Posted in Field Trips

Guess where we went for a fieldtrip on the absolutely, beautiful, and even gorgeous Fall day?  The cheese factory.  LOL.. Ok, just kidding.  We went to Dollywood. 

The National Music & Harvest Celebration  Crafters Festival is going on from now until October 29.  If you haven't had a chance to get over there yet for this, try to go.  You will have a great time. 

In addition to looking at all the beautiful fall decorations, you will enjoy watching Dollywood's master craftsmen and artisans at work doing what they do best, continuing the centuries-old tradition of hand-making crafts in the Smoky Mountains.  Watch demonstrations featuring blacksmithing, hand-blown glass making, wagon making (this was my dh's favorite) and more.  

I love watching these artisans at work.  BTW, there is a wonderful article on Teaching Lost Arts in the Fall issue of TOS on page122, why not take a trip to Dollywood, and see it first hand.  To see some of the crafters we saw click here.

In addition to all these wonderful demonstrations, one must not forget another great reason to visit Dollywood, the rides!  LOL (O.K. they also have some great shows, but we didn't make it to any of those today.)      The kids really enjoy the rides.  I used to LOVE riding the rides.  I'd ride ANYTHING, (O.K. anything except the Ferris Wheel) but I'd ride anything else.  The Scrambler is one of my favorite rides.  My daughters are carrying on the tradition.  The also love these rides.   Did you notice that I said I used to love riding the rides?  I really hate to admit this,but  I must be getting old.  O.K. There, I said it.  I must be getting old.  The last few times I've rode the Scrambler with my dd, my stomach was really queasy when I got off.  Today, I rode the Lemon Twist (think tea cups) with Rachel.  I was sooooo dizzy when I got off that thing, I thought I was going to throw up!  I tried putting on a brave face, for the benefit of the children, of course.  Tracy got a big kick out that, because I always give him a hard time about getting sick on those rides.

Not to mention that I about had heart failure watching my 8 -year-old daughter screaming her head off as she was whirling high up into the air on a huge-mungous flying saucer looking thingy called the Dizzy Disk.  She rode it two times in a row, and was begging to ride it again.  I had to put my foot down (when my head stopped spinning, and my stomach stopped churning from the Lemon Twist) and say "No more!" 

Jacob got to ride a few rides, too.  He enjoyed the Train and the Lucky Ducky.  But I really think he enjoyed the bag of kettle corn he ate, almost all by himself, the best.  That kid can put away the kettle corn!

Everyone had a great time.  It was a beautiful day at My Smoky Mtn. Homeschool.  The best part was that  we created wonderful memories for us, and our children.

I will post the link for the pictures I took today as soon as I get the pictures all uploaded to my website.