the Weekender

Photo collage featuring cozy mountain cabins, scenic Smoky Mountain views, forest roads, rustic interiors, and peaceful creekside landscapes in the Great Smoky Mountains

Happy hellos from a very cold and cloudy day here in the Ozarks. I’m so glad you’re here — and I hope you’re staying warm.

Miscellany:

1. Coming home from vacation meant jumping straight back into a busy week — errands, gym routines, and all the things. The dogs got groomed; I picked up my night guard and had it fitted (still recovering from that $400 gulp); squeezed in a visit to the chiropractor; and enjoyed a much-needed catch-up with my parents.

I’m not exaggerating when I say I was very happy to see the weekend show up. Haha.

2. As you may or may not have known, Steve and I recently spent a week in the mountains outside Gatlinburg. It was a beautiful and cozy little cabin with views that made my heart go pitter-patter every day.

Cozy cabin living room with a stacked stone fireplace, neutral decor, and soft natural light in a Sevierville mountain cabin

Living Room (photo credit: Airbnb listing)

This trip was intended to be a reset before all the hustle and bustle of Christmas. It was just that for me. I never set an alarm, did a fall puzzle, watched Gilmore Girls, and sipped on coffee and cappuccinos on the porch every single morning.

Look at that view. WOW, right?

Wide mountain landscape with rolling peaks and a bright blue sky in the Great Smoky Mountains

The weather was pretty wet, damp, and overcast, but the sun poked its head out a couple of times. We did a couple of auto tours in the Smoky Mountains National Park, strolled through downtown Gatlinburg, and I visited The Christmas Place because if you love Christmas, well, it’s where your Christmas decorating dreams come true.

Aaaaaand we saw our first snowfall of the season while there. Pure bliss.

Quiet paved road winding through a snow-dusted forest in the Great Smoky Mountains during winter

a couple standing amongst the snow-dusted forest in the Great Smoky Mountains during winter

There was one teeny-tiny snafu: Stink Bugs. They just kept showing up, like dozens of them a day in our Airbnb. Our host had a pesticide company come out, but it got worse before it got better. Glory.

I think it was the warm-cold-warm-cold temps that were causing some confusion amongst the little “stinkers.” Yes, they’re harmless, but… it was a wee bit too much. I’m not a fan of bugs in general.

3. Before we left for Gatlinburg, my back had been bothering me for about a week. I went to the chiropractor, which seemed to help a little — but the pain has been coming and going for about 3 weeks. I guess I need to give it a good 4-6 weeks.

Ironically, I have a very high threshold for pain. When you’ve had endometriosis for years, passed several kidney stones, and had rotator cuff surgery — you become very tolerant. However, when it comes to my back, I’m a mess. I become very weepy if the pain is consistent and debilitating.

If you pray, I would greatly appreciate your prayers. I’m living on Advil right now. I have way too much to do.

4. Speaking of things to do — the only Christmas decor I currently have up is our tree. This weekend, I have to put away my fall decor and finish decorating for Christmas.

I am hosting Christmas this year, so there’s that. I need to get my Christmas cards out, too. As I’m typing this, my to-do list is growing by leaps and bounds. Yikes.

5. On Sunday, I’m going to my second sound bath at a local yoga studio, and I am so excited. Two hours of pure relaxation. OMG. I am so excited.

6. I shared another ornament this past week: Dried Flower Ornaments. That makes 3 out of 4 ornament crafts for the season. I had hoped for five, but had to pivot a bit. One more to go! Stay tuned.

Here are the previous two ornaments:
Pipe Cleaner Wreaths
Fence Ornament