The "Arctic Blast" in the Great Smoky Mountains

I have fond memories of the Great Smoky Mountains - it was the only big vacation my family took, ever. And you know, to this day, I still want to spell it as the Great Smokey Mountains, but I know that is incorrect.

I recall waterfalls, Lost Sea, Gatlinburg, Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome, tall trees, dirt roads, rain, and black bears. I also remember blueberry cobbler ice cream and my first experience with motion sickness on the curvy mountain roads.

Needless to say, I was anxious to return to the Smoky Mountains to experience it all over again. Unfortunately, this was the week that snow fell on 49 of the 50 states. The week the weather stations coined the term "Arctic Blast." And the week all the park roads were closed.

The Davis House, Mountain Farm Museum
(The house was moved here from the Indian Creek north of Bryson City, NC)

We managed to get to the Mountain Farm Museum at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and do a day hike to the waterfalls on the outskirts of the park (Indian Creek Falls and Juney Whank Falls). But the 10 degree weather and constant snowfall convinced us to stay put for the week. We stayed at a hotel in Cherokee, NC. They were happy to have visitors and we were thankful for a warm place to rest our heads.

We sorted through Peace Corps paperwork and practiced our Albanian. We walked quite a few miles in the snow to our favorite spot - the Tribal Grounds Coffee shop - where the barista had already memorized our drink order.

Barn at the Mountain Farm Museum

I still can't believe I didn't take any pictures of the snowfall - and I apologize greatly for that. So to make up my lack of photos, here is a random side note on a new chocolate experience for us, not necessarily a pleasant one...

A bag of Dove Promises Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate is a staple for us on this road trip. We like the Promises because we not only get a tasty treat, but we can read an inspirational message that distracts us from the calories we just put in our mouth.

Well, we thought we found a less expensive bag of Dove chocolate, only to find the wrappers with Martha Stewart Valentine suggestions. We think it has tainted the chocolate.

Here are a few messages, just in case you were clueless about ideas for Valentine's Day:

• Surprise a loved one with pink bed linens on Valentine's Day.
• Swirl in raspberry jam to make a perfect Valentine cheesecake.
• To prep roses, cut stems under water at a 45 degree angle.
• Use tiny store-bought seashells to form blossoms.
• X and O cookie cutters make "hugs and kisses" sugar cookies.
• Gift wrap a chocolate bar with pink craft paper and doilies.
• Keeping a bouquet in a cool area will help the flowers last.
• Store Valentine chocolate in a cool, dry spot out of the sun.
• Rose colors send a message: red = love, yellow = friendship.
• Arrange bud vases in the shape of a heart and fill with roses.
• Glue silk petals on a jar to create a vase. (hehee - this made us think of that expression "You can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig")