Vacationers turn Local in Smoky Mountains

Whenever we go on vacation we say let's move here it's so beautiful, there is so much to do, and the locals are fantastic. Well that's exactly what happened we fell in love with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park​ and all the attraction in Sevierville and now we live here and rent out our cabin so others can experience what we did. Cheers to vacations they change our Geographical location for a week or a life time. Day1

We wanted to see the zoo animals when they are active, so we got up early and visit the Knoxville Zoo

Day 2

Free things to do! 

We wanted to see Elk living in nature, luckly that evening about sunset we spotted a herd in the field at Onoconaluftee Welcome center, North Carolina. We visited the Heritage museum while we waited for Elk to arrive, bring a chair or sit on the porch

Earlier we had made a picnic lunch and went swimming at the most beautiful swimming hole, The small water falls were perfect and a small pool with still water made a safe haven for the baby to wade in. Corner of Blue Ridge Parkway and 441.

Day 3

If you want to laugh and have dinner at he same time book reservations at Hatfield and McCoys Dinner Theatre.

Day 4
Put a down payment on an acre of land on English mountain, Sevierville Tennessee could nor believe the mountain view of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and it comes with water and sewer. Found a 75 foot water fall in our new neighborhood, family had to try it out. I mean really they climbed it. 
Day 5
We were looking forward to visiting the Titanic attraction. This is the real deal these are the explorers who we saw on Cable TV shooting them Titanic Documentary. Remember when  the submarine found the ship wreck on the bottom of the ocean i was screaming, look the Titanic. Tip, one the tour the Captain was on that sub talk to him he will show you a piece of the ship in his pocket under glass.
Day 6
Dollywood theme park. We parked at Patriot park and took Dollywood Trolley to avoid $12 parking fee and the traffic jamb at closing. We decided to go on the weekend day when Dollywood has longer hours. Parade is a must see. We made reservation for our dog to stay at Dollywood when we walked the her we managed to eat our picnic lunch waiting in the truck. We planned to see the shows when it was hot and ride the busiest rides right when we enter the park or during dinner hour cause lines are smaller.
Day 7
Drive home. Plan next vacation we are coming back for more.

About Us

This God-Inspired vision of Husband and Wife is a response to his Blessings on our family.  Together, we have created this cabin as a love letter and a retreat to those who serve others.
May he forever bless this home as a place for healing, help and hospitality.  And may we
Always remember to be unconditionally generous in helping others with the abundance he has allowed us to enjoy.

At Log Cabin in Smoky Mountain we support a charity near and dear to our hearts. We volunteered for a couple of year protecting the Elk from tourists wanting to pet them, and we protected the tourists from Bull Elk protecting his cows.

You may also help support this worthwhile charities by making a wish at the pond located at the entrance to the cabin. All change and contribution will go to the charities below...

ELK OF SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

Since the park can't make a profit we donate to the "Friends of Smokies" Elk project!

Elk use to roam the meadow and forests of the Smokies because of logging and over-hunting they couldn't survive, so Wildlife managers at the park reintroduced 25 animals in 2001 and 27 more in 2002 into Cataloochee, the far southeastern portion of the Park in North Carolina.

Today the parks herd has grown to over 150 animals. You can view these beasts at Cataloochee and Oconoluftee Visitor center in the big fields on 441 north of Cherokee, North Carolina in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Charitable donations go toward helping this herd.

CHRISTMAS TOYS FROM THE PAST

 

Today was nice weather to go on an adventure.  We learned how to make Christmas toys from the Past at Sugar Lands Great Smoky Mountain National Park.  The volunteers offered a hands on experience on  how to make Christmas presents like they did long ago.  Some of the examples;  walking stick, apple doll, and fabric wreath of long ago were my favorite.

How to make a wooden a walking stick.

When you pick out a walking stick it should have three qualities

1.       Choose a strong and durable base for the stick, it must be sturdy.

2.        John the wood carver says, pick your walking stick as tall as eye level. Why?  You need the length for walking down the mountain. Not only do you need your walking stick to help you hiking.  You need your walking stick long enough to hiking back down the mountain. 

3.        Pick out light weight wood.  John made a twisted walking stick that was made from a honey suckle vine, it was the lightest out of all his stick

4.       Search for a stick with no branches, so when you carve it’s easier to remove  bark.  Remove bark with a tool called draw knife.  I took a picture of John using his, easiest to debark on green wood.

 

How to make Dried Apple Dolls    

1.       Begin by taking any size or brand of apple, then peel the skin.

2.       Make a face on one side of the apple

       How to carve face.  Using a kitchen knife,  carve eyes, nose, and mouth.

3.       Soak the apple in lemon juice and a pinch of salt for 30 minutes.

4.       Next, poke a wire through the apple then hang it up in a well ventilated area and let it dry.

        Drying time is different depends on where you live.  In the mountains drying takes a week.

5.       Nature decides if it turns out to be a boy or girl.  Heads can be made in to ornaments. The Bodies can be made using wire poked inside bottles, and any available materials for clothing.

 

 

 

 

How to make a Fabric Wreath.

What you will need:

-3  solid or pattern  Scraps of Fabric 

-Yarn any color
-Scissors

                                          For this wreath we used three different color fabrics.

                                Cut strip of fabric. Fabric can be any length but must be ½ inch in width and have a short piece of string ready to finish the project

                      A.Begin by taking the three strips of fabric and making them even at the top. Then tie the yarn around the three pieces of fabric at the top leaving some fabric.

B. Brade the three pieces to the end leave some fabric  

 

                              C. Pinch the end and bring the end up to the tied end making  a circle, now take the yarn and tie the ends together.

                                         D. Almost done, even-up the extra fabric by trimming off the bottom to look like a bow. (See picture below)

                                                Christmas Wreath from the Past