Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Provisions offers coffee and a lot more



On our travels, we're always on the lookout for a new coffee shop experience.

And our son and daughter-in-law introduced us to such a place -- Provisions in Roswell, GA.

They found it and journey over on Sundays.

That's the day they took us. And upon leaving their residence the next day, headed for the Gatlinburg, TN area, wifey and I decided to stop off again.




It was enjoyable.  After we visit certain places, the next step is to compare our experience with reviews that people have placed on the Internet.

As in most cases, there are good and not so good reviews.

But we liked the place. Maybe we are not as hard to please as others.




Provisions sits on Canton Street in the historic district just off the Alpharetta Highway.

They offer inside and outside seating. And the days we visited, being mild and cool, there were plenty of people to fill up the seats. Sufficient parking was available both across and down the street.


Wifey had tea and I had a latte on both days. We also shared a croissant which was OK but not like being in a fancy French eatery. Of course, I've never been in a fancy French eatery.

Provisions is way more than a coffee shop with a wide variety of breakfast and lunch foods.

The business offers more than 125 domestic and international cheeses and fresh, handmade ravioli. They carry smoked and cured hams, salami, sausage, roast beef and a wide variety of other meats.

Within the confines is more than 100 different wines from a wide variety of countries. They offer complimentary tastings three times a week.

It was a lively scene and we hung around enjoying the ambience.

Would we go back again. Sure nuff!

Next post: Nov. 5, 2013



Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Fall finally arrives with a golden glow



A dad poses in front of giant 'pumpkin' in Pigeon Forge, TN

Wifey takes a break in Gatlinburg
Fall is in the air.

There's cool temperatures and changing colors not to mention pumpkins and Halloween decorations.

There's small pumpkins and large ones and those that are good for carving with some used as heads for roadside attractions.

Taking it easy in Roswell, GA

Adding to roadside delight
Visiting relatives in Georgia and then meandering up into North Carolina and Tennessee about two weeks ago, we saw a lot of 'goblin spirit' in the air with a myriad of locations offering the colored fruit in bunches of different sizes.

Not only are people decorating pumpkins, but business owners and chamber of commerce types are getting into the spirit of things in many towns along the way. 

There's a lot of stuffed characters adding to the seasonal amusement. 

Grandchildren pose at pumpkin patch

Whether we were in Marietta or Roswell, GA or Cherokee and Gatlinburg, decorations were up and entertaining.

Grandparents take extra effort to capture cute picture of daughter, grandchild



And they were so enjoyable as they put a little bit of humor and fun into this time of year.

Next post: Oct. 29, 2013

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Bluegrass and brew -- mountain specialties



I am not much into drinking alcohol. Matter of fact, over the course of my 69 years, I probably haven't consumed more than about 20 ounces.

And most of that was when I was quiet small and my daddy put a can of beer in my hand. They had a good laugh as I got drunk and eventually fell off my rocking horse and hit the floor.



I actually like Welch's sparkling grape juice, either red or white, more than any alcoholic beverage that I have ever consumed.

But a visit to Gatlinburg, TN last week gave me an opportunity to swig a little free moonshine, although I was quite hesitant. The reason being that I read that back during the Prohibition Days, makers of the product sort of laced it with antifreeze, which ended up killing some people.



But alas, there were so many people bellying up to the bar for the stuff and I didn't want to hang around, so I just decided to take a few pictures.

The place was the Ole Smoky Moonshine Distillery. It is in downtown Gatlinburg and is the first legal distillery in the state.



Our visit to the business was on the last night of our stay and we wanted to get out and find some bluegrass entertainment.

Well, we found it there.

There were a goodly amount of rocking chairs in place for people to sit and enjoy the music. But when one person got up to leave, it was like vultures seeking out the recently vacated seat.

For more than an hour, wifey and I sat and listened to the band  and thoroughly enjoyed our last night of that particular visit.

And I really didn't miss not having a taste of that mountain brew at all. Maybe I will find time next visit.

We left the following day, wrapping up our third visit to the area this year.

Next post: October 22, 2013



Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Drive behind a waterfall! Really?




It isn't often when one can drive behind a waterfall.

But that's the opportunity that affords itself when looking for Bridal Veil Falls between Highlands and Franklin, NC on US 64.



The experience can be enjoyed a little more than two miles from Highlands. Wifey and I were on a trip to Gatlinburg from our hometown in Mississippi and was informed that such a possibility existed.

Since we usually take US 441 through north Georgia, the detour was only about a half an hour away, although we did spend a little extra time driving through Highlands and getting the layout of the land.

We didn't know exactly what to expect, but none-the-less, the stop was enjoyable as we viewed and then drove under the 120-foot waterfall like thousands of others.


The road under the waterfall was the original part of the highway, but after problems with ice and such things, the decision was to have a safer journey, so the main highway was rerouted to in front of the waterfall.

Next post: Oct. 14, 2013

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Shutdown or not, we're still headed out


Great Smoky Mountain National Park roads hit by government shutdown
Well, what can I say, or do.

The government closed down at midnight Monday.

Today, on Tuesday, I'm wondering about my situation. And there are probably thousands more who are in a quandary.

We have plans to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park next week to experience the beauty of the fall color. We don't plan on camping so we won't be affected in that manner, but many others will be having to change their accommodations.

There is no entrance fee to the park and a major highway runs through it. The southern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway intersects just north of Cherokee.

I was advised that US 441 through the park will remain open as will the Gatlinburg bypass and the corridor between Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.  All other facilities, roads, campgrounds and trails will be off limits, even to those that just want to take a walk.

During the color season when thousands descend on the area, this may cause somewhat of a headache, but then maybe not, if people decide to stay home.

This will be our third trip this year to the area and even with a lot of roads and trails closed, traveling along different venues will still allow us to enjoy the scenery.

Maybe we'll have to find new and different things to enjoy on this trip. And that may be a good thing.

Next post: Oct. 8, 2013