Well, we decided to give it a try. It’s advertised as an indoor camera, but if you locate it out of the weather and you don’t expose it to extreme temperatures, it works like a charm.  Here are some screen shots from our camera. 

As you can see, it works day or night. It is activated by motion and records what’s happening. For those of you who may not be familiar with home security systems, the camera can be checked, activated, or turned off with an app on my phone. We use it for a lot of things besides security. We watch the bears. We check the weather. We look to see if that handyman came to work. Anyway!  I bet you’re wondering why I’m talking about cameras. Well, an interesting thing happened. My camera captured this video of bears on my front Porch

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6gtscos96ikrv5v/2019-09-03%2019.34.33.mp4?dl=0

Cool huh! 

Well, the Wyze app on my phone has a section called ”Discover”. It’s a social media type section where WyzeCam users can share interesting or funny videos their cameras have recorded and other users can comment. So I submitted my bear video and titled it “Anybody Home?” Needless to say, it was quite popular (20,000+ views). A few weeks later I got an email from the people at Wyze asking for my home address because I had won a prize for “Best Video Wildlife Division”. What?  (I vaguely remembered something about prizes being awarded occasionally when I submitted my video but I didn’t think much of it.) I almost didn’t send them my address because there are so many internet scams these days. But if you can’t trust your security company...... I sent them my address and wondered what my prize might be. I figured it would be discounts or coupons for more merchandise. Anyway, a few weeks later I got an envelope from Wyze. Oh boy, must be my coupons!  You can imagine my shock and surprise when I saw this!

I was flabbergasted! Oh but wait! It gets even better. We were out of town, but when we got back home I found this package from Wyze. 

 That box contains 4 cameras, camera mounting devices, 2 smart plugs, 4 smart light bulbs, an SD card for the camera, a smart surge protector, and a trophy. I was stunned! I went to their Facebook page and sent them a thank-you note. Here’s their response. 

Now I’m speechless, except to say I’m very impressed with this company and I wanted to share this story with you. So if you need any security devices, you might give them a try. I saw some of their cameras last week at Home Depot or you can buy them online. 

What’s New

It’s hard to believe but we’ve been in the house for over six months already! We spent the winter months decorating inside. 

And once spring arrived we moved our efforts outdoors to the deck and yard.  We have a lot of deck space so it will take awhile to get to where I want it to be, but we’ve made a good start.

I’m  happy to see that the neighborhood has started to come back. There are several houses in various stages of construction in our immediate area and hundreds all over this mountain. 

And there’s a lot more than residential construction going on.  It’s been over 2 1/2 years since the fire and it’s amazing to see all the new restaurants and attractions that have popped up during that time.

Here’s a list.

In Pigeon Forge:

-Alcatraz East  

(www.alcatrazeast.com)

A museum about crime, crime-solving, and famous criminals

-Pigeon Forge Snow  

(pigeonforgesnow.com)

A year-round indoor snow tubing attraction

-Crave Golf Club 

(www.cravegolf.com)

Spin the wheel to determine if you have to putt with one hand, standing on one leg, with your eyes closed....or maybe you will be granted a free stroke or a hole in one. Or you can go just to visit the candy store. 

- Pirate’s Voyage Dinner & Show  

(https://piratesvoyage.com)

PF’s latest show, Pirate’s Voyage Dinner & Show invites you to join Captain Blackbeard, the most famous pirate to ever sail the seven seas, and his quartermaster Calico Jack as they lead the Crimson and Sapphire crews in an epic battle for lost treasure on land, on deck, in water and high above full-sized pirate ships in a 15 foot deep indoor hideaway lagoon. (Located near the Island, formerly Dolly’s Adventure)

-Paula Deen’s Lumberjack Feud 

( lumberjackfeudtn.com )

It’s back, bigger and better than ever! Real lumberjacks, real competition, real family fun!

-Rocky Top Mountain Coaster

( http://rockytopcoaster.com)

There’s yet another new coaster in the area. 

-Dave & Buster’s

(www.daveandbusters.com)

Eat, drink, play and watch sports at your local Dave & Buster's! Food and video arcade. 

-National Enquirer Live

(www.nationalenquirerlive.com)

They say “enquiring minds want to know” and this is a place where you can go to explore the untold story.

-The Buttonwillow Civil War Theater

(www.buttonwillowcivilwartheater.com)

An educational and entertaining show, with a light-hearted, but also serious portrayal of Civil War figures and facts.

-The Slide

Even though construction is still underway, this place just opened in time for summer fun.  There’s no website yet, but if you like giant outdoor slides down the side of a big hill this place may be for you.  It’s located on the parkway next to The Local Goat. (Just beyond the Wax Museum and across the street from the Titanic Exhibit).

At the Island:

(www.islandinpigeonforge.com)

-Spinning Parrots Coaster

A kiddy ride for all ages

- Ridemakerz

You can build your very own customized remote control car!

-Yee-Haw Breeing Company

Their motto is: “Craft Beer, great food, good times”! 

At Dollywood: 

(https://www.dollywood.com/themepark/Rides/Wildwood-Grove)

-Wildwood Grove

Dollywood has added a whole new (6 acre) section full of fun!

“Beyond an ancient hollow log and into a hidden land, Wildwood Grove beckons the explorer in all of us. Let curiosity be your guide as you journey ever deeper, past sparkling creeks, through a charming village, and under the mighty limbs of the great Wildwood Tree. This is where adventure takes root and dreams take flight.” The grove features lots of rides for kiddies and adults as well.  The large indoor play area is a great place to cool off during the summer heat.

RESTAURANTS

-Gaucho Urbano

https://www.gauchourbano.com/locations/pigeon-forge-tn/#

Pigeon Forge’s first authentic Brazilian steakhouse offers a dining experience you won’t soon forget! Don’t go unless you are a super hungry carnivore!

-Five Oaks Farm Country Kitchen

(https://fiveoaksfarmkitchen.com)

It’s almost as good as Crockett’s! Great breakfast with gigantic griddle cakes and humongous cinnamon rolls. They also serve a down home dinner. 

-Funky Buddha Sports Bar & Grill

(https://m.facebook.com/funkybudhatn)

Yes, Pigeon Forge now has a karaoke, dance bar.  Fun, food, and frolic!

In Gatlinburg:

-Anakeesta  

(anakeesta.com) 

Ride the chair lift or “chondola” to the top of a mountain for food and fun. Try the zip lines, explore the nature trails, take the rope tree walk, play on the playground, or just sit in a rocker and enjoy the view.

-Rowdy Bear Mountain 

(www.rowdybearcoaster.com)

Home to 2 amazing thrill rides:

The Gravity Coaster and the world’s first Mountain Glider, a suspended single rail coaster that combines free falling and hang gliding!  

-Sky Lift & Sky Bridge

(http://www.gatlinburgskylift.com/)

The chair lift in Gatlinburg has re-opened after the fire. This year your SkyLift experience will be better than ever with the addition of the SkyDeck, featuring an expansive viewing deck, a spectacular new restaurant and bar, gift shop, and seating areas.

And if you’re a brave soul, you can walk across the new SkyBridge which stretches 680 feet across a deep valley with a height of 140 feet at its midpoint. 

 At Ober Gatlinburg:

(www.obergatlinburg.com)

-The New Rock 

Test your climbing skills. 

- Ice Bumper Cars

Instead of skating, you can bump, spin, and zoom around the ice rink!

RESTAURANTS

-Ole Red

(https://olered.com/gatlinburg/)

Gatlinburg’s newest restaurant, based on Blake Shelton’s hit Ol’ Red.  Stop by for a frosty beverage, a bite to eat (like an Ober Gatlinburger), or listen to some live music from the latest upcoming country talent. 

Well, there you have it!  As you can see, if you haven’t been to the Smokies in a while, there’s a ton of new stuff to see and do! 

And there’s still more in the works:

-Chesapeake’s 

Another restaurant from the Copper Cellar family, Chesapeake’s offers seafood fresh from the sea to your table! Set to open in Gatlinburg by late summer.

-The Mountain Mile

(http://mountainmilepigeonforge.com/)

-The August Moon Drive-In

(https://augustmoondrivein.com/)

Looks like we will have plenty of new adventures to explore.  Stay tuned!

Smoky Mountain Christmas

There’s nothing quite like a Smoky Mountain Christmas and this one was wonderful.  As soon as Thanksgiving was over I started decorating.

In between shopping, cooking, and cleaning I worked in a little trip to Dollywood.

The music and the lights certainly got me in the Christmas mood!

The kids were able to join us several days before Christmas so we had plenty of time for fun and games.

And then it snowed!

We enjoyed lots of hot tasty beverages.

I enjoyed cooking in the new kitchen (and I think they enjoyed eating there, too)!

On Christmas Eve we went to the movies to see Aqua Man. 

Then we headed back up the mountain to wait for Santa. 

On Christmas morning we donned our crazy hats and cooked our traditional omelet breakfast.

Then we gathered around the tree to open all the goodies. 

Then we checked out the stockings which were hung UNDER the mantle since the mantle just arrived and hasn’t been stained yet. 

All in all we had a beautifully blessed Christmas and look forward to many more special times on the mountain.

It’s Good To Be Home!

Well, after 16 long months of building, we are finally back at the Mountain House! 

It’s only fitting that we got the final inspection certificate on the Monday after Thanksgiving. That’s the day the fire came 2 years ago. We fudged a little.  We “squatted” with an air mattress for a few days until the furniture came on November 12. (I was determined to have Thanksgiving on the mountain!) The kids were a great help with opening boxes and helping me get everything situated. 

I had pretty much everything you need to set up housekeeping since I had over 16 months to buy stuff! I learned all about apps like Ebates and Shopular that kept me informed about sales at all my favorite stores. I had been gathering goodies for so long that finally opening the boxes was like going on a Treasure Hunt!

One of the biggest tasks is setting up the kitchen, but as you can see, I had good help and we got everything washed and stored. The architect and I put a lot of thought into planning the kitchen and I love, love, love the results!  It’s a pleasure to cook in this kitchen. (Did I really just say that??) It’s huge! There’s plenty of room for everything. In fact I have cabinets and drawers that are still empty. 

Dishes are located right beside the dish washer. 

Trays, bakeware, and cutting boards are all neatly stacked over the oven.

On top of that, I have a huge pantry for food storage.

There’s much more in the kitchen, but it’s time to move on. There’s more to see. 

This is a MOUNTAIN house so Black Forest Decor quickly became one of my favorite websites. That’s where I got my bedding.

The Master Suite

We really like our great big walk-in showers. During the build, when I wanted to find a quiet spot, I would go sit on the bench in the shower. I called it “my office”. 

Upstairs Bedroom Suites

I must say those king sized beds sleep a lot better than the air mattress!

Of course, our favorite spot is in the Great Room where we gather as a family to watch a movie, work a puzzle,  check out the latest football/basketball/soccer/hockey game on the tv or just sit by the fire.

That covers the top two floors. There’s a basement, but we’ll finish that later. (Someday) It will have a game room, a 4th bedroom suite/office, a wet bar, a fitness room, and a media center. 

And then there’s the deck space........

(Keith’s favorite spot)

Needless to say, we are enjoying our new home. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving here and look forward to our first Christmas at the new and improved Smoky Pointe.