We're back from Pigeon Forge!

Our vacation was a blast! Our suite was amazing. The food was delicious. And the attractions were fun. I think this was probably the best vacation we ever had! We did things I never would have thought of before.

The absolute best part was going to Dollywood. I rode a roller coaster for the first time. Actually, I rode 3! What a thrill! I was scared out of my mind (I literally almost peed my pants!) and having the time of my life at the same time. As you can tell by the picture, my husband wasn't having as much fun. He wouldn't even open his eyes! If we ever go back to Pigeon Forge, Dollywood will definitely be on our to-do list!

We spent a whole week in Pigeon Forge, so Dollywood wasn't the only thing we did. We also made it to Wonderworks, Ripleys, The Track and many other attractions. Here's a few pictures:

           

I'm going to Pigeon Forge tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the first day of our vacation. We're spending the week in Pigeon Forge and I couldn't be more excited! We've booked a gorgeous suite with a full kitchen, a fireplace, Jacuzzi and private balcony. I can't wait to get some alone time with John! Check out the pics I got from the virtual tour of our room!







Plus we've bought tickets to do things I never would've imagined myself doing. I'm actually going to go bungee jumping! And we're going to Dollywood to ride all those huge roller coasters. I've watched a couple on YouTube and that just scared me more, but I'm determined to be adventurous. After all, we probably won't get this chance again. I gotta make the most of it! 

A night with Dierks Bentley!

A couple weeks ago, I got a great deal on some Dierks Bentley concert tickets. I saw him perform once before when he opened for Trick Pony in South Dakota so I knew it would be a great show. Believe me, I wasn't disappointed.

We arrived early and although we had the choice of standing next to the stage, we opted instead to sit in the front row. I'm glad we did because the stage crowd was a mob scene. Look how close we got!

I didn't realize how many of my favorite songs were sung by him (I never pay attention to the artist, just the music). I managed to get a couple on video, but my computer is too slow to upload them right now. I think the best part of the concert was when he stopped in the middle of a song, pointed to a girl in the crowd and asked her to take her shirt off. It was unbelievable!

If we ever get the opportunity to see him again, we're definitely going!

We went White Water Rafting!

I can't even believe how much fun we had! We booked a 3 day white water rafting trip through New & Gauley River Adventures and it ended up being the best mini-vacation ever. The owners and staff were so nice, it was like being around a group of friends I'd known forever. We ended up with two awesome guides, Ryan and Mark. Believe me, if you ever book a trip, ask for them! They made both trips down the river unbelievably fun. And because of them, we now have some wicked cool stories to tell! But even better than stories, are pictures! This is my favorite one. Check out John's face!

Okay, so I might have lied about that being my favorite picture. This one is actually my favorite!

That's me!

If you've been wanting to try out white water rafting, don't wait. We weren't even planning a trip but when we were given the opportunity, we jumped on it. And I'm so glad we did! Here's where you can see more pictures and read about the things that made our white water rafting trip unforgettable!

Have you ever been to a wine tasting?

Earlier this year, I made a list of 10 fun activities I wanted to do in Ashe County this summer. Go canoeing and visit the Farmers Market, see a lawn mower race and take a vacation to Pigeon Forge. Stuff like that. Number 8 on that list was to tour some of our local "famous" places, like the cheese factory, art galleries and the winery's. And since our plans for this weekend got cancelled, we decided to spend Saturday at the Thistle Meadow Winery. They offer tours that show how their wine is made and if we go at the right time, we'll even get to help bottle and package it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get to help!
To complete the tour, we'll get to participate in a wine tasting. I've never been to one, so I'm not sure what to expect. Is it like on tv? Do I swirl it in the glass, study the color, breathe in the scent (and declare it's woodsy with a hint of floral), sip it, swish it around my mouth and then spit it out? Boy, wouldn't that make me feel posh!
I'd much rather just sip it and swallow it.

Othercat's raising Baby Chicks!

I can't believe it! Me, a big city girl, raising 7 adorable baby chicks! It was hard at first because 3 of them died within the first 3 days. I can't tell you how much I cried while I was digging their little graves. I decided no more were going to die, so I researched until I knew everything about chicks. Now I jokingly call myself The Chick Whisperer. Funny as that is, I think I must be doing something right because the 7 that are left are doing great. They're eating so much and growing so fast! They're thriving!

My whole day is devoted to these little guys; making sure they have enough to eat and drink; making sure the temperature around them is perfect; making sure they're safe and comfortable. With how attached I've grown to these 7, I don't think I could bear to lose another one.

So far, we've built them 2 different shelters. John built them a huge chicken coop next to the barn. And I built them a large outside pen they use during the day. I'm hoping it's big enough to hold them until they're old enough for the coop, but I'm not sure.

Well, at least I won't get bored any time soon!

I've been noticed!

A couple of days ago I was contacted by a professor (actually 2 of them!) from Arizona State University. Apparently, when they read my lens about Mysophobia, they liked what they read because they asked me to contribute to a book! That's right! They want me to write about my experiences with Mysophobia so they can publish them in a book. I don't know much else yet. All I know is that it's going to be a text book for students and professionals. 


I wrote 4 pages this morning and then received a follow up email that made me glad it was just 4 pages. After reading the email, I have no idea if I'm writing what I'm supposed to be writing. So I emailed them and I guess I'll just wait for clarification. 


I'm so excited at this opportunity! Since I started writing about Mental Health, my biggest goal has been to educate and inform. Being able to contribute to this book meets that goal plus some. Not to mention I finally feel like a true writer.