" Before & After "

We went to Townsend on Sunday as our closing was on Monday morning. It was an exciting day to get the keys and start doing a few things to make it "ours". As soon as we got there and got started to work, our neighbors began showing up on their golf carts to welcome us! We were shocked at how many of the full time residents are from right here in South Mississippi~~~

There is a lot going on in Big Valley Resort! On Tuesday nights they have a Pot Luck dinner @ the Club House which used to be an old barn and afterwards they split into groups and play cards, domino's and bingo. They have a non-denominational church service on Sunday morning. There is a library there(not that I don't have enough reading material for my life time). On holidays like July 4th, Memorial Day and Labor Day they have Golf Cart Parades and cook outs~~~~

We met some awesome people and just hated to leave............

I got a few things done and wanted to show you some before and after shots. There is still a lot to do and we'll take the truck next time so Eric can take all his tools. We'll be painting and putting up bead board and chair rail along with some curtain rods and curtains.

The fall colors weren't at peak but were really looking pretty~~~

BE SURE TO CLICK ON PICTURES

Mornings on the back porch were really Smoky~~~

BEFORE ~~~~~ This was the living room minus the TV looking from the front door ~~~~

AFTER ~~~

BEFORE ~~~ from dining room toward front door


AFTER ~~~~~


Before~~~~ dining area


AFTER ~~~~


BEFORE ~~~~ front bedroom~~~~



AFTER ~~~ need to hang rod for curtains that go over sheers~~



BEFORE ~~~~~ back bedroom ~~~~


AFTER~~~~~~~~


BEFORE ~~~~ kitchen






AFTER~~~ how do you like my vintage Tupperware Canisters from EBay? They will keep staples fresh longer!




Another After~~~~



BEFORE ~~~~~~~ back porch ~~~~



AFTER~~~~~~~ put the swing in the store room till Spring----



ANOTHER AFTER VIEW ~~~~~




This is a prize possession I found at an Antique place in Maryville by Tennessee's First Poet Laureate( 1971-1994) Richard M."PEK" Gunn called "Frettin "~~~~~~ It has the state seal and is signed...........


It also came with a signed 1st Edition of his book " Tales of Tumblin Creek" you see laying on the desk~~~~~~~




I'll leave you with a shot of some color from below the deck~~~~

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE !!!! XOXO

It's Finally Here!

Finally..........tomorrow morning we close on our new property in Townsend !!!!


We'll be there all week so of course we'll drive through Cades Cove which looked like this 2 weeks ago!



We hope it looks like this now !!!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE !!!! XOXO

" A DAY OF CHANGE "

Today I visited Natalie @ Kuts & Kurls in SoSo, Mississippi for a long needed change in hair style!





I had this color change in mind.............






With this cut...............





For ole times sake..........Hubby takes a picture of my soon to be GONE hair........







Seven inches GONE with one whack of her scissors.......







OK.........the cutting is done, get on with the color...........





A finished do.............





Makes Carol a NEW Woman.............


THANKS NATALIE !! SEE YOU SOON! Have to keep this new do looking good!

" PEACE ON EARTH "

Well, it has been a stressful two weeks since my birthday! I had to return to Townsend again last week. The sellers of the Peacock Ridge property had countered our offer so I went back to look at a couple of more properties along with it before deciding to counter back. We met in the middle and I think we are all happy. I know we are !!!!
On Thursday morning I awoke to 56 degrees and light rain (something we have not seen here in a month) and was in dire need of a relaxing day! I headed out early for my favorite place CADES COVE..............
I'm sure most of you have been through Cades Cove but like me, NEVER tire of seeing it. It is the setting of my novel( which I hope to finish someday) which makes every trip inspiring, so come along with me to the most peaceful place on earth!

The Smokies were really Smoke'n !

These Deer and Turkey..........were having a peaceful breakfast together......

Around the bend however I was forced to stop the car for these two Gobblers who appeared to be doing the Gobbler Tango! YES! There are two of them and they payed NO mind whatsoever to the car or me!

I stood and waited for the Tango to move to the roadside and into the woods!

A quick stop at this church which was the center of both life and death for many of the cove settlers.................

Is it any wonder why they are the Smokies ???????

Oh My Gosh !! It's a BEAR hunting breakfast ..............

While I was inside the Cable Mills visitor center looking at the books (what else) one of the employees says; "look at the Bucks" ...........

I ran to the porch and look what I saw! Bucks everywhere!

I snapped this one behind the mill............

The Becky Cable House............

Becky Cable is a character in my book so I love visiting here........

I think I have done a good job bringing the truly fascinating woman back to life in the book....

Upon leaving Cable Mills I always take a right and go down Parsons Branch Road....

This is a small rapid in Forge Creek..............

This tangle of tree roots caught my eye.............

A little way down this road is my favorite cabin in the cove...........
The Henry Whitehead place............

I think the reason it's my favorite is because it shows pioneer progress.....

Henry first built a one room windowless cabin and years later built a two story cabin with windows in front of the old one . The old one was then used as the kitchen...

The BEARS like it too! I've seen more bears here over the years than any other place in the park!

A BEARS EYE view looking down the hill...........

Next we see the Tipton Cabin...........

I love the Bee Gums! So named as they used hollowed out Gum Trees for their bee stands....

Across the road is the Cavilier Barn and Corn Crib..............

Peaceful foraging for another buck...........

Back in Townsend looking back towards Cades Cove...........

One of the reasons I love Townsend is because it is so close to Cades Cove where Peace on Earth is alive and well ..........

Back at the farm this morning it's pretty peaceful too and kinda of Smoky at the pond!

HAVE A GREAT PEACEFUL WEEKEND EVERYONE !!!!! XOXO