Tuesday Talk Time: Nature, Appalachian Mountains, and The Apple Barn & Cider Mill
Last Friday, DH and I took time off to spend the day in the mountains. It has been ages since we have done this or so it seems. It was a gorgeous, sunny day. The temperature was not bad, but the wind had a nasty nip at times.
Nothing can put me back on track then a little break from the norm. That’s what this little day trip did for me. Our first stop in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains was The Apple Barn and Cider Mill.
My photo didn’t turn out all that wonderful due to crazy me not having the settings correct, thus it washed out my picture way too much. Thankfully, my photo editor helped to salvage my not-so-Kodak moment by allowing me to adjust the exposure, offering several filter options to use in which I applied the “Maldives” effect.
Anywho, our sole purpose of going to The Apple Barn and Cider Mill was to buy some tasty apple treats to take into the mountains with us. This is something we use to do quite often when the children were small, but we haven’t done this in years. This made our trip extra exciting and fun. We walked away with a little of everything in their display counter: 2-fried apple pies, 2-slices of baked apple pie, 1-apple cinnamon scone, 1-slice of stack cake, 6-apple spiced donuts, and a cup of apple cider. Don’t judge now!
This is a marvelous spot to stroll around. When we moved to Knoxville in 1980, this place only consisted of the General store (as shown in the above picture). Over the years, they have grown quite a bit, expanding their store to include: two restaurants, a candy shop, a bakery & ice cream shop, a winery, & a Christmas shop.
We spent a better part of two hours walking browsing & tasting from shop-to-shop. It was time well spent in total fun and relaxation. Afterward ventured into the majestic Appalachian mountains where we stayed the rest of the day in the Smoky’s and on the Blue Ridge Parkway photographing the landscape. We are looking forward to our next day trip adventure!
Patrice’s Farmhouse Chat questions:
- Would you rather sit in front of a fireplace with a roaring fire, soak in a lovely bath, or spend free time on your computer? If I had a lovely fireplace to curl in front of or an old-fashion ball & claw tub to relax in, then I would prefer to do either of these. Be it as it is, then I would rather spend my time now in plastered to the computer…which I do!
- Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? For everyday chocolate eating, I prefer milk. But, dark chocolate definitely has its place in my life. You know what they say about dark chocolate. Who cares, if they are right or wrong. It gives me an excuse to indulge. 😀
- Have you ever tried a recipe from a blog or Pinterest? It seems I have tried a recipe or two from a blog, but not from Pinterest. I just haven’t gotten the knack of the whole Pinterest thingy yet.
- Do you have a guest room? If not, do you have a spare room that you use for something other than a bedroom (sewing room, office, craft area, etc)? Our spare bedroom is a makeshift junk room/office/craft storage. It’s way too small and cluttered. I really need my dream house bad!
- Is your hair curly, straight, or something in between? It’s something in between. Once upon a time, I had sorta wavy hair. Over the years, it has pretty much straightened itself out, which isn’t too my liking very much. I have such fine hair that I need the curliness to give it volume and that’s just not happening for me. *sigh*
Now, grab a cup of coffee and join me as I visit my lovelies at….
Have a terrific Tuesday!
16 Comments
Dianna
A dream house sounds nice! I’m with you when it comes to chocolate…dark definitely has its place in my life…especially when it is European dark chocolate!
Patrice
I wouldn’t mind having my dream house either. 🙂
Kate
When I was a kid growing up in Wisconsin, we took two unforgettable vacations to the Smokies. Your photo from the Clingman’s Dome parking area brought back a lot of memories.
Suzanne McClendon
Oh, lucky you getting to be on the Parkway this time of year! Are the leaf colors as beautiful as ever?
Have a great week!
Cathy Kennedy
This time of the season what color remains is well past its peak, but the mountains are beautiful no matter what! It’s always a welcome treat to get away for the day to soak up God’s beauty.
Debbie Huffaker
Oh, your answer about your hair sounds about like mine! As I recall, we live kinda in the same neck of the woods. We’re just about 10-15 miles from Pigeon Forge!!! HOPE you have a great week!
Cathy Kennedy
Yes, we live in the same area. We are actually in Knoxville, but Pigeon Forge is less than an hour from us.
Rory Bore
Fantastic quote!! love that one.
Along the 401 Highway in Ontario there is a giant apple by the side of the road. Which, yes funny and odd — but inside? the most delicious apple treats!
I so get you! Would have loved some of the donuts with my afternoon tea.
I am lucky in that my “blogging chair” just happens to be beside our fireplace. So I can always spend my computer time by a roaring fire if I like.
But I would like one of those clawfoot tubs too.
Naila Moon
The Smoky Mts. are simply beautiful. Your quote goes perfectly.
Happy Tuesday!
Julie Maloney
I just joined Pinterest so I have a lot of recipes pinned but I have yet to try them. Soon though!
VandyJ
The ton I grew up in grew lots of apples and every fall it was apple picking time. I miss that now. Our town doesn’t have the growing season to grow much more than crab apples.
That looks like such a fun excursion. It’s road trips like that that Nick I love to take.
Banker Chick
The best thing about fall….apple cider.
incognitusscriptor.com
That place looks awesome! I wish we lived closer to mountains.
Cathy Kennedy
It’s God’s country, I tell you!
Wandering Wren
Hi Cathy
I found you… Awww did you Guys share a cup of apple cider – too cute?! Sounds like a great day out.
Have a great week!
Wren x
Cathy Kennedy
Yes, we shared the apple cider and actually everything. We bought way too much. The rest went into the freezer when we got home to keep for another time. 😀