Day 365: One year

It's officially, my anniversary.

One year ago today, I moved from Spartanburg, SC to Knoxville, TN. I launched this blog, previously titled "Rediscovering Rocky Top." I got engaged. I bought a house. Started a new job. And then we got married.
What a year it has been.

And how do you celebrate and process everything that has happened in such a season of change...

To be continued....

Day ???: Christy's and Cookeville

Saturday I skipped the UT game for a fabric-buying, bakery-tasting, girl-fun day trip with my mom. Knoxville fabric stores in insufficient for my mother, the semi-professional seamstress with always discriminating tastes. So, we road up the road toward middle Tennessee and found some great finds in Cookeville.
After our visit to Hancocks fabrics in Cookeville, we went down the street to Christy's cafe and bakery. I've heard about this so many times. But, I've never had the time to stop and enjoy, until today. I had the chicken salad and the croissant it came on who amazing! Next time I am though there, I'll be back to pick up a cake or dessert! Yum!

Source

Day ???: Red Bones on the River

Driving down highway 70 West of Knoxville will take you though Kingston. Plenty of history and plenty of fun on the water. Perfectly placed in that mix is Red Bones on the Water. A colonial home has been converted into this laid back barbeque and good times venue with the slogan, "Get Your Happy On."
We sat on the patio and were surrounded by a great crowd. A couple enjoying a bottle of wine on a very long, romantic date. A hilarious group of old friends who seem to drive in from various parts of East Tennessee to ""Get Your Happy On"" quite regularly. A table of ladies having a girls night out, complete with lots of laughter and maybe some sort of announcement. Anyway, everyone was having a great time. So were we. It's been a busy couple months of twists and turn and busyness, it was so nice to get just out of town for a relaxing dinner on a later summer evening. (It still feels like late summer and Red Bones would always seem to have that carefree feel.)
All that and a great meal of ribs, chicken strips, chocolate cobbler, great service...for under #30. Wow.
Visit Red Bones online at redboneskingston.com->

Photo Credit: Mike Berry - my favorite local artist!

Quote of the Morning...

Maybe God isn't holding up a perfect picture. Maybe God is writing a bigger story. - Carey Nieuwhof

This reminds me of one of my all time favorite quotes:
You don't have to be perfect. Especially on Wednesdays. - my brother

Day ???: Lunch Club and...

It is Wednesday. So, it is almost time for lunch with Alex, Julia, Michele, and Brittany. I have been working on Kids Crossing all morning and will be at the chuch until late tonight. So, this is a perfect mid-day diversion.

Note: This photo includes lunch club member Alex, as well as another favorite wedding attendant - Meredith!! Happy Birthday Meredith - you are an amazing friend and I can't imagine my life without you! I have learn so much from you and leaned on you in so many ways! Bagels, Duty-disciple-delight, ATL, homemade journals, and so much more!

Here's to the Lunch Club and to Meredith!!

Day ???: Fountain City

Tonight will be the 4th night in just over a week that I'll be in Fountain City or North Knoxville. For many of you, that sounds like no big deal. Sure, I've enjoyed Litton's (see Day 14), Creamery Park (see Day 270), and I've always been a fan of the duck pond. But for me, a girl who grew up "almost out to Dixie Lee Junction", North Knoxville is like another city.

Note: If you knew where Dixie Lee Junction was before Season's was established, then you and I are kindred spirits...and/or we were on the same bus route in middle school.

Now, this little Farragut girl is all grown up and made the move into town. Frankly, Bearden is a whole other city from the world where I grew up. Now, I have countless friends in North Knoxville, and yes my grandparents live there too. Plus, as I minister to children at 2nd Pres, we have several families from Shannondale and Fountain City Elementary Schools.

So, it's time to learn and share a bit about my favorite North Knoxville neighborhood, Fountain City.

So, in my search, here's a little History (source) )
By the 1950s, Fountain City was home to over 30,000 residents. Knoxville, seeking to expand its tax base and form a metropolitan government, attempted to annex Fountain City in 1959. A mail poll showed that Fountain Citians opposed the annexation by a 10 to 1 margin, and the community filed a lawsuit to block it. After Knoxville made a number of concessions, including a one-year moratorium on city taxes, the lawsuit was dropped. On February 12, 1962, in a ceremony that included a mock funeral for what was deemed the death of Fountain City, the community's leaders handed over a symbolic sword to Knoxville mayor John Duncan.

And here's a few Views (source)

Day ???: Abode

Monday night's Wine Tasting was at Abode. Sweet and stylish miss Mollie is the manager of this great store on Market Square. Everything about Abode makes you feel at home but also inspires creativity with little twists on the expected - like funky birdhouses, great dishes, and imaginative votive holders.
Here are a few of my favorite things from their blog.






(Yes, you saw this on my coffee table.)

Check it out at abodeishome.wordpress.com->