A beautiful weekend in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Although I've traveled through it and over it quite a few times, I don't think I've stopped in Tennessee in years, so when my friend Gina asked me a few months ago if I would consider joining her for a trip to her cabin in the Smoky Mountains, I was all in. We went to church together years ago and have kept in touch since, especially since we've both lost husbands in the past few years. She has been a huge source of comfort to me, so I knew I would enjoy traveling with her.

Plus, seeing God's gorgeous creation is always a balm for my soul!

This is us about to leave the cabin after our long weekend.

Gina and I are both crafters, so we enjoyed visits to a scrapbook store, antique stores, some delicious home-cooking restaurants (which happily prepared Arnold Palmers for me), and my favorite, the Moon Pie outlet and bookstore!

A bunch of geese had arrived at the same time we did, and they weren't a bit camera-shy!

You never know what you'll see at an antique store, but at this one, I saw an old mirrored tray that someone had embellished with vintage costume jewelry. Those of you who've read my Junkin' Jewelry mysteries won't be surprised to hear that I plan to let my heroine make some of these trays the next time I write about her!

I came home with quite a few new goodies, which you'll hear about in the days ahead, but after Gina and I returned home on Sunday and I unpacked from the weekend, I settled in with a cup of tea and a mini Moon Pie in the Birthday Cake flavor. It was the perfect purchase to end all of the birthday shopping that I did in May!