Three recent happenings and some pictures to share.
In mid-May, Ayla had a tea party with three of her friends at Yew Dell Gardens, inside of a real castle on its grounds! (I've raved about Yew Dell in a previous post; plan a visit there, especially during its "Sculpture at the Dell" in the summer.) The setting made the afternoon perfect. We were told that we were the first to have a children's tea party there, which is hard to believe; one look at the castle and it seems a natural place to rent for princess or tea parties for the girls, and "wizards and knights" for the boys. Michelle Cook (our beloved Ayla documentarian!) was our photographer, and did an incredible job, as always. Here's a few shots, done vintage style:
Over Memorial Day weekend, April and I wanted to do something different to celebrate our seventh wedding anniversary. We decided to stay at a bed and breakfast for the first time, but we didn't want to drive too far. After Googling and reading some reviews, we went with the 1888 Rocking Horse Manor (at the edge of Old Louisville) and booked their Grand Victorian Suite. To say we were pleased is an understatement. The place was delightful (the backyard garden alone made the stay worthwhile), the breakfast delicious, and the hospitality of manorkeepers John and Ricardo would be difficult to beat. We are already mulling a return trip. During our stay, we walked a few blocks and ate at Amici Cafe, an Italian culinary treasure; I recommend their Penne alla Lorenzo! Here are a few pictures of the manor:
We took our most recent trip last week. April, Ayla, April's parents and I stayed at the Breezy Mountain Lodge just outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It was a family reunion of sorts for April's father's side of the family, where everybody pitched in to rent the Lodge as a private getaway, complete with a mini-movie theater and a game room. Not only was it good to see old faces, but we enjoyed a trip into "town" and the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. We had fun walking down the Parkway (visiting the Hollywood Wax Museum was definitely worth the admission), hiking up to see Laurel Falls , and eating some good meals, including Huck Finn's Catfish Restaurant, a pleasant surprise and a must if you're in the area. (Any place that has "all you can eat vittles" has my heart for sure.)
Now, back home to rest, write, and prepare for next year's classes.
