the end of the trail

Sunday morning was cold...did I say it was COLD! We got up and headed to church around the bonfire and then started to pack up...yep it was still cold. We headed home back to Avery's Creek. The ride was windy but Dusty got us home safely. We started to unpack and put everything up. We went to check on the Bear & Ho after their trip to FLA and then headed to the house for a warm shower. We were tired but it was a fun trip and to know my family has always done this means so much to me. The girls didn't bring anything electric and no cell phones. Back to the basics. Cooking out, enjoying your family, and snuggling up together all to keep warm. Its a family tradition. We have already mark our calenders for next yr..the 3rd weekend in October.

Saturday' s trip

We wondered out of the wagon around 8 to see what the rain had done last night. None of our wagons leaked so we were good. We found out we were not leaving until around 10 so we started breakfast. Nothing starts the day better than eggs, liver mash, hash browns, and hot coco. We loaded everything up and hit the trail. It was a little cold and the leaves hadn't changed a lot but the trip over the mountain was beautiful. After our lunch break it flurried a little but it didn't last long. We pulled in to Mills River and started to set up camp. We were good after we got the fire going. Jonathan started supper...grilling steaks and cooking bake potatoes in the fire. We went to the auction...Sam won a tub of candy and Jonathan won a blanket (we used that thing that night). Then it was back to the camp to listen to the band and cook smores. The girls snuggled into the wagon and I followed a little after. The boys woke me up at about 1am because they couldn't take the sleet & snow anymore and where going to bed. It got down to 30 that night but we were good because of the propane heater and that new blanket.

Friday's road trip

Most of the wagons meet at the fireman's camp to all pull out at the same time and make the trip up to Lake Powhatan. We leave before the traffic at 4 but it always seems like a make some people mad blocking traffic, on 191. It is like the Craig Morgan song "International Harvester". Lucky it wasn't raining but a little cold. We got to the camp and parked and started a fire. We ate Marty's good bbq, had a drink, made banana boats, and played a few hands of cards. We went to bed right before the rain hit. The sound of rain drops on the tarp of a wagon will put you asleep, or was I just tired after running around getting everything together?

wagon train getting ready

the week before the train is always a busy one...there is packing to do, supplies to buy, wood to cut, and getting it all in 2 wagons before the boys pull out on Friday afternoon...you don't know how many times I heard get your ass in the wagon and let's go... The girls were already playing cards and hanging out waiting for the wagons to pull out of the fireman's camp...on the road again

ghost town

Jenna, Sam, Jonathan, & I went to the House of Terror at Ghost Town the other night. Tori refused to go. It was pretty good. First we had to talk Jenna onto the chair lift but she got on. The haunted house was 15 rooms of terror. One time Jenna was on the floor after something jumped out at her. Sam's heart was beating so fast. But we were all laughing by the time we got out of there. After that we got to ride the reopened Cliff hanger ride. It goes off the mountain. Way to cool. Sam couldn't ride it because she was 1 inch to short...next time she can.

crop walk

The girls and I did the annual crop walk downtown Asheville Sunday with the church. This organization we help will help feed those in need. Our little church raised over $300.00. The fall weather felt great and the walk wasn't to bad.

HAUNTED HILL

With Halloween coming up we have tried to get into the spirit of Halloween. We did the Haunted Hill Saturday night. The whole maze had evil clowns everywhere using water guns. We all had a blast, but Tori she didn't like it. But she & I got to scare her sister's and Jonathan when they came out the end of the maze. After that we took the hay ride and the girls painted pumpkins.

twins working

Jenna & Tori worked all day last Saturday at Hey Day at the Nature Center. They helped visitors answer questions and let them get up close with the animals. Sam & I got to enjoy watching them work and all the fun all day. I think we spent most of the time at the gem mining tent and Sam even won a pumpkin pie at the cake walk. It was cold and rainy but we had a blast.

softball

Make a Smilebox slideshow

we finished up our season....no championship but we had the most fun

cider

washing
picking
chopping
mushing
pouring
pressing
tasting
bottling
One of my favorite parts of fall is the fresh cider we get to enjoy. Alvin helped us out on Sunday and we made about 11 gallons of apple cider.