We're Engaged!!!!

We just got home from our amazing vacation. As most of you know, we got engaged! I didn't want to broadcast it until we could tell Scott's parents in person and see the joy in their faces. We told them today, and they were thrilled. So I'm now the future Mrs. Scott Whittamore! How weird is that?

On Monday morning, April 5, Scott and I woke up at sunrise to enjoy the view of Nantahala Gorge on the deck of our yurt at Falling Waters Resort. We were staying in yurt #8, the most private. I was preoccupied with setting up the camera for a photo, and Scott said he was going to the car and asked if I wanted anything. "Just some hot chocolate," I said. He returned from the car and reached out to hug me. He looked in my eyes and said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me before getting down on one knee with the most beautiful ring I've seen. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes," I squealed. I had no idea it was going to happen and was completely surprised by the 7:30 a.m. proposal. Those who know me well know I don't function well in the early morning hours. But it was more perfect than I imagined it would be.

My dad and Judy came to visit and stay the night, so we ran down to their yurt to tell them the good news. I was relieved that dad welcomed Scott and called him the son he never had instead of telling him again about his shotgun. Luckily dad has always loved Scott and so has my mom.

Now for the wedding planning. Anyone have a chateau they'd like to donate for the big day?

Elk and views

Today we woke up early to drive 2 hours to Cataloochee in Smoky Mountain National Park to see the elk in the valley. The trip was about 30-40 miles, but the last 10 or so were on a winding one-lane dirt road with no guardrails all the way up and over the mountain.

Yesterday we had some car trouble after climbing a big mountain and got stuck in Waynesville for an hour or so. By the grace of God or good karma we rented the last car, a Ford Explorer, at the Enterprise that was only open for another hour. The nice lady at the desk called Earl at his garage and he said to bring the car right over. Otherwise we were going to have to have it towed to the Volkswagon dealership in Asheville and maybe never make it to the cabin. But we did make it to check in to our cabin see the gorgeous sunset view.



Today was great. After finding a few elk at Cataloochee and waking up at 5:30 a.m., we drove back on the Blue Ridge Parkway to hike and see Waterrock Knob and a little bit of remaining snow. It is the second highest point on the Parkway, and it was beautiful. But hot! It was 74 degrees at the top of the mountain. And the car thermometer read 90 degrees in town.
We had dinner in Bryson City after hiking a few more waterfalls at Deep Creek. Then we drove up the Road to Nowhere into the park. I would write more but we're exhausted. More pics to come soon!

Bryson City, Yurts and Smoky Mountain National Park

We're now outside of Bryson City staying in our yurt and hanging out on the deck with Dad and Judy. We have a great view of the Nantahala Gorge from our deck. And the stars are spectacular.....


From Macon, Ga., we drove up to Athens and around the campus of UGA. Very beautiful. Then we made a beeline for the Dillard House and ate a huge family style meal of ribs, country ham, fried chicken, country fried steak, biscuits, cornbread, cabbage casserole, green beans, black-eyed peas, sweet potato souffle, greens, coleslaw, tomato-cucumber salad, potatoes, and blackberry cobbler with ice cream. And yes we tried it all! And it was good! so good.

After filling our bellies we drove up to Dillsboro and stayed at a hotel near the river.

Tomorrow we check in to our cabin.

Here's a photo of the Bryson City courthouse.

On the road again again

We're on Interstate 75 about an hour outside of Macon. I can't wait to get off the interstate tomorrow and start vacation. We're headed to Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a little hiking and relaxation in our hot tub with a view. Stay tuned for updates. On to Athens in the morning and then to a famous southern family-style restaurant called Dillard House. We've heard its realllllly good!

Wiener Dog Races video

Here's my latest video for the News-Press of the Florida Wiener Dog races. So cute I thought I'd share.

Visit from Grandma

My grandma Taylor came to visit on Saturday with her friend Ruth. They flew in from South Carolina into the Punta Gorda airport to make the trip a direct flight and a lot easier.

On Sunday Scott and I went over for lunch and I asked my grandma multiple questions about the family tree, which I've been slowly working on. I just discovered the My 7th great grandfather, Thomas Lindley, owned a mill on Cane Creek in Orange County, NC. Yeah, that's really close to Chapel Hill! The Lindley family mill is still there and in operation since 1755. I never knew this the whole time, and our Hwy 54 house in the Hill is probably 20 miles away. They were Quakers that moved from Penn., which is pretty cool. Scott says they were quite liberal for their time, so that, I like. Here's someone singing the praises of the mill's organic flour on their blog. UPDATE: Here's an article about Lindley Mills in Our State Magazine. And here is a website I found with the Lindley Family History.

Grandma told me so much about old family members that I can't remember hardly any of it. But it's been great hanging out with Mom and Grandma this week. On Tuesday, we had some fun at the Edison Home and then lunch at my house. Grandma was very proud of my garden because she's a gardener too, and she loved my home improvements.

Stay tuned...We're going to the Smokies in NC Easter week!

Amanda and Evan are coming!

This will be the shortest blog ever, but I can't wait for Amanda and Evan to visit this weekend! Amanda and I are walking/running in the Race for the Cure while Scott babysits Evan. God bless him.