Smokey Mountains- Part 1

When we left Virginia Saturday afternoon on our way home, Marc found out that his work trip for Monday morning was canceled.  Since Charlie is NOT a good car rider and had been in the car for five hours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday- we decided to stop in Pigeon Forge and take a day off on Sunday and come back Monday.  I'm so glad we did.  On the drive from Virginia to Pigeon Forge we stopped in Roanoke, VA to see the beautiful St. Andrew's Catholic Church that is on top of a mountain.  We'd seen it so many times driving through and we took the occasion of All Souls Day to take time to see it and pray inside. It was like being in heaven- just gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!









Colorful stations of the cross- I wish more churches did them in color-


St. Anthony, St. Joseph-



St. Patrick-





The Nicene Creed



St. Andrew-



Baptismal font at entrance- you enter into the family of God through baptism....



St. Paul and St. Peter-



I will make you fishers of men!





St. Cecelia, patron saint of musicians, in the rose window over the pipe organ-



When we left Roanoke and made it to Pigeon Forge we got a cabin.  Due to Charlie's fussiness we have to get two hotel rooms when we travel anyway- so a cabin is cheaper and waaaaay more fun!  We woke up Sunday morning and headed the Flapjack's Pancake house for a big breakfast.  :)

Charlie and Tucker loved their teddybear pancakes-





Sissy had a teddybear waffle-



After breakfast we milled around an antique store and then headed to Sunday Mass at Holy Cross.    After mass we drove to the Smokey Mountains National Park and went for a hike.  The weather was PERFECT!  The first thing we saw was a one-room schoolhouse called "The Little Greenbriar School" that was built in 1882 and closed in the 1930s.  It was used as both a school and as a Primitive Baptist Church.  The original desks and slate were in there and you could walk in an actually touch it all.  We loved it!
See how the corner is supported by a stack of rocks-





See little Charlie crying- he's not a great traveler, but we still love him.  :)



After the school we went on a 1.1 mile hike up the mountain to the Walker Sisters Cabin.  They were five spinster sisters who lived together and would not give up their land to the government when they were making the national park.  They eventually did sell, but were given a lifetime lease and stayed in the mountain living with no plumbing or electricity, almost entirely self sufficient ,until the last sister died in the 1960s!

Daddy and I said we had two "teams" of kids- "Team Energy"- that's Marky and Tucker, the ones that  I walked with.  And then there's team "Deadweight".  :)  Daddy dragged them up the mountain.  :)








Team Deadweight taking a tearful break 1/2 way b/c their legs hurt.  :)



Oh- also Charlie cried anytime we tried to make him wear a coat.  Just to keep it exciting for us.  :)





Here is the Walker Sisters' Spring House- still standing and ready to go!



The old cabin- Julia got her second wind here and was running and hopping and happy.  The house was built by the Walker Sisters' grandfather in the 1800s.







Their original corn crib-



Marky, our budding geoligist, kept finding and trying to identify rocks- he is attempting to make arrows and spears with them using the instructions in The Dangerous Book for Boys.  :)







"TUCKER- look at the camera!!" :)








Going downhill was much easier- everyone ran-





After the hiking we stopped at a precious roadside cafe and fudge shop in the mountains and had lunch and cobbler!