We're back, safe and somewhat sound, from The Husband's work trip to east Tennessee. I say "somewhat" sound because I came down with a cold and a sore throat while we were there.
The meeting was supposed to occur in Ashville, NC, but - well, the flood. The organizers were able to book last-minute accommodations at the HeartSong lodge at Dollywood. It was a nice place, beautifully decorated for Christmas. It was easy to get there. The staff was friendly and helpful. There was live music (a soloist) in the lobby every night that we were there. The restaurant food was good. No complaints at all, except that our room wasn't comfortable for sitting (there were nicer suites that had sitting room). I spent a lot of time in the lobby lounge, working on my quilt blocks beside the windows, which faced a big patio with fire pits.
We got free passes to Dollywood for Tuesday. Of course, The Husband was in meetings all day, and there was a group dinner that night, so we'd planned to go to Dollywood after dinner. However, it was raining and nobody wanted to go. Wednesday morning, while I was sewing by the windows, it started snowing. It didn't stick - the high temperature on Tuesday was 70 - but it was nice to watch it falling. After lunch, I ran into one of the other wives who said the lodge would give us a raincheck on our tickets, so when the conference finally ended Wednesday afternoon, The Husband and I bundled up and took the shuttle to the park. It was all lit up. Some of the rides were operating, but it was too cold for this old broad to be on a rollercoaster. We walked around, listened to a choir sing Christmas hymns in front of an old-timey church building, hit a few shops (I so wanted a Dolly bobblehead for my "heroes" collection, but there was none to be found), and got frozen to the bone. The place was a maze in the dark, and we finally had to ask for directions to the exit. Thank goodness there was a hotel shuttle, warm and waiting, in the lot outside the gates.
We hit the road early and got home in time to go to Granddaughter #2's Christmas concert. The band started with "Sleigh Ride," and it gave me chills that had nothing to do with cold (the gym was an OVEN).
Dolly, if this gets back to you, make us a bobblehead. The kid version of you in a coat of many colors would be awesome. :)
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