Monteagle- Days 13 and 14

Day 13 (Saturday) was highlighted by a number of fun activities: a picnic and (very cold/frigid) swim at Rutledge Falls, a pet show and ice cream sundae social, and dinner at Four Seasons (again!). Day 14 (Sunday/today) was "pack it up and head home day" (and back to the real world).

Here are some pictures from our morning and picnic at Rutledge Falls (our new favorite swimming hole hang out) and the ice cream social.

With the kids in front of the falls

The kids and friends in front of the falls

The perfect swimming hole (if you can get used to the frigidity of the water)

That water is painfully cold (that's me in front of the falls- but not for long!)

Climbing the left side of the falls.

The Sundae barPosing with her Sundae

Monteagle- Day 12

Yesterday (Friday, Day 12) was another memorable day on the mountain. Apart from the usual activities, the highlight included eating supper at Four Seasons (aka, The Bird Restaurant) homestyle, country buffet (it's only open Friday-Sunday, and only in the summer, so we're not sure why it is called "Four" seasons). Anyway, you never leave hungry! After supper we were on a walk and got invited to sit on the Quinlen's porch and eat smoked trout dip. I'm not a big dip guy. But oh my, it was soooo good. Then we went to the playground so the kids could play with a bunch of friends while we talked with Beth Davis, one of the lead counselors for the summer.

Here are some pictures of Thursday's hike to Firey Gizzard.

Monteagle- Day 11

Today's highlights include a kids morning scavenger hunt, walking with Kristy, a short, but furious thunderstorm (the mountain needs rain badly!), lunch in the dining hall, a "progressive supper" for the Eagles (Ann Ferris and Schaeffer's group), and a really fun hike of the Firey Gizzard Trail "day loop" (hope to post photos of that tomorrow- great pics!). Tonight we are having some friends (Joanna D. and Natalie Q.) over for some "porch time."

At the end of our trip, I plan to post photos of various cottages and of the grounds. Until then, here are some more sample shots...

Wading up the creek

Showing off his turtle

B'fast on the porch

With a favorite counselor at the bonfire

Story time

Story time, part 2

The Water Princess

Monteagle- Days 9 & 10

Yesterday (Day 9) the kids played games (capture the flag, spud, dodge ball, etc.), went to crafts and watched March of the Penguins in the auditorium. Schaeffer and I played "HORSE" in the gym (he was on fire!). Last night Kristy made some unreal spaghetti. Today, Kristy had a "ladies lunch & tea" with friends at the Tea Room in Cowan while I took pictures of cottages and of the kids at games (uploaded photos coming soon). This evening we enjoyed a date at The Blue Chair and then returned to the Assembly and walked the grounds while the kids played with a friend named Virginia at the cottage. Oh yeah, Schaeffer and I also played Ultimate Frisbee, which is also the ultimate workout. :0)

Here are some more pictures...

A self-portrait in front of the war memorial cross at Sewanee.

The view of the valley from the steps of the war memorial cross in Sewanee.

SMC and SWC beside our cottage (not pictured).

Sarah Wynn helping me fix a flat tire. :0)

With friend, Elizabeth, in the hammock.

Schaeffer hangin' out

Monteagle- Day 5

I forgot to mention that yesterday at games the kids has a mass scavenger hunt which they really enjoyed. Today was "water games" in the morning, with Schaeffer playing soccer in the afternoon and Ann Ferris going on a nature hike to the Coal Mines with the "eagles" age group. Schaeffer also got in some crawdad time in the creek with some friends. Tonight we ate at Crust in Sewanee and then hosted Joanna Douglas and Natalie and Thomas Quinlin on the porch for some adult late-night hang time. Tomorrow (Saturday) several families are going on an excursion to a swimming hole near Tracy City.

Monteagle- Day 4

Today after games, Ann Ferris went to arts and crafts while Schaeffer played tennis with his buddy, Walker. This evening, their age group had a progressive supper. The plan for a progressive supper is to "progress" from one stage of the meal to the next: the appetizer at one cottage, the main course at another cottage, and the desert at our cottage! After that they went to a bonfire to eat smores at "the point"- a scenic spot overlooking the valley about 2,100 feet below. With lows in the 50s (I'm wearing a fleece on the porch right now), a bonfire in June is not merely endurable, but actually is quite enjoyable. The highlight of tomorrow's agenda is an afternoon nature hike with a park ranger and then hayrides. After the kids are "down," Kristy and I are hosting some friends for a late-night adult get together on the porch of our cottage.

Fire Truck & Safety Day

Sarah Wynn's "Hummingbird" Group

Daddy and his littlest girl

Schaeffer playing soccer on an old tennis court. When you love the game, you'll play anywhere.

Daddy and Sarah Wynn going down the slide at the pool.

Ann Ferris enjoying the water.

Monteagle- Day 2

Today Kristy and I got up and enjoyed a morning walk around the grounds before the kids left for "games." While they were at games we went to browse Mountain Outfitters (Schaeffer needs some water sandals for the creek) and The Blue Chair. But the highlight of the morning was the garter snake that hangs out around the playground. I got a great picture of the snake hiding in his hole in a railroad tie.

After eating lunch on the porch with the kids, we met a friend at the nine-square court so that Sarah Wynn and one of her buddies could ride bikes. After that we retired to the playground where, while sitting on a picnic table, we encountered an old Ole Miss Chi-O friend that we had not seen since 1992). Following a game of Apples to Apples at Sterling and Summer's cottage, Ann Ferris went to crafts (and made a tie-dye t-shirt) while Schaeffer played tennis with Walker.

Tonight, the kids watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the cottage while Kristy and I slipped out for our first ever date to High Point, a mini-splurge that included not only awesome atmosphere (in a mountain top stone home turned restaurant that is on the national register of historic places), but also unreal cuisine (lobster bisque and almond crusted mahi mahi). We may not be able to go back for a long time, but we will hang on to the memory of that experience.

As I'm posting, the Boston Celtics have just defeated the Lakers 4-2 to win the NBA Chapionship. And I really do hope to post some pictures very soon.