Highlights.

We got back last night from another weekend in the NC mountains. The drive of 3.5 hours is just right for a weekend getaway. And we’ve been spending so much time in that part of the state because we’ve been looking for a little place we could purchase for a weekend getaway. :) We closed on the 12th of June, and slept that night in a completely empty little cabin near Boone. It’ll take awhile to finish everything, but it’s totally fun embarking on a new adventure, spending time together in the mountains.

Just at the base of the hill where the cabin is, we discovered a community park, right across the street, and we climbed down the rocks and put our feet in the Watauga river. It was awesome! The water was really cold, but the river is very shallow right there, so the kids were able to walk around in the water. I went back to the car to grab the kids a change of clothes and get sunscreen, and … hmmm…

that’s funny…

the car door won’t open…

I remembered pushing the lock button on the door before getting out, but I also remembered that I had left my bag (where the key was - we have one of those remote ignition things) on the floor of the passenger seat. Shading my eyes, I could SEE the key peeking out of the pocket in my bag - so close, and yet so far away… isn’t locking yourself out the worst feeling? The backup plans begin to roll through your head - how do I get out of this? What do I do first? Since we were in the mountains, we had only the one car key (WHICH, have I mentioned, I could SEE through the window, ARG.), and we were about 4 miles from the cabin anyway. No cab service, a cell phone with 1/4 of its battery left - this should be one of those personality quizzes like the “what would you do if you were stranded on a desert island?”

But I guess if I had to pick a place to lock us out, a beautiful sunny mountain park with a river running through it is probably as good as it gets, right? :) And it turned our hour-long, pre-lunch adventure into a three-hour extravaganza while we waited for the locksmith to come and prayed that Jared’s cell phone battery wouldn’t die before he found us. He did, and it didn’t. But it was close.

We had a whole day planned, but decided instead to grab some lunch and head back up to the cabin for a rest after so long running and splashing and sunning. I have a massive sunburn on the back of my neck as a souvenir today, and as a reminder to BRING MY KEY WITH ME when I decide the car door needs lockin’. Hehe.

We also ate some really, REALLY good southern barbeque at a place called Pappy’s. WOW. See, normally (maybe because of Better off Dead), I would avoid a place with an actual pig smiling at me from the logo. But I think my life will never be the same again after that smoked pork. Are you from Carolina? Do you favor the vinegar-based sauce? I didn’t even know this existed til we moved here. “Barbeque sauce” was that thick goopy mesquite-y stuff you bought at the grocery store, that had cow horns or something on the label. But THIS. Delicious. And the slaw. Love me some slaw. Especially since I can say “slaw” here because it’s a one-word word instead of “cole slaw” like it is in the west. Like there is another kind of slaw? I don’t know. But wow. We are totally heading back for the 4th of July weekend, and you KNOW I am going to get me some barbeque from Pappy’s.

Do you have plans for the 4th of July weekend?

Comments

[aud]

congrats on the cabin, Jessica! would love to live closer to the mountains so that we could spend the weekends there...it's one of my favorite places to be.

[Marie]

I lived in Rocky Mount, NC for a small portion of my childhood and then went on my mission to Richmond, VA and served a short time in Elizabeth City, NC. I love it out there (though I can do without the humidity)! And I am with you, I love the vinegar-based sauce versus the ketchup and brown sugar-y stuff we have in the bottles.

Aren't you glad that you now know who to call when you need a locksmith in the future...because you know you are going to need one again...right?

[Verbena]

Every time I visit family in N.C., I have to have some good old N.C. vinegar-based barbecue with some barbecue slaw on the side. Nothing like it anywhere else that I know of. Girl, you made my mouth water!!

[Joy]

There is NOTHING like a place in the mountains. My family has had a place between Blowing Rock and Grandfather Mountain for the last 50 years. No matter where we have lived we always spend at least 2 weeks there each summer...matter fact I'm headed there next week! My goal is to finish the Shoebox tutorials on the trip and get my photos and digisupplies organized so I can really get something done...thanks for all the wonderful things you provide on your site and for always reminding me on home. My prayer is that someday God sends us back to NC from NH.

[Susan]

You've inspired me to make a batch of Carolina Pulled Pork Barbecue for this weekend. We're out west where they make barbecue differently. It's good, but not the same. Which has also inspired me to make a SB page about my top ten comfort foods, including pulled pork barbecue on white buns with coleslaw.

[Amy L]

Congrats Jessica! That is such beautiful country. This really makes me want to go up there for a long weekend!

[Michelle]

I haven't been able to make a screen shot scrapbook page yet, but it was perfect for my 365 photo-of-the-day yesterday, just thought I'd share....and thank you for your inspiration!
http://ourhereandnow.blogspot.com/2009/06/screen-shot-of-day.html

[Janice]

I'm so jealous that you are close enough to spend week-ends in the NC mountains. When my kids were young, we had a place near Robbinsville, NC, on Yellow Creek Road (doesn't that even sound like the perfect place).
Tonight for supper, I made pulled pork with vinegar suace and slaw. But I would rather be eating it in the NC mountains!!

[Michelle V.]

Congrats on the cabin! Sounds like a great place to spend weekends. Just wanted to let you know that you can purchase little magnetic containers that you can put under your vehicle. They are small enough to hold a key. Trust me, it is very handy having a key hidden underneath. ;)

[Heather]

When I was in my late teens/ early twenties, I used to lock my keys in the car so much that my family started calling the "maneuver" doing "the Heather" - "aw man, I did a Heather... could you bring the extra key?"

It doesn't happen quite as often. :)

Congrats on the little cabin in the woods!

[Cindi]

Hi,
We live in Asheboro NC so we are 3 hours away from either our gorgeous beaches or our wonderful mountains. We are debating which way to go for the weekend. There is a wonderful fireworks display in Jefferson NC at the Ashe County Park on Saturday if you guys want to venture out for some fun 4th activities. The park is nestled in a valley between two mountains so the boom is louder than usual and you feel like the lights are right on top of you.
We usually stay at Shatley Springs, the cabins aren't great but the food is out of this world.
Congratulations on your new cabin. I look forward seeing many great layouts featuring the new place.

Cindi Rich

[Nicky Hurt]

That sounds perfect (minus the key incidnet). My dh is from NC and he loves the vinegar based BBQ pork. I am from California and still call the grill "BBQ" and the sauce from the store "BBQ sauce" and I get confused when he uses NC terms. lol I also call campers "trailers" (because we don't have quite as many trailer parks where I'm from). Gotta love this big ole USA!

[Jan C.]

I've heard that this actually works if you are locked out and have a remote for your locks: if someone else has another remote (i.e., Jared, you can call them on their cell and ask them to hold the remote up to the mouth piece of their cell and push the unlock button. You hold the earpiece of your cell up to the lock. It remotely transmits the tone and unlocks it. I don't know if this is an urban legend or not. I keep meaning to actually try it, and then I forget, lol.

[Heather P]

Congrats on the cabin! I grew up in NC and I am now majorly craving some Carolina BBQ. Have a great weekend!

[Linn]

Carolina barbecue! I'm not from Carolina, but my brother lives there and I've tried it many times...yum! So different. Sounds like you had a nice trip, despite the setbacks!

[Roban]

I used to be in that area of North Carolina a good bit. My in-laws had a home in Linville, and I would make the trek to Valle Crucis (such a lovely little spot), Boone, and Blowing Rock all the time. How fun that you'll be able to stay there often.

And I know the feeling about the keys teasing you from inside the car! Been there many times, too!

Congratulations on the new home and on getting back inside your car!

Roban

[gabby]

wait?!?!
WHAT?!?!
when do we get to come see it?
wait.
scratch that.
when the HECK do i get to see you again?!?!?!
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
we have like 1.5 years to catch up on, neighbor.
sigh.
xoxoxox.