THINKLIA

Georgia Smoked Chop This was dinner from 31 Bistro (a...

Sun, 27 May 2012 10:26:09 -0400

Georgia Smoked Chop

This was dinner from 31 Bistro (a farm-to-table restaurant) a couple of nights ago: A huge cut of pork chop with an apple demi glace, sage butter rice, acorn squash and spinach. Yum.

Relaxing in a hammock at Hangout Music Festival I want to go...

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:46:19 -0400

Relaxing in a hammock at Hangout Music Festival

I want to go back to there.

Blackberry Farm I’ve lived in East Tennessee for more than...

Wed, 23 May 2012 22:48:00 -0400

Blackberry Farm

I’ve lived in East Tennessee for more than 20 years, and I finally had the chance last week to visit and experience Blackberry Farm — a luxury resort in Walland, Tennessee (less than 45 minutes away from my house). It was recently recognized in the June 2012 issue of Travel + Leisure as the number one resort in the U.S. and Canada for its world-class service. And now I know why.

Blackberry is simple and beautiful. It’s nestled in the Smokies and surrounded by gorgeous green fields, forests, and rolling hills. The houses and cottages on the property are cozy and intimate. The air is sweet smelling. The staff is super attentive and takes care of you from the very second you check-in. And the food… Oh, the food… The food is amazingly delicious. And so are the drinks.

Let me take a second to list/brag about the breakfast and lunch that I had one day:

For breakfast I had farm fresh eggs (straight from Blackberry Farm chickens) with Benton’s bacon (the best bacon ever!), toast and homemade jam, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. For lunch I started off with a chilled strawberry and beet soup with lime crema and then devoured red snapper with crawfish in a coconut sauce. I chased it down with mint raspberry tea, and finished the meal with homemade cookies. (I’m drooling as I type this.)

I spent some time in the afternoon exploring the property, thanks to a friendly fly fishing guide I met as I was wandering from the main house to the boathouse. I greeted chickens as they were crossing the road, went to the horse stables, moseyed along river banks, visited a chapel in the middle of a field, and more. After my little adventure, I went back to the main house and sat in a rocker facing the mountains with a refreshing blackberry mojito in hand. Talk about a great day.

I’d love to be able to go back to Blackberry again someday. It’s a lovely and relaxing place, and it reminds me why East Tennessee is so special.

A photo of me at Grotto Falls by brandon.ballentine on...

Tue, 22 May 2012 23:02:00 -0400

A photo of me at Grotto Falls by brandon.ballentine on Flickr.

We went on a little hike a couple of weekends ago to Grotto Falls in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The walk was short and sweet and coordinated by my sister, who found a Grotto Falls poster at a local Goodwill in Wilmington, North Carolina, and decided it would be fun to visit.

Below are some more pictures from Brandon, including one of me that my sister lovingly photobombed.

The best coffee ever.

Wed, 09 May 2012 22:46:49 -0400

The best coffee ever.

bballentine: Check out our entry in D2L’s Edge Challenge! Cool...

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 22:30:56 -0400

bballentine:

Check out our entry in D2L’s Edge Challenge!

Cool app. And I wonder who’s narrating that iOS simulation? She sounds smart. ;)

… ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ …

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:45:14 -0400

… ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ …

Our 2012 Garden We filled up our raised beds this weekend with...

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:16:06 -0400

Our 2012 Garden

We filled up our raised beds this weekend with all kinds of goodies. Brandon has one entire bed dedicated to his super hot peppers, and in the other beds we have a bunch of greens, herbs, and tomatoes. Because we’re participating in a CSA program again this year, we decided to cut down on the amount of veggies that we’re growing at home. (There’s only so much squash you can take.)

And although I’m not a flower person, I bought a dahlia and some celosias to add a bit of color to the front of the house.

Even though today was much cooler than the days before, the...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 23:02:03 -0400

Even though today was much cooler than the days before, the recent warm and sunny weather has put me in a “fruity drink” mood. So this evening I made my first pitcher of sangria of the season. I used a bottle of Gnarly Head Cabernet, some Paul Masson brandy, a bit of Triple Sec and cut up Granny Smith apples and sliced oranges. Dee-lish!

Knoxville Mulch Fire About five miles from our home,...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:19:39 -0400

Knoxville Mulch Fire

About five miles from our home, there’s been a crazy mulch fire that’s been burning for more than a day now. The fire started Sunday around noon at a nine-acre mulch facility near downtown Knoxville. The area where Alcoa Highway meets I-40 is still hazy with smoke, and the smell of burning mulch has wafted over towards our house.

It’s an unbelievable scene, and I feel for the firefighters that have been working around the clock to put out the flames.

Keeping Away the Evil Eye I bought a beautiful new bracelet from...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:33:19 -0400

Keeping Away the Evil Eye

I bought a beautiful new bracelet from the lovely Karla of kaang. It’s a red silk cord braided bracelet with a gold hamsa. The hamsa is supposed to provide protection and keep away the evil eye. (But I don’t think it prevents getting the stink eye.)

Of Montreal Brandon and I went to Track 29 in Chattanooga to...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 04:22:34 -0400

Of Montreal

Brandon and I went to Track 29 in Chattanooga to watch Kishi Bashi and Of Montreal. Amazing show! I love it when Kevin Barnes dances.

A little bit of this and that in Chatt Enjoyed spending the day...

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 02:12:21 -0400

A little bit of this and that in Chatt

Enjoyed spending the day hanging out with Brandon in Chattanooga, checking out the Hunter Museum, and eating a huge plate of nachos before scarfing down grilled mahi mahi and crab cakes to fuel up for the Of Montreal concert at Track 29.

Ampient Music I got to join my talented musician...

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:56:41 -0400

Ampient Music

I got to join my talented musician friend Dugan for the April Ampient at Old City Java last week. I played my iPad Animoog synth app and ran it through my Flashback pedal for added delays and effects. Making noise is fun!

Photo by Brett Winston (posted on Ampient Music’s Facebook wall)

I started a new painting today. Can’t wait to see where I...

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 23:07:00 -0400

I started a new painting today. Can’t wait to see where I go with this one.

maddieonthings: Happy Birthday Maddie! Oh, Maddie....

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 11:00:57 -0400

maddieonthings:

Happy Birthday Maddie!

Oh, Maddie. You’re the cutest. Happy birthday!

Bowled Over I’m terrible at bowling, but I’m good at...

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 22:48:12 -0400

Bowled Over

I’m terrible at bowling, but I’m good at showing off the shoes.

A New Toy I thought about treating myself to a spa afternoon...

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 22:56:10 -0400

A New Toy

I thought about treating myself to a spa afternoon yesterday but decided to treat myself to an effects pedal for my guitar instead. I picked up a TC Electronic Flashback Delay and Looper (with TonePrint!), and it’s awesome. I played with it all last night, and I woke up very early this morning because I couldn’t wait to play with it again. Just like a kid on Christmas Day.

(The sales guy at the music store said, “You know, you’re only the second woman that I’ve ever sold a delay to. That’s really cool.” He made me blush.)

A Sunday afternoon tennis match with Brandon

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:30:06 -0400

A Sunday afternoon tennis match with Brandon

A Saturday afternoon hike around Mead’s Quarry with...

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:27:00 -0400

A Saturday afternoon hike around Mead’s Quarry with Brandon and Mia.