“Memorize places. Settle your eyes on a place and learn it. See it under the snow, and when first grass is growing, and as rain falls upon it. Feel it and smell it, walk on it, touch the stones, and it will be with you forever. When you are far away, you can call it back. When you need it, it is there in your mind.” Tony Hillerman

Above is the John Oliver cabin in Cades Cove. Cades cove is one of my favorite places in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. I took this picture when Joel and I were there in January.

On November third, we’re going back and taking Josh, Nikki, Hudson, Denton and Adam. The twins are excited about going to the big, big mountains and we are excited about taking them. We can’t wait to watch them play on the mountains

and walk on the boulders in the streams. But before we go I have a few things to do to get my little zoo ready for Joel’s sister, Dona, to take over for me while we’re away. Chickens, turkeys, rabbits, a dog and a cat…I’m sure all will be fine. Dona likes animals and loves doing things outside – thank goodness.

The boys were here bright and early this morning. Well, it was early, but not bright. As a matter of fact it wasn’t even light. As usual, they announced their presence with a morning anthem.

It rained most of the night, so playing outside did not seem to be an option. (Not good.) It’s always better if you let them run and follow them on the golf cart.

Play-Doh is always an option when outside doesn’t seem to be. They are the great mixers of Play-Doh, so I’m afraid that by the time winter is over, we will have twenty four tubs of the same color.

They kept after us until we did take them out for a few minutes – and only a few minutes. An army of mosquitoes was performing maneuvers today on our property, so we left them to finish their mission.