A Fun Trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee!

 

Greg and I recently went on a fun trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee which is less than three hours from our home in Virginia. Beginning in childhood, Greg and I enjoyed going to Gatlinburg with our families, and we have continued going there throughout our adult lives. Over time, many of the shops and attractions have come and gone, but even today, it is still the same charming town.

There are several good restaurants with delicious food like the-

Pancake Pantry.

We hadn't been there in several years, so I'm so glad we got to enjoy the same great food that we had gotten there in the past.

For lunch, this is what Greg had-

He is somewhat of a cheeseburger expert, so he thought this was one was really good!

When I went to the Pancake Pantry when I was younger, I almost always ordered the Caribbean pancakes, but this time I decided to try something new- 

strawberry crepes. Great choice! Almost to pretty to eat, though!

After our big meal, we walked around and checked out the neat shops like those at-

The Village

We really like a shop that's been in Gatlinburg for many years-

which has a large array of tasty candies for those with a sweet tooth!

And for something unique, educational, and interesting, be sure and stop by-

Ripley's Believe It or Not! (Love the arty, creative building design!)

(Notice the Space Needle in the background. From there, you'll have a bird's eye view of Gatlinburg.)

If you'd like something adventurous, try riding-

the skylift up and down a mountain.

Instead of walking around town, you could take the-

Gatlinburg Trolley.

If we'd had more time, we could have enjoyed supper-

on a rooftop!

We might just do that on our next trip, or on the next one after that. Gatlinburg will still be there waiting for us to enjoy and explore.

What a great place to just get away with loved ones and have a good time. You can feel the positive energy, the camaraderie of the people there just having fun!

Positive Message

Just outside Gatlinburg, we saw this American flag made out of wood on an old building-

 

It is a symbol that reminds us that we are entitled to "...certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness."

-Thomas Jefferson, from "The Declaration of Independence"

Happy Thanksgiving!

Positive thought- Keep the faith!

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, December 5, 2021, Becky

Living Positively

 

Living positively can be a challenge anytime, but especially in today's unsettled world. It can be done, however.

In this blog post, I'll tell you some things that have helped me in my positive-living journey. Some of these guidelines might even help you!

First of all, I always try to be true to myself. For example, if I feel that a certain fashion trend is not for me, I just don't buy the trendy items. Also, Greg and I are very low-tech. We don't go for the latest technical gadgets. We actually still read real books. We have decided to do what's best for us. Doing this has made us feel happier and more in control of our lives.

-"To thine own self be true."-Shakespeare

Nothing in nature is perfect, but everything is still beautiful. In the same way, you don't have to be perfect to be a beautiful person.

Express yourself! Be creative!

Have a hobby. Do something you'd really enjoy!

Celebrate! (Often!)

Enjoy yourself, wherever you are...

in your own back yard or...

on an adventure!

Pal's in Abingdon, Virginia always has the right idea!-

Surround yourself with happy memories.

Greg and I, with the help of a friend, turned our old unfinished storage room into a finished room, complete with some of the mementos (photos, souvenirs, etc.) that we'd kept from our childhood and beyond. We're still adding things from our recent trips, special occasions, etc. I love this room. When I walk into it, I feel like I'm getting a warm hug.

You don't need to fix a whole room like we did, but keeping things around that make you feel happier can be a good thing!

Always make it a point to only hang out with with others that are kind, supportive, and respectful.

It's nice to have someone special to love, whether it's a person or...

a pet.

We recently made a new friend, this super-cute dog that we met on one of our walks through town.

We try to eat healthy food, even when we eat out.

This parfait may look unhealthy, but it's actually made with pumpkin, yogurt, and honey, and is really quite good. (Also, don't be afraid of doing something new, like making this parfait! You might even start to feel like you're a gourmet chef!)

Every once in a while, though, have a special, decadent treat-

(It's the yin/yang theory [you know, balance] that a massage therapist once told me about. That's one great theory!)

Like at-

Blue Hills Natural Food Market in Abingdon, Virginia and...

Natural Foods Market in Johnson City, Tennessee

These health food stores have good quality items, and the clerks are knowledgeable and helpful. Also, we try to shop at places that share our values.

Happy Halloween!

Positive thought: "Be spiritual. I've found that things go much smoother, life is much easier when you are!"-Becky Arnott

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, November 7, 2021, Becky

Grounding- Positively Life-changing!

 

And happy fall y'all! (Wednesday, September 22, 2021!)

I feel like today's blog post is one of my most important ones ever, and I hope you learn something helpful. Enjoy!

Not long ago, I was talking with relatives, and they were all telling about doing yardwork and gardening, and I told them that I didn't do that type of thing, that Greg handled all of that. I said that I was more of an indoor girl than an outdoor girl (except for an occasional walk in the park or for a picnic now and then).

Little did I know that in a few short weeks, I would change my tune after I discovered- grounding (earthing)!*

While searching online one day, I accidentally found out about the Schumann resonance which is 7.83 Hz, the frequency of Mother Earth. When we get in touch with that frequency, we can hopefully be healed. It is a good EMF energy that can be healing physically, mentally, and emotionally!

The concept was so interesting that I did further research, and I found a website, Intuition-Physician, that seemed to explain it all simply and convincingly. Dr. Laura Koniver's website has a ton of information about grounding, and I am still learning a lot when I have the time to study it.

With my newfound knowledge, I started grounding right away. It's easy to begin since all you have to do is to put your bare feet on the bare ground...

or in the grass to get the healing energy of the earth.

You can make grounding a very special time... 

like eating barefoot at a table for one or two. (Greg grounds regularly now, too.)

You can also ground on...

concrete,

or while...

gardening. (Yes, I even help Greg some in the garden now. It's a win-win situation for both of us!)

You can engage in different activities like-

taking pictures while grounding.

Want some proof of what grounding can do?

In the photo above, the flowers in the foreground are planted in the earth, and they are vibrant and full of beautiful blooms. However, the flowers in the background are planted in a plastic container and are not touching the ground. They are not doing as well as the ones in the foreground.

More proof of the importance of grounding- Grounding is supposed to heal inflammation which is something many of us have. I have an inflammatory autoimmune condition for which I have had to take a medicine with many side effects for a couple of years. Since I've been grounding, however. my inflammation levels have come down, so much so that I should be off of my medicine soon! Also, I'm now sleeping a lot better now!

All of this grounding in the grass, etc. in the summer is pretty simple, but what about grounding during the other seasons? Are you sensitive to EMF's? How do you shield from harmful EMF's? How do you safely keep bugs away while grounding?

For answers to these questions, and to learn a lot more, check out Dr. Laura Koniver's website, www.intuition-physician.com and get her book, "The Earth Prescription." Bet you'll be glad you did!

Please support small business!

Pet feature:

For indoor grounding, we bought a grounding mat from Dr. Koniver's website.

Grounding mats are not just for people. Pets can use them, too. Indoor pets need indoor grounding since they don't get to touch the earth like outdoor ones do.

Mitzi loves the new grounding mat...

and so does Kallie!

You can actually feel the energy coming from this mat!

In my opinion, if everyone just grounded, the world and the people in it would be in a lot better shape!

Is grounding a missing secret?

*Disclaimer: Just because Greg and I have had good results with grounding doesn't mean it will necessarily work for or be right for everyone.

Special note: Happy birthday to my brother, Nick, on September 6!

Positive thought: "Radiate positivity!" (From a car sticker) You might even attract more positive things into your life as you send out the positive vibes you feel from being grounded!

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, October 3, 2021, Becky

Fun-days

 

We all know we can have fun at home, but since this is such a beautiful time of year, why not go out somewhere and have fun!

That's just what Greg and I have been doing these last few months, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air and going places and doing things, as have many other people.

"Never underestimate the importance of having fun." -Randy Pausch

We have been having picnics-

like at Veterans Memorial Park in Abingdon, Virginia.

We've visited interesting places like- 

 historic 150-year-old White's Mill which is near Abingdon.

They have a great gift shop with crafts, souvenirs, jams, etc.

We really enjoyed the recent-

in Abingdon which is an annual event.

There are arts and crafts and all types of unusual things at the festival.

There was a lot of food, like delicious hand-packed ice cream which is a cooling treat on a warm day.

And, I pulled out my old-

Fun Fest tee shirt to more fully to enjoy Fun Fest!

Fun Fest in Kingsport, Tennessee is a really popular event. It features hot air balloons, an outdoor food court, races, live music, as well as other fun things to do.

Some people bring their own seats so they can be more comfortable eating the great local food.

Bet this cute dog hopes he'll get some of this yummy food, too!

The person who painted the barrel above has an inspiring message.

"We didn't realize we were making memories. We just knew we were having fun." -Winnie the Pooh

Remember to make every day of the week a fun-day no matter what the season!

Featured Business-

The Arts Depot in Abingdon

It was wonderful to visit The Arts Depot and see artists creating their pieces of art. One man was painting portraits and others were painting landscapes and still lifes. There were also collages and mosaics. There was something for everyone. Most things were for sale, and others were just on display, like the unique guitar with its front covered in pieces of mosaic. 

Also, they have classes, galleries, and consignment space.

If you enjoy art, you would love this place.

Please remember:

Especially small business!

Positive thought: "Today is waiting for you. Enjoy!" -"Woman's World"

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, September 5, 2021, Becky