5-7-17 Wild Love Bake House, Mid Mod and TU garden---Oh my!

Time to try out another new-to-us restaurant for breakfast.  But first---a ride up to where the kids almost bought a piece of land and had a house built.  The land to the left is that lot.  A lot more remote then where they are now.  Nice views, but probably longer commutes.

Then we were off to the city to try out another new breakfast spot, Wild Love Bake House---sort of like a Starbucks.  Lots of teas and homemade pastries---and students sitting around using the free wi-fi.  I got a tea with steamed milk  and this strawberry rhubarb pastry.  Ken had a biscuit egg sandwich and chocolate milk.  The kids had a biscuit sandwich, a croissant and some other pastry with their tea and coffee.  I thought it was a little pricey at $45, but the kids treated us and it was yummy. 

The outside of the bake house---to the far right---as we were walking to an old garage turned mid century modern store---Mid Mod.

5-5-17  back to the Smokys:

What a difference a day makes!  After the day of upper 80s 2 days ago, today it was only going up to about 50---in May!  It rained all yesterday and stormed a bit, too.
So when I saw some sunshine, I suggested we go back to the mountains and run up to Cades Cove.  Such a gorgeous ride, even to get to the park.

Love the barn quilt signs.

Got to the park only to find it CLOSED!!!!  The storms yesterday came with 80 mph winds and blew a bunch of trees down.

Great Smokey Mountains Park Closed!!!

borrowed from a National Parks photo---some of the damage in the park.

Great Smoky Mountain Park's photo

So we spent a little time by the river at the edge of the park---where we exited the park the other day.

the river was a flowing'

downstream

still some moisture around from the storm yesterday.

a couple fisherpeople.

another stream running into the one above.

so clear

one last photo of the river a little farther downstream.

Not the day I had planned, but it was still a pretty good one. 

5-3-17  Laurel falls in the smokys:

Shortly after the kids left, Ken and I headed to the mountains.  It was another pretty day for sightseeing!  This time we went by way of Gatlinburg.

Interesting tourist town.  We didn't stop, but I'd been there with Tim and Faith before.

5-2-17 off to granddog and grandcat sit in Knoxville by way of Gibbs Garden:

The time finally came when we were heading to Knoxville to watch Jesse and Clawdine while their parents took a trip to Nashville to see a couple of their favorite bands---Coheed and Cambria and Pathfinder (or something like that). Then they were spending a couple more days in Nashville to check out the city.  So we jumped in the car about noon and took off.  Since we had all day to get there, I suggested we take a long way around and stop at Gibbs Gardens too.  I have a membership there---time to get some use out of it!
This guy greats us every time we head down SR20.

I love driving through the country and seeing all the new growth.