Saturday of our birthday trip, Lindee and I were in Bristol.  First off we found the house Tennessee Ernie Ford was raised in.  We hadn’t been sure what our schedule was going to be, so we didn’t schedule a tour – next trip!

From there we headed to the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. It was just very, very interesting. I had heard of the Bristol Sessions, but really had no idea that they were the true beginning of commercially successful country music. I just loved reading all the details about all the recording they did in just a couple of days, and to learn that both Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family recorded their first records there. One of my favorite exhibits was the one on gospel music. Of course tons of the music they recorded during the sessions was gospel music, because tons of the songs those mountain people sang was gospel music. Very cool.

After lunch we spent some time walking around the downtown area of Bristol, and found the monument erected on this site where the actual building where the Bristol Sessions were held once stood. It was just a country music kind of weekend for us.

I wanted to save this picture of the creek at Natural Tunnel, just as a reminder of our amazing world.  This little creek created that tunnel that is 850 feet long and as tall as a ten story building.  Unbelievable.  Our God is indeed an awesome God.

From Natural Tunnel we headed to the Carter Family Fold. As it turned out the weekend we were there was the Memorial Music Festival, so we heard amazing music, some even by descendants of the Carter Family; visited craft and food booths; and checked out the museums that are now in the cabin where A P Carter was born, and in the store he ran. There were family pieces throughout the exhibit, including Johnny Cash’s chair that you could sit in. What an awesome, awesome day we had.

Last Friday Lindee & I headed out on our second annual birthday trip – to the mountains of Virginia and North Carolina.  We got into Virginia and started seeing some beautiful fall color, so of course had to stop at the first scenic overlook we came to.  So pretty.

Our basis for choosing this area for the entire trip, really, was to visit Natural Tunnel State Park. I’d wanted to go ever since the first time I heard about it. The tunnel itself is the length of three football fields, and was carved by what turned out to be a small creek running through it. The tunnel itself is closed to the public, because trains run through it every day. It was just so beautiful and amazing when I finally got there to see it for myself. Wow.

We stayed at the bottom by the tunnel for quite a while, hoping a train would go through, but there is no published schedule – a homeland security rule since 9/11 – so finally headed back up the strenuous hike to the top. Lindee had packed us a delicious salad picnic lunch, and we found the picnic area to enjoy that. While we were eating, we heard the train going through the tunnel – dang it. It was cool just listening to it, though, and we’ll definitely be going back to watch for it again. After we finished eating we headed over to a second part of the park, which told about the original settlers in the area, when it really did lead to the unexplored western wilderness. The sample of the house there was so interesting – called a block house, the top floor protruded out over the bottom floor, with holes where they could shoot down at anyone trying to break in. Very interesting.

What a special day last Thursday.  First off, it was my very first time taking Mallory to the golf course by myself for her to practice.  I had to film her some on her phone, so she could look and she what she was doing wrong on the driving range.  Then I just hung out and watched until it was time to leave.  She looked good to me!

From the golf course we headed straight to the Clover School District Auditorium, where June and Clara were representing their respective schools (Larne Elementary and Bethany Elementary) at the district wide choral festival. It was so much fun – and I’m not going to lie, a little emotional – seeing them both up there on the stage together. And they all did a great job.

When I picked June and Mason up after school yesterday we celebrated my big day by having pancakes as an after school snack.  Pretty sweet celebration 🙂

Then last night Lindee took me out to supper at City Tavern in Fort Mill, and then to see Move Your Feet at Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte. It was just great – and a great day.

Monday Addie brought the kids over after school, and we walked back around the haunted trail to check it out in the daylight.  Mason had fun borrowing some of the pirates’ props 🙂