Lake Junaluska- Part 2

On our first full day at Lake Junaluska we tried (and succeeded) to do as many outdoor activities as possible.  There was a forecast for rain later in the week, and we weren't sure if we would have the opportunity later on, so we had a packed day!

 Thankfully, Brad was given permission by his work to telework while we were on vacation. (Brad has only had his current title for less than a year (it's the same job but he is no longer a contractor and had to start over on years in service), so he hasn't accrued much vacation at his job.) He worked every morning for three to four hours and then joined all of us for the rest of the fun.


The girls were pretty enthusiastic about learning to putt-putt golf.

Jillian especially got into the putt-putting. She had a great instructor.  He's had a lot of experience in teaching little girls how to putt-putt well.   This was the 2nd generation of little girls that he has taught.  Thanks Dad! :-)

Doesn't little Anna look so grown-up in this photo?

Jillian made her very first hole in one!!! Anna was so excited for her sister, her little leg flew up into the air as she gave her a big hug.

Congratulations Jillian! 

After we went putt-putting, we got ready to go paddle-boating.

Grammie and Aunt Kristin decided to be spectators and cheer us all on!

The girls getting ready with their life jackets!

The paddle boats were a little older and were NOT constructed the best.  

So unfortunately, we didn't get far on our venture. It definitely was a memorable trip for me, as a result of all my hard peddling, I bruised my back!! 

But overall, I really do think the paddle-boating was a successful trip! The girls enjoyed the adventure.

Then we went back to the house and the girls were ready to go swimming at the pool.

It was a super fun first day at Grammie's and Grandad's.

Lake Junaluska- Part 1

My dad and step-mom have chosen a fantastic retirement home in the Smokey Mountains with the most beautiful view.

Right now, they only live in North Carolina part-time when the heat becomes unbearable in the summer.  But even though it's only for a few months of the year, we were beyond excited to finally be within driving distance of family! It's been a long, long time since that has been true for us! No expensive airline tickets (x 5), no parking our car and taking the shuttle, no more security lines, taking off our shoes, watch, etc... It was an absolute dream for us. :-) 

Upon our arrival, we enjoyed cooking out hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner. Then we went on a boat ride tour of Lake Junaluska.

Afterwards, we walked around a little bit and did a little exploring.

Anna enjoyed a piggy back ride with Aunt Leigha. Then, before we knew it, it was time to say nighty-night to Lake Junaluska.

Then, the next morning, the girls had their first fishing adventure! 

The girls getting settled on the dock with Grammie, Grandad, and Aunt Leigha.

Super cute Faith, already the fishing expert! 

Grammie and Anna made a great pair fishing.  Grammie was so cute, she didn't want Anna to be too disappointed when she didn't catch a fish, so Grammie pretended the bait was the fish! Grammie exclaimed, "Oh, look at what we got, Anna!!!" :-) The first few times, Anna was super excited too but when the same tiny white fish came up over and over again,  she became a little confused!

Grandad and Aunt Leigha swapped helping Jillian and Faith.  I am no help at all in the fishing department.  But the girls were so quiet trying to not scare off the fish, that I really enjoyed the serenity.


I enjoyed watching the momma duck with her five ducklings....


along with the mommy and daddy swan with their five babies.

And then the most surprising thing happened....Faith actually caught a real fish (with a little help from Grandad).

Everyone was overjoyed for Faith! It was definitely an occasion worth celebrating! 

It was a too tiny for us to take home and eat, but the girls enjoyed watching it swim in the bucket, before my dad released it a little later. 

Anna and Grandad relaxing and fishing on the dock together.

After our fishing, Grammie and Grandad took the girls to the park.

The girls especially enjoyed the fort/tree house.

Lots of fun on the slide- don't you just love static hair on a three year old!?!

Then we took a walk to enjoy the roses. This one was my favorite.

Each of the girls chose one rose as their favorite on the rose garden walk.

Afterward, we went back home, ate lunch, and picked some strawberries in Grammie and Grandad's back yard.

Grammie suggested the girls open a "store" to sell their picked strawberries and some cold drinks.  The girls loved the idea and quickly started saving their money to go to the candy store in town.  :-)

It was the perfect beginning to our family's vacation....

Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia

On Tuesday of the first of June, we made our longest road-trip so far as a family of five...as you can imagine, it was very exciting! :-) We traveled from our home in Maryland to Lake Junaluska, North Carolina to visit Grammie, Grandad, Aunt Leigha, and Aunt Kristin for a family vacation in the mountains.  It is an eight hour drive without stops, so we were delighted we found this gem of a museum along the way.  We could have spent hours and hours exploring the different cultures that have contributed to our American heritage. In the end, we limited ourselves to only a couple of hours, so we could continue on our way to NC, but it was well worth the stop! 

First, we visited West Africa in the 1700's.   

We learned that one compound of several houses was for one family.  One home was for the first wife and her young children/ girls, one home was for the second wife and her young children/ girls, and then another home was for the man and the boys of the family. They shared their cooking area/ gardens.

The people at the Frontier Culture Museum actually constructed these home out of clay made from Virginian dirt. 

It is a great material to make house of because whether it is cold or hot, the home stays well insulated.

Next, we journeyed to England in the 1600's.    This home is an actual English home that they transported over the Atlantic ocean in pieces. The family who lived in this home was a more prosperous civilian (not nobility) family who had developed a successful business.

While we were visiting, we met a calf. She was quite headstrong.

The interpreters were very knowledgable and worked hard the entire time we were there making the museum come truly alive.

Wool sheared from the sheep in the yard.

Inside the home where the cat was making himself at home on a trundle bed.

The 1700's Irish Forge.  To read about its background and contributions to American culture, go here.

The girls were amazed that they were able to see a nail made in front of their very eyes! We have seen this before, but unlike other places, it was an intimate setting, which made it very special. We were the only ones there watching the blacksmith at work.

Then, we visited my beloved Ireland, except instead of it being in the 1990's it was in the 1700's!  (For my sixteenth birthday, my mom and I visited Ireland.  I am so thankful for memories that I shared with my mom during that trip; I will cherish them for a life-time. ) 

To read more about its background and contributions to American culture, click here.

The girls got into the action of helping too.

Then we made our way to Germany. This German woman is showing the typical shoes that a peasant would wear in the 1700's in Germany.

We probably spent the shortest amount of time at this home, because there was a field trip presentation going on while we were there, but everyone was super nice.

In Germany, the workers often had to travel far distances to do their farming, so the appeal for them coming to America was the close proximity they would have to their land. 

The only way that we were able to see so much in so little time was by our handy golf-cart rental!  At opening time, we were the first ones to arrive at the museum, so we were able to rent one of the smaller  golf-carts for $10.  Everything about our experience was top-notch, but this really added to the fun! 

Our next stop was the 1700's American Indian Hamlet.

A wigwam

We did a little more driving & walking too, and then we made it to our next destination....

The 1740's American Settlement

This colonist told us that this cabin was typically a starter home for a man when he first moved to the frontier. After five years, he would most likely upgrade to something a little nicer, if not, he was just plain ol' lazy. 

Next was the 1820's American farm/ home which was much fancier in its furnishing.  Faith loved the "Felicity bed", as she called it, after her American doll. 

Afterwards, we viewed the Early American schoolhouse.

The girls were shocked by how few things were in the school room.  HA!  You should see our school room!!!  We also made the observation that the church/ school house in the show Little House on the Prairie looked super fancy compared to this small school house! 

Our final destination for the exhibits was the 1850's American farm.

We enjoyed listening to this Virginian woman's current sewing projects (they involved some comfy undergarments, not like Scarlet O'Hara's)! :-)

The girls found a traditional spinning wheel.

My girls love one another so much.

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Although there was always lots of work to be done, early Americans had time for fun too! Faith was excited to discover an old-fashioned sled.

A covered wagon

The barn with sheep

Jillian can sometimes be shy about asking questions to adults she doesn't know (she is FULL of questions for her dad and me). But at the museum Jillian boldly asked what the two buildings were at the front of the house. She was so proud of herself for asking such a good question, she couldn't wait to show us the laundry room....

and the refrigerator.  I love how they were active participants in their learning and America's beautiful heritage came alive for my daughters!! I hope that we will be able to go back someday again! It was an incredible walk in history.  

As we were leaving the museum, we stopped at the quaint gift shop and picked up a couple pounds of different  fudge to bring to Grammie and Grandad's house!  Then, we hopped into the car and made our way to N.C.  One of the best things about this stop was that it was a pretty exhausting, active museum for the kids. All three of the girls took a nap in the car for a couple of the hours, which made the trip go much faster for us!!