The Open Road Always Calls Me.

One of the most difficult things about going back to working for someone else is the restrictions on my time. I can't just take off on a road trip like I could before.

I still have a strong desire to someday RV as a lifestyle. I don't know if we will ever be able to afford it but I can dream about it. Meanwhile I live vicariously through the blogs of people who have managed to pull it off, hoping to pick up a few tips or ideas that might help me be better prepared to step into the lifestyle if and when the opportunity arrives.

I've noticed that many women are now traveling alone. That is encouraging to me because I think this may be more my dream than my husband's. I hope the time comes for us to do this together but I don't want to give up the dream if it doesn't.

Here are a few blogs that I've started reading that I enjoy: First is a new RV traveler Just Me and My Dog. She has been on the road since June of this year. Then there is Life On The Open Road. Diana has been a full timer for 10 years. Then there is a Southern girl, Susan at Beach Bummz.

I can spend hours reading about their adventures and following links off of their blogs. Sigh....maybe someday I can join them and write about my own adventurous journeys.

What I Saw: How To Cross A Creek

We have been in North Carolina on a business trip. Near Hot Springs I saw this cabin and an ingenious way that they have created to cross the creek to their house. They park near where I took this picture and board this little cart to cross over to where their house is located.

It was extremely cold yesterday and this morning. The wind was the problem. It was blowing incredibly hard and since we were around 4000 elevation it was much colder than the valley we live in. I was not quite prepared for how cold it would be. We went up to Blowing Rock attraction for just a few minutes this morning and after only about 10 minutes I felt like the ends of my fingers were frozen!

This is a picture of a mill near Banner Elk, just over the state line, in a little place called Trade.

I know these pictures are nothing compared to what others in the country have been dealing with this winter so far. I hate when we get ice in Tennessee. We don't get much and no one seems ready when we do.

New Orleans: Graveyards

New Orleans

We spent Thanksgiving weekend in New Orleans with our daughter. We had a wonderful time. We saw so much it is hard to know what to post. I'll start with the St. Louis Cathedral. The Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis King of France is the oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the United States. People have been worshiping on this spot since 1718 and this building was completed in 1794. The cathedral faces Jackson Square where a statue of Andrew Jackson stands. Inside the cathedral is breathtaking. The murals are exquisite and the stained glass is fabulous. Even the gift shop is beautiful! Afterwards, we treated ourselves at the Cafe du Monde. The cafe opened in 1862 and is famous for it's cafe' au lait and French-style beignets. We did some shopping in the French Quarter and some more sight seeing. There are beautiful enclosed courtyards at the homes along Chartre street. It is interesting how many people live right in the middle of the all the businesses. New Orleans is a beautiful city full of interesting sights and people. I have more pictures to share., including some great ones of the local graveyards. We had a wonderful time.

What I Saw: Cove Lake

We took a road trip this weekend to see fall colors. Cove Lake in LaFollette, Tennessee was our first stop.

What I Saw: Our Next Stop: Cumberland Gap, Tn.

This gorgeous house is for sale. I love the colors. A haunted house? Perfect for a Halloween weekend.

What I Saw: Cumberland Gap: Take 2

We bought a delicious milkshake here and sat at these cute tables to drink it. There is a cute antique shop in town. Everything is arranged by colors. Some fall color on the streets.