This Thanksgiving, we are spending a week in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.  My husband’s parents live half the year up here in a beautiful home that rests on the edge of a mountain, a little less than an hour outside of Asheville.  I am thankful that they so enjoy when family wishes to come & stay awhile.  Even though it’s a bit tough for us to get to commute-wise, we truly cherish our visits at this majestic mountain retreat.

At our elevation of 4,200 feet, the vistas span wide, the stars shine oh-so-bright, and the sunsets are spectacular.  Every room has large windows and sometimes I find myself getting lost in God’s creation, just staring out at the mountaintops, the valley with the town below, and the big unobstructed sky.  It’s so magical because we are above the treetops and its as if the blue-hued peaks of the Appalachian Mountains are right at eye-level.  An object of wonder for many photographers, I haven’t been able to capture the mountains in all their glory, but here’s just a slice of my view from bed this morning…

Unfortunately we are here a little too late to see the autumnal leaves –the mountains catch fire with yellow, orange, and red in October– but it’s all still as stunning as ever.  This trip, Ryan’s days here are spent golfing and enjoying his Mom’s cooking while I’m set to focus on a more relaxing agenda.  Here is a photo he took from the tee box of Hole #11 today…

Mostly I will be sleeping (a lot, like waaaaay more than necessary for human function), reading, and luxuriating in the guest bath tub that not only has eight jacuzzi jets but chromatherapy lights, too.  Ah-mazing.  And if that wasn’t enough relaxation, my Mother In Law & I are headed to the spa at The Grove Park Inn tomorrow.  The hotel is 100 years old and the spa amenities are out of this world — they have these underground ‘caves’ with mineral pools pumping underwater spa sounds…  and the caves have tiny sparkling fiber-optic lights built into them, so you can float there in mineral water listening to serene music & staring up at these ‘stars’…  and then go sit by a huge fire in a fluffy robe with a view of the mountaintops.  Can you tell I’m excited???  🙂

Sure, we’ve done the hiking and white water rafting and forest ziplining on previous summer trips out here, but this season I’m thankful to be warm & nestled into a mountain side for a full heaping of R&R.  Enjoy bundling up in coziness, sitting & chatting by a fire, hot holiday drinks, and family dinners around the table — these are my favorites.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!