3-5-17  back into the Smokey's:

I love riding up into the mountains, so on Sunday we headed into the Smokey's.   I was even able to fill some more of my photo addiction of unique barns along the way. 

and farms

This was certainly different from any other barn I've ever seen before!

I wonder if there is a fence up by the houses or if the livestock roam the yards?!

I also like taking pictures of churches.

or any interesting architecture.

the older and more dilapidated, the better!

Tim and FAith knew of another Moonshine place in the area.  The ones in Gatlinburg have started charging $5 @ for sampling their moonshine (as a credit for store purchase).  When they took me 2 years ago, tasting was free.  This place---XXX Tennessee Moonshine had free tasting.  The kids still purchased a few things.  I asked about some empty jars and the guy gave me some.  Thought I might use them for decorating above my kitchen cabinets---just have to figure out how to use them.

We checked out an interesting gift shop, too.  I really like the pallet flag.

Also thought this was a really interesting way to use hey bales.

Back on the road and another really cool church?

and dilapidated barn

then we  reached the river and followed it .

beautiful ride!

Even stopped by a waterfall.

base of the waterfall.

one more picture of the waterfall.

lots of rapids, too.

Some of our Canadian neighbors.

heading back down the mountain.

In the summer, this area is where a lot of inner tubers start floating down the river.

hopefully they get out before here!

heading back  out of the mountains.

another cool barn.

and church

They even took us into Maryville.  Cute little town!

Spring was really beginning to pop in the Knoxville area. Love all the daffodils blooming along the highways, as well as the bradford pears and whatever the trees are with the reddish leaves starting to leaf out!

Back at their house, we gave them their surprise---a family joke, actually---a suitcase full of zoysia grass.  Dad asked us to bring some to Oregon once since he couldn't buy any there, so we packed a suitcase full of it and flew out there with it.  Turned out zoysia must not grow in Oregon.  Guess we'll see if it grows in Tennessee!

Jesse enjoying his yard.

their yard decor.

the fruit trees beginning to bloom.

More blooming trees in their back yard.

One of their outdoor seating areas.

For dinner they took us to a restaurant they hadn't tried before---Don Gallo's.

They seemed really happy to be there!

Cheers!

Dinner was good---they said they will be back.  Then we headed to the lake by their house.  Faith had told me about a path from one park to the other, so she and I walked it while the guys dropped us off and drove to the next park.

It had nice views of the lake.

even some interesting "sea" glass that someone made into art.

Even saw a Great Blue Heron flying along the water.

Can't wait to go back when the rhodies are in bloom and ride up into the mountains again.  There are millions of wild rhodie bushes all through the woods.