going up the mountain

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Several weeks ago, our plans for yesterday had been discussed and decided upon. Both hubby and I had agreed on where to eat breakfast and lunch. Okay, so it turned into brunch and linner (if brunch is between breakfast and lunch, it only makes sense that linner is between lunch and dinner). We wanted to spend a relaxing day, taking time to enjoy each minute.

(In another post, I’ll write about the beauty of this day. It deserves a post all by itself.)

We headed up the mountain to Boone, home of the Appalachian Mountaineers. We thoroughly enjoyed a scrumptious brunch (with great coffee) at our favorite breakfast place, the Mountain House. They serve the best pancakes this side of the Mississippi. Honestly.

Traffic around town was heavier than normal, especially around the campus of App State. We soon realized it was homecoming weekend and the Mountaineers were up against the Citadel (in a sold out game). No problem, App St 47, Citadel 21. (FYI - The Mountaineer football team brought home the 2005, 2006 and 2007 NCAA Div I FCS National Championships. That’s three in a row!)

We knew beforehand that ‘Art in the Park’ was being held in Blowing Rock. We’ve gone to several of these and enjoy looking thru the wide array of handmade crafts. The large number of displays included paintings, pottery, woodworking, jewelry, knitted items, and the like. This year, we didn’t buy a thing.

However, we did buy several items at the Tanger/Shoppes on the Parkway, also in Blowing Rock. Of the large number of outlet stores, there are a few I cannot resist taking a look inside. I like that excuse - when I buy something, it really isn’t my fault.

Blowing Rock is also the home of The Woodlands Barbecue Restaurant, the ‘Main Attraction’. We ate ‘linner’ there, seeing as we are required to eat there many times each year. Okay, maybe more than many times. We also have an obligation to buy a minimum of two pounds of Q-to-go per visit. In fact, we’re so committed to Woodlands take-out, we come prepared. Each time we head up the mountain, we’re packing a cooler.

Regardless of the many reasons for the trip, in the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that hubby’s stash of frozen barbeque had dwindled away. That was the deciding factor. Every other good thing up the mountain was icing on the cake.

With gas prices high and availability low, we wanted this trip to accomplish as many of our have to’s, love to’s, want to’s, like to’s, and must to’s. Yep, this trip was well justified.

It was a very good day.