The Cabin in the Woods….Love and Laughter!

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Becky Dingle

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Dear Reader:

Isn’t there something quite special about the mountains? I’m not sure if all of us just needed a change of scenery quite badly from medical and daily problems….but, for whatever reason, our stay at Brooke and Ted’s mountain cabin was the magical medicine we all needed to recoup and regroup!

Part of the magic was just the physical aspects of the mountains themselves. I am truly in love with Saluda! It is such a cute mountain town that someone just needs to put a big red bow over the entire village nestled so snugly in the mountains.

And the best part about Saluda is that you don’t have to travel that far to get there. Sam Clark has said on a good day he can lock one door in Summerville and three hours later be unlocking the door to their family mountain house. In other words, one isn’t completely exhausted from a long trip but filled with pep and ready to roar when arriving in Saluda!

FullSizeRenderIf you have been to the mountains lately….you can readily concur with Libby’s jaw-dropping gasp as she left Spartanburg and went around the curve to see (seemingly out of nowhere) the majestic outline of the Blue Ridge Mountains right in front of her.

I told her that I always squeal when I see the mountains again…it is  like seeing them for the first time. We all added similes to this amazing visual sensation… such as seeing the Ferris Wheel each year at the local fair and then dreaming of stopping on the top and looking down on the fairgrounds. Or going down the waterfalls in rafts and not seeing the “big drop” until one’s raft is right in front of it.

Last Friday was cooler with drizzle that steadily got stronger the farther we got to Saluda so that first mountain visual was even more spectacular because it was hard to tell where the outline of the mountains began and the fog and mist ended. I was so glad I had brought Grandmother Wilson’s quilt for Friday and especially Saturday night.A little chilly!

Libby hadn’t been to the mountains since her own children attended the Methodist camp at Camp Lake Junaluska. She was so inspired she started quoting scripture:

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.”

Like St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope The Ya’s need to get a wooden sign and put on the front of the Parker cabin that says” Everyone Welcome! Stop, Rest, and Reflect. (And that is exactly what we did!)

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Saluda was running (weather and temperature-wise) about three to four weeks behind us….meaning the azalea bushes were in full bloom…come join me on a jaunt with my camera. (Breath-taking climbing clematis, azaleas, gerber daisies, etc.)

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IMG_0993Monday the wonderful Honey Burrell joined us for a birthday lunch for Brookie whose birthday is this Saturday the 30th! But Brookie surprised Honey first with a gift for her since she missed her March birthday!

Actually the rest of us had received these amazing (SC) “Spartina clutches” from Em, Jackson’s sister….right up this old history teacher’s alley. IMG_1027Aren’t they wonderful? I immediately cleaned out my old pocketbook and carried my new clutch proudly. Thank you EM!!! WOW!!!

 

Brookie got all kinds of wonderful presents….from outfits for her grandson Caleb (she now nicknames “Little Boo”-Love it”) to a beautiful scarf, yummy candle, and a  pocketbook…you name it…she got it!  The lunch was at the Purple Onion….Matthew was able to join us all and some of Jackson’s nephews and nieces….such fun!

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10428054_10152779954197798_6249922125625307348_nThe Purple Onion was delicious and we got two tables out on the patio….the mountain air was spectacular…the perfect day…or like Brooke said a “bluebird day”….not a cloud in the sky. Delicious! And thank you again sneaky Honey for picking up our tab….you can’t take your eyes off Honey for one minute or she is giving, giving, giving. You are one in a million! Look at what Honey and Mike made as a wedding present….hand-made….dip trays and serving utensils….so talented!

After lunch we indulged in ice cream….the perfect day! Here are some photos…..more to come tomorrow…. At that time You can come drive with us through scary dark tunnels and drop off cliffs on our way to The Pisgah Inn and the wedding! (It was a beautiful (Winnie the Pooh) blustery day!)

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IMG_0955With some chilly temps, Sam and Donna, your new t-shirt (you gave me) over my turtleneck just hit the spot! Thank you again for thinking of me! Perfect!

 

 

 

 

So until tomorrow…..God must have made the mountains for a special reason because the spirit of life surely dwells there!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

  • downloadA Shout-Out to Eva Cate who is “officially” 6 today! I still can’t get over it! Wow! And then my ‘baby’ graduates from kindergarten Thursday evening. Memories for a life time.
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  • Video of Eva Cate’s Mermaid Party last Saturday

  • Eva Cate’s 6th Birthday Video

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”
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2 Responses to The Cabin in the Woods….Love and Laughter!

  1. Johnny Johnson says:
    April 27, 2016 at 5:53 pm

    You are so right about the mountains! We were at the Biltmore and the flowers all over the estate were beautiful! And there is something special in the mountains! I love the sound of the flowing water over the rocks in the creeks, it is so peaceful of a sound to me! Love it every time I go!

    Reply
  2. Becky Dingle says:
    April 27, 2016 at 6:19 pm

    Wasn’t the weather fabulous….perfect during the day….a little cool at night….the best. It was hard for me to adjust to almost 90 degrees temps today….do hope we get a little rain for the garden.

    Reply

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