Talk about RUSTIC!!!

So Owen's office Christmas party was this past weekend - they have started having it before all the madness begins after Thanksgiving. At first we were skeptical - but it really is nice having it a little earlier. I don't know about you guys but around here it's madness after Thanksgiving! Seems like there's something planned every weekend!

Anyway - this year the office party was in Cashier's, NC. That's in the mountains about 2 hours northwest of us. It's really close to Sapphire Valley where the ski resort is. The elevation there is about 3700 feet - so it's really in the mountains.

Since Owen was off on Friday we decided to head up Friday afternoon and enjoy a night in the mountains (without kids). Hannah had other plans for us. On the way home from school Friday she started to feel bad and yep, you guessed it - up came the cupcakes she had for afternoon snack all over the floorboard of the front seat! Thank goodness we put those plastic mats in there!

Thank goodness it was short-lived. She felt much better Friday evening and was running around on Saturday morning. So off the kids went to visit their Aunt Melinda and Uncle Rick in Spartanburg and we headed to the High Hampton Inn.

Now I had read reviews on line (no tvs or telephones in the room!!!). Some were very favorable others not so much - but they were usually complaining about how "rustic" the hotel was. Well let me tell you - they weren't kidding!!!

This is the view as you step into the lobby - there's this beautiful stone fireplace that is open on all 4 sides. I couldn't find any pics of the bedrooms - but there were very rustic! As we were laying in bed Saturday night after the party Owen and I stared at the heart pine ceiling (and walls and floor!) and thought "We're laying in a pine crate!". But the king sized bed was very comfortable (it was made of logs) and the down pillows and comforter were very warm!

All in all it was a great weekend - even though we only ended up staying one night. The food and service were excellent - evidently the Inn has already closed for the season and they opened up especially for our party. They will also be open on Thanksgiving Day - people make reservations to stay there for Thanksgiving a year in advance.

And of course the views were beautiful! This one is the view from the back of the inn (which used to be the summer home of Wade Hampton a civil war general who bought the original inn back in the 1800s - which has sinced burned down).

This view reminds me of Stone Mountain!

When we returned home Sunday afternoon Owen and the kids worked on the leaves in the front yard - here's a few pics of them jumping in the leaves. Owen said when he picked some of them up last week with the lawnmower Patrick stood in front of him with a rake in one hand and his other hand out like a stop sign and demanded him to stop picking up the leaves! Since we've moved to Anderson it's become a yearly fall tradition for the kids to play in the leaves - something they didn't get to do in Savannah. It's not as fun playing in brown, dead pine needles as it is in brightly colored, crunchy leaves!

Pretty cool pics huh? Love the mid-air shot!

Off to get ready for Patrick's Thanksgiving Feast. Today is their last day of school before Thanksgiving - they're looking forward to the long holiday weekend!

I hope everyone has a safe & happy Thanksgiving! Hugs to all!