The Splendor of Cabin Trip 2014 : Homage de Bryson City, North Carolina

A couple weeks ago, we took the long awaited for winter vacation that is Cabin Trip. So many hopes and dreams, and it lived up to them all. There is nothing more relaxing and rejuvenating than being in the woods and doing absolutely nothing. Well, almost nothing. Here's how it went, as I continue my love affair with Bryson City, NC.

First I closed up shop, packed the car, and drugged the dogs for the ride up there. 

I hate to close the shop but one of the wondrous things about Cabin Trip is no connectivity. I always think I'm going to hate it and I cling to my phone like a child with it's teddy bear. For the first day, I still check my phone (even though it is in airplane mode) like messages will magically arrive. Nope, if you want to get a hold of me, it's smoke signal only!

The ride up there is typical mountain highway, until we get of the beaten path close to the cabin. I remember the first time we went last year, my PIC looked at me like I was trying to cash in on his life insurance policy. It gets rustic. Folks aren't too fancy, they don't much care for upkeep, and the yard is just another storage area for junk and trash. Quite a feast for the eyes! Then you leave paved road and you are crawling up a gravel road, with deadly curves, no guard rails, on the edge of a cliff, hoping you don't get a closer view of that beautiful valley below. Needless to say, you are pretty glad for a small patch of flat ground when you finally pull down your driveway and into your parking space. 

Like I said in my previous post, cabin decorating can be pretty interesting. But this cabin was beautifully and simply decorated, with a kitchen fully stocked with everything you need, and between the hot tub, fire pit, pool table, air hockey, fooseball, and games, there is plenty to do. Oh yeah, and the view is amazing!

First thing I did was promptly find myself a spot on the couch and started to read. And did I read. And read. And read. Ok, this is why I don't read at home. Nothing else would get done! One day I sat on the couch and read for 6 hours straight. Talk about pure bliss! During this trip I read 3 books. "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline was the first book I read and my favorite. It followed and paralleled the lives of two orphans, one from the early 1900s, one modern, weaving together history, heartache, and redemption into one amazing story. Next I read "At The Mountains of Madness" by HP Lovecraft which was just a great creepy, sci-fi, terror read. And rounded things out with "The Great Gatsby" for my classic fix. We worked on a puzzle. Seriously, who ever has time to sit and stare at a box full of cardboard pieces and painstakingly try to fit them together. We did.

Although PIC was being quite accommodating as I descended into my own world (or the world of the book I was reading), I sensed that he was itching to actually do something. So we did a bit of exploring.

Tons to see and do in this area, especially if you love the outdoors. We walked down the Nantahala River, taking pictures. We walked back on the Great Smoky Mountain railroad, where I found a treasure trove of wonderful rusty railroad spikes! We took a drive to Mingo Falls, a great waterfall hidden just a couple hundred feet off the road. Rocks, water, trees, bark, moss...just a few of my favorites things.

Needless to say, the weekend went fast and suddenly it was the last day. So much to fit in! We hit the road for some exploring and junk finding. Let me tell you, there is nothing like the back roads of NC. Like I said, these people let it all hang out. They like to share their junk collection with nature and share they do! Found a little place that sold my favorite delicacy from childhood, Slush Puppies.

We got some wood, made a roaring fire, ate popcorn, and drank our Barrel Aged Chocolate Cherry Stout from Nantahala Brewing Company as we star gazed and solved the world's problems, fireside.

As we waved goodbye to Bryson City and headed on down the tracks, we decided to try to ride home on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Signs at the entrance stated to avoid if it was foggy. It was foggy. But we went anyway. There is a reason that sign was there. 

Visibility was quite limited and as we were not in the mood to see if the car could fly and scenic views had all the splendor of a cotton ball, we got off at first chance.

So back to civilization we went and we have not been the same since. We are still on "cabin time" which includes staying up late, getting up late, having no responsibility, and eating junk food. As in, we wish we could do those things but alas, duty calls. I feel like I need to go into a rehabilitation program. Until next time, cabin!

Lots of wonderful rustic treasures were found on this trip. To see them go to Maliasmark on Etsy!

Homage De Cabin Trip : A Feast for the Eyes

Well, I just booked our second annual March cabin trip into the Nantahala Mountains of Western North Carolina. And I am psyched! 

Last year, as I was booking our first annual March cabin trip, it was all for my better half to get the peace and serenity he desperately deserves but I was skeptical. How great could it be? No beach, no wifi, no room service...come on. I am here to tell you, it is pretty awesome! 

Cabin trip holds amazing relaxation and experiences. 

• We read books. I can never read unless I'm on vacation because there is always something else to do. Last year I stocked up on dark, ominous, and terrifying apocalyptic novels. Perfect for being alone in the middle of the woods. I read World War Z, I am Legend, and Never Let Me Go all in a three day time span. Love!
• We crank up the crock pot meals. I am on the Pinterest crock pot freezer meal band wagon and I am not afraid to admit it. Who wants to take a million ingredients but what's the alternative? Sandwiches? Uh, no. Meals in a bag, that's what! I made meals from here http://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2012/02/freezer-cooking.html, and here http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/09/slow-cooker-freezer-meals-make-8-meals.html, with these super easy two cookie chocolate chip batches http://www.pinterest.com/pin/114138171778349840/. Let's just say we did not go hungry or want for a restaurant.
• No wifi. My better half likes to joke about how happy he is when I can't check my phone but he is on his just as much. Sounds like it sucks but it is nice not to even check your phone. You don't need to. No one can reach you. No bothers. No stress. You don't even realize how much a phone intrudes on your daily life until it doesn't. 
• We enjoyed the scenery. What an amazing area! First of all, our cabin was perched on a mountain with an amazing view. During the day, mountains. At night, no city light polution equals amazing night sky. With a cabin fully equipped with shuffle board, air hockey, pool, a fire pit, and hot tub, we had plenty of entertainment. When we ventured out, the Nantahala River, known for it's white water rafting, was just down the road and we discovered Nantahala Brewing Company in Bryson, NC. Fantastic little brewery, brewing up amazing brews, including my personal favorite, Chocolate Cherry Stout. Check them out at http://www.nantahalabrewing.com/. If you don't live in North or South Carolina, I'm sorry. It's unassumingly amazing. I book our trips thru http://www.carolinamountainvacations.com/.
• We get to take the dogs! When we leave, it's always hard to leave our babies and it's hard for them too. Or at least I like to think so. After a harrowing couple hours of pacing, panting, and whining in the car, we arrive and they make themselves at home. It's nice to have the whole family together.
• We had a near death experience and lived to tell about it. Not really but kinda. I decided it would be a great idea to take a midnight ghost hike in the Smoky Mountains. Sounds fun. What could happen with a group of 20 people walking through the woods at night. Well, it wasn't 20 people. It was just us and the tour guide. I'm sure you can see that this is less human shields and less people that I have a chance of out running. It is pretty spooky alone, in the woods, in the dark where bears and mountain lions live, let me tell you. I almost took an unsolicited piggy back ride on the tour guide on the way down the mountain. If you feel the need to value your life just a little bit more, check them out at http://www.paddlefishbasecamp.com/. Of course, I am kidding. The only real danger I was in was of a heart attack because of my own anxiety and terrible night blindness. Whose idea was that?!

I'm sure you can just envision the rustic bliss we encountered. So here we go again and I can't wait! 

If you've ever been to a cabin, you know the horrific interior design that often times assaults your eyes. Mountain lions aren't the scariest things in the mountains, this decor is. So in anticipation of our trip, I put together my idea of cabin decor. Sometimes rustic, sometimes quirky, it's more about coziness and the outdoors to me. So without further adieu, I give you...Homage De Cabin.

It's a lot to take in. I'll give you a moment.

So yeah, as previously mentioned, cabin trip includes books, reading, and also movies. We got our luggage, a lantern, and a deer jaw as a nod to our wildlife friends.

Here we have a lot of random masculine stuff because I do what I want. But there is an Old Ezra Whiskey box because, obviously, drinking is happening and my praying hands salt and pepper shakers because if I come across a mountain lion, Imma do some prayin.

Ok, we got all our thermoses for delicious coffee and lots of it. And a typewriter, because if I was a writer, what better place to write? I guess I am writing now. Maybe I should blog up there...

All this on a Native American Wool Table Runner, since the Nantahala Mountains were found by the Cherokee Indians. 

One last look!

So, are you feeling it? While on my cabin trip I will be sure to keep my eyes out for coveted mountain junk spots and try to bring back some fabulous new items. All items pictured (except my typewriter) are available for purchase to decorate your own cabin or create a cabin feel at www.maliasmark.etsy.com. Plan your own cabin trip soon! You won't be sorry. Unless you take the midnight ghost hike. Then you might be sorry. Just kidding (not really.)