RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS ALWAYS GET ME DOWN

On my street are two beautiful trees that change color in the fall to vivid red and bright golden yellow. On Friday as we left for Pigeon Forge, these two trees were full and vibrant. On Friday night it rained. When we came home on Saturday night it was dark and quiet. Yesterday as we drove up the street to go eat supper, these two trees were naked and stark. All their color was now on the ground and already brown. That quick - wow.

Friday was a good day - we left early- drove up through the park and the colors were breathtaking, especially at the top of the mountain. On the road down the trees formed a golden yellow canopy on either side and was just beautiful. Our motel room in Gatlinburg was ready - we were welcomed as old friends - we checked in - unpacked - rested awhile and then headed to Pigeon Forge for some lunch.

We got to DW about 3:30 and watched the dress rehearsal of Twas the Night Before Christmas first. This year 12 year old MacKenzie is playing the "little girl" in the show and she did an excellent job - very talented and very sweet. At the end of the show "Santa" had a surprise. He called Kellye, one of the girls in the show up, had her sit on his knee and close her eyes and her boyfriend came up on stage, dropped to one knee and proposed!! I think we all cried - and of course she said YES! What a memory!!

Then we went to Christmas in the Smokies and of course that show was excellent as always, no surprises there.

On to Babes in Toyland and again, excellent as always. The two kids in that show were very good. I need to find out what their names are.

Then we went to the "premier" of The Polar Express. This is our motion ride for Christmas and it is in "4-D". The movie was great and you can "smell the hot chocolate" when it is poured, the wind blows in your face during the train ride, and, if you are patient, it will "snow" on you as you wait in line outside. This is a great production but the ride itself is too rough for me - really jerked my neck and back so I will sit in the "non-motion" seats that are available for us "old folks" from now on. Ryan loved it.

Saturday was beautiful, mostly sunny with a breeze and DW was PACKED. This was of course, opening day for Christmas and there were thousands of people there. We had a really nice time, saw all the show again, but the line for Polar Express was 2 hours long, so we by-passed that one - after all, we had seen it on Friday.

Came home, the pups were ecstatic to see us, and Sunday was a day of rest. Here it is Monday but we are closed tomorrow for Veterans Day so this week will be a short work week and that is fine with me.

To all who wander by here - welcome and feel free to visit again.

Peace