High times: "Rock me Mama..."

Hubby's and my son got married this past weekend.

It was an incredible and high time.

I'm still processing it and holding it all in my heart with deep gratitude.

More good memories for the bank.

~*~

At the reception...

Son and I danced to this song...

Outside with a fire roaring in a giant stone fire place...

In our beloved Blue Ridge Mountains...

Giant halfmoon looking on from the heavens...

Light-lanterns...

Amongst the trees...

Some of their fall leaves still hanging on...

A hundred dear friends and family cleared the stone-paver patio dancefloor...

Son twirled me and dipped me and held me closely...

As we sang together smiling. laughing...
Eyes and hearts filled with gratitude...

I've always liked this song...

Now I love it....

~*~

Due to schedules, Hubby and I had to drive separately to Georgia for the wedding and festivities.
The route is a four-plus-hour drive from our home in Winston-Salem, NC, to Blairsville, Georgia, through the heart of the Blue Ridge...a gorgeous drive.

On the drive over and down I stopped in Morganton, NC, to bike the Catawba River Greenway. 

So glad I did.
It helped my body, mind, and soul; and I was happy to see a black snake on the Greenway.

It was rather cool, so I was surprised to see him/her. 
I'm sure she was on her way back to her warm underground earth-dwelling. 

I rode my bicycle, Bleu, into the dark and then back to Sir Edward the Explorer and then ate my picnic supper via light from my headlamp while I sat, legs dangling, on the edge of Edward's open back-hatch. 
A routine we often engage on my day-trip bike rides. 

I arrived at our Georgia rental cabin Wednesday night around 11:00 PM. 
Lights lit the big wooden porch which was accessed via a ramp, instead of stairs. 
I really appreciated that.

On the roof-covered porch are a grill, two cushioned rocking chairs, and a pentagon-shaped picnic table with attached benches.

I walked into a piney-wood, lamp-lit cabin with contemporary instrumental music playing...

"Wow...."

The cabin is located on a mountainside in the woods with a beautiful view.
The cabin's name is Wolf's Den and is located at Paradise Hills Resort Farm Winery.

Delightful, restful, peaceful. 

It rained hard Wednesday night.

Thursday was damp, cool, and foggy.

Edward and I went exploring.
Drove up to Blood Mountain, about 20 minutes from the cabin, where the Appalachian Trail crosses the winding mountain road.

Then we drove another scenic route to Helen, Georgia, a little mountain tourist town with Bavarian street names.
Helen is known as Little Bavaria. 

Wedding festivities began Friday evening.
And continued into Saturday night.

It was an experience like no other.
I know that may sound overboard, but it really left Hubby and I somewhat speechless, in a good way.
The weather was even perfect for all the festivities.

Though it was a bit blustery on Saturday.

But the wind calmed in the evening for the outdoor gala.

Tall heaters were placed strategically amongst the outdoor tables. 

And throw blankets were available to whomever needed one. 

The whole experience was glorious...
I don't know if I've ever felt such gratitude...

And satisfaction, for lack of a better word...
I think Son summed it best in a text...
"...the whole experience blew our minds. The amount of love shown to us is truly humbling..."

On my drive back to Winston on Sunday, I decided to jump on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville and drive it to the NC Highway 421 exit on the east side of Boone. 
I regularly drive that route (421 to that BRP entry), so Edward knows most of it well. 
He could probably find his way without me! ;) 

On the way back, I decided to stop in at Mt. Mitchell.

And so glad I did...

Among other folks, I met a couple who had grown up in Young Harris, GA, the town Son and fiance got married in just the day before. 

And I was able to hike the Balsam Nature Trail, a short 3/4-mile hike through a balsam forest where scents from Fir and Spruce filled the air.

And it was glorious...

~*~

I think with the wind chill, the temp was in the high 20s on Mt. Mitchell...

Majestic and humbling...

From the summit: 6,683'Mt. Mitchell. 4:00PM. 11/14/21.
Hawksbill and Table Rock in the distance.

From the summit: 6,683'. Mt. Mitchell. 4:00PM. 11/14/21.

~*~

The sun sets on 11/14/21.
Views from the Blue Ridge Parkway...

Just north of Mt. Mitchell...

~*~