Different, but good...

Yep...this was a VERY different week-end than my last one. Last week-end I was eating scones and dainties, sipping tea with nice conversation. This week-end was all about the boys. Coy, my 19 year old and Ben, my 13 year old took part in a music festival @ UT in Knoxville. They studied under great violinists Yuri Mazurkevich, Miroslav Hristov and Mark Zelmanovich. They participated in workshops, saw incredible luthiers, and presented an awesome concert at the end of the three day festival. We feel honored to have been there and we also feel very blessed.It was smelly and the days were long, BUT...while it was a very different week-end indeed, it was a very good week-end.

Another tea party

This time with grown ups!! The girls from the Cherry Pit came, had tea and goodies...what a treat! I adore the tradition of afternoon tea, and when I get to share it with others...oh my goodness, I have too much fun. The afternoon meal consisted of scones, banana bread, poppyseed bread, oysters patties, quiche, shrimp molds, chicken salad, fruit and veggie tray....strayberry cream puffs, cookies, and chocolate ganache. How delightful! We had black tea, cranberry orange tea and chocolate mint tea for dessert. Yummy! Makes me want more! I could not have pulled this one off without help....Thanks to Rita for all the yumminess she contributed!!!

Quilting Heaven

This has been "Quiltfest" week here in the Great Smoky Mtns. Quilter's paradise some call it. I talk about loving lost arts and quilting is one that I adore. So much so that I took a Sat. job at our local quilt shop. My husband says it's not a job, it's a hobby and I suppose that's about right. I've had the privilge of working the quiltfest with a dear friend for our shop and boy are we having fun! This is a picture of my favorite quilt that I plan on starting ASAP. So many to choose from, it was a hard decision. As always, our own little shop had the best kits and such. (Of course I'm not biased a bit!) If your ever in Sevier County, be sure to stop in The Cherry Pit. People from all over come by year after year. If you come on a Sat., be sure to say hi!

Well..he's not Clint Eastwood, but that's OK

He is my dad and we are so happy that he was here to celebrate his 78th birthday. After open heart surgery and a ton of complications, he is recooperating nicely. So...even though he's not in as good of shape as Mr. Eastwood who is also 78...he's doing alright for Mr. D.

So many smiles

This is my sweet Anna Catherine (on the left), and her dear friend Ella. Monday night was their mid-winter concert at The Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville. They are the sweetest little things. They met a little over three years ago in the orchestra and have been inseperable ever since. Both super cute and talented. Both first violins in their Youth Symphony. They have so much fun together, it's such a pleasure just to see them playing. I wonder if they'll always play violin? What will they look like 5 years form now in the midst of their teenage years? Will they be sweet then? Will they always treasure their friendship? So many questions to ponder, but in the meantime...I think I'll just enjoy all this "sweetness".

A different season

It was a cold but sunny day, so we thought we'd go somewhere we hadn't been in a while. The U.T. Gardens. We went last summer when it was sweltering hot, let the kids chase butterflies and climb through giant twig huts. They searched for cystes and drank tons of juice boxes.

This day was quite different from that hot summer day. The plants and trees were mostly still sleeping, with just a few showing the beginning signs of life. We were very suprised to see a Cherry Blossom with a few droopy blooms.

But even on this cold winter day, we found lots to do. The kids still ran and played. The twig huts were gone, along with all the cystes, but we still saw wonderful stone structures. Lots of sweet birdies, and it was fun to see all the bones and lines of the gardens.

All in all it was a lovely day...but boy, are we ever looking forward to the long days of summer!
(I say that now, but the truth is I am a cold climate girl at heart)

We LUV cupcakes

Today was all about the kids. Our support group was having a Valentines skating party and we were suppose to bring treats. My Anna was determined to take homemade cupcakes, even though she really isn't suppose to have them. "No store bought ones!" she said. " We have to make them!"

So...we baked cupcakes...and she took great pains in making them especially beautiful. I 'm afraid she's a bit of a perfectionist. She took a VERY long time....so long she didn't have time for all her school work! (imagine that!) They were delicious however and she was delighted with them.

The skating party was a blast and even big brother had to admit that his sister brought the very best cupcakes there. And.....yes Anna was able to have one too<3