ILCS Retreat

Debra H and Becki Vickie
Karin BW
Kathy in OH Becki
Becki and Pam K Pam K

Oh I couldn't wait to start the retreat, I went two days early. LOL!
First I had to get my car checked out again, before I could leave. They were suppose to check the oil and back brakes, but when I checked the car myself I had to add oil and the breaks were making a funny noise. Anyway I was on my way around 9:30 am, Tuesday.

What a beautiful drive it was. It had been a very long time since I had been to Kentucky or Tennessee. It was a beautiful change, all the rocks and hills.

I arrived at the hotel about 6 pm. It was beautiful and warm. I unpacked and realized I forgot at least 3 things, but it ended up being at least 12 things I forgot. LOL! And headed to the pool for a dip and a cat nap. Then I just relaxed that night.
Wednesday

The next day I was up early and tried the breakfast at the hotel, which wasn't that good at all.

Then I was off to find the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Ramsey Cascades. That was an adventure in it's self. I had passed by road 3 times! Then it was over a 6 mile drive on very narrow road, with large pot holes and old wooden bridges road. But I made it. There was only one other car in the trails parking area, when I arrived.

Ramsey Cascades is the tallest waterfall in the park and one of the most spectacular. Water drops 100 feet over rock out cropping and collects in small pool where numerous well-camouflaged salamanders can be found. (I didn't see any.) The trail to the waterfall gains over 2,000 ft in elevation over it 4 mile course and the 8-mile round trip hike is considered strenuous in difficulty. If follow rushing rivers and streams for much of its length. The last 2 miles pass through old-growth cove hardwood forest with large tulip tree, basswoods, silver bells and yellow britches.
I was starting to wonder if I was every going to make it to the falls. Then I saw the falls through the trees and turned the corner and wow!!! It was almost instance, I wasn't out of breathe and I could feel the mist from the falls, which felt wonderful. I did work up a good sweat on my way up. There was a man up there when I arrived and I asked if he would take my picture, he said as long as I would take his picture. LOL! He was by himself too. He left and I just sat there enjoying the beautiful and ahh of it all. It was a 2 1/2 hour hike up and an 1 1/2 hike down. It was a cool walk down. But it was so steep it was hard to walk down. My poor toes where smashed to the front of my shoes. When I reached my car the tail parking lot was full and I had passed a lot of people asking me how close where they. LOL! I took off my socks and shoes as soon as I reached the car.

As I was driving back to the hotel, I received a call from Coleen, saying she would be in town soon. On my way back to the hotel I did kind of get lost, but was back on track in no time. Parked the car at the hotel called Coleen to see if she wanted to eat with me but she was already eating. So, I thought I would walk over to the Dinner that was just a few building away. Put my socks and shoes back on and stepped out on the pavement. OUCH!!! My feet were numb and my legs a little sore. I bet I looked really funny walking or rather trying to walk.

Set up the stitching room and then went out to eat at Fridays, Coleen, Debra H, BW and I.

I took an Advil and went to bed my knees were starting to hurt and I don't normal have problems with me knees.

Thursday

My plan was to do white water rafting, but the weather was 50 percent chance of rain/storms. And they didn't start rafting until 11 and I wanted to be done by 12 or 1 so that wasn't going to work. It did rain off and on that day then there was a down poor.

We went looking for Crossedthreads, on some scary roads, only to find out that the shop was an online shop only. Coleen did wave to Katrina as we drove by her home. BW called and asked if she would be interested in giving us a trunk show at the hotel and she agreed.

I bought a pickle for myself and a hummingbird for my Mom.
We stopped at a Christmas shop.

That night we went to Dixie Darlin to the stitch in and to do some shopping. It was nice to stitch with some of the locals. We met a lady that has been on the McDonald's bag for two years. I thought I was going to have to drag Debra H out of the shop. LOL!

Then we stopped for a snack. No Coleen is not getting sick, she is covering her face while she is laughing.

Then we stopped at a bookstore and I picked up Kayden a couple of books. Returned to the hotel sometime after 11.

Karin, Vickie and Pam did the ornament class that I gave. The others were too tired and Coleen sat in during the class.

Pam K-----------------------Vickie & Karin--------------Karin

Vickie-----------------Pam K

As we were driving around we had 3 GPS going and somethings they all 3 were giving different direction. It was too funny!

Friday
Thought I was going to have to hurt Coleen Friday morning. I had asked her to make sure the alarm was off Thursday night, well at 6 am it was going off and she never heard it. We did Vickie's fiber class.

Becki, Vickie, Karin----------BW and Kathy

More shopping - off to Doublecross and a fabric shop.

Hobby Lobby

Katrina from Crossedthreads came to the hotel and gave us a trunk show, along with The Window Dresser-Linda.

Katrina and Linda-----------Debra H, Coleen-----Vickie, Kathy

BW got a frog for hitting me in the head with it. And Coleen was rolling on the floor.

This is my stash from the designer gift bag and from the designer table.

I also bought home a large bag of freebies from the table that people brought in from their own stash. I forgot to take a picture of that.

Vickie, Karin, Pam and I walked to the Dinner for ice cream, then we walked around a little. We went and checked out the Christmas Hotel, it was pretty neat. Even the pool was decorated with Christmas. We stopped at one of the stores on the way back to the hotel and I bought Kayden and myself a t-shirt. Also talked to Kim on the phone.

Saturday

I got a few beads in Bob Christmas stocking. I was so worried I was going to run out of beads. But I got it finished with about 10-15 beads left. LOL!

We went to Needlecraft Cottage, which was a little bit out in the country.

-----------------------------------Karin
This was across the road.

Coleen
Brooke's Books came to the hotel and give us our own trunk show. We saw some new designes that haven't been released yet. I got one at the show and ordered the other too.

Brooke, Vickie, BW, Debra H------------------------------My purchase.
The group took Brooke out for Dinner we went to Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant.

Then back to the hotel for a few more classes.

Coleen's beaded fob class.
Poor Becki had a heck of a time trying to finish her fob, the holes in the beads were too small.
BW's beaded counter class.
Fobs and counters.
Then I gave another beaded ornament class for those that missed the first one.
Debra H BW
Sunday I was up early and started backing the car. I felt a little after 9. The GPS wasn't working right on the way home and it added about an hour or more to my drive home. Oh well I make it back safe and sound all on my own and the good old fashion, trusty old road map I had in my car.

Waterfall

Under one of the bridges.

Coleen