Sentimental journey

by Kelli Pope

When I was a child, my family took yearly summer vacations. Mostly we went to Florida, as my mother loved the beach. However, my favorite vacation was to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. (I remember my grandparents and their chihuahua making that trip!) I fell in love with the woods, streams, trees and the incredibly, peaceful mountains. As an adult, I still love the mountains. When my husband and I had been married just a few years, he was running the family restaurant. It was open 6 days a week, and he spent his day off doing paperwork and placing orders..... so, there was no day off. I had a full time job, and worked there nights and weekends. It was stressful, to say the least. I decided we needed a vacation. We had never taken one together. He argued, and said his family just didn't do vacations. I finally convinced him, and reserved us a cabin in Gatlinburg. I was going back to one of my favorite places, the Smokey Mountains, and I couldn't wait to introduce him to absolute beauty and peace. Not until he slid into the hot tub on the deck the first night, beneath the stars and the colorful, falling leaves, did he realize just how badly he needed that vacation. (the mountain view didn't hurt either) Now we try to return every year. As I write, I look forward to our trip, just 4 weeks from now. The Fall leaves will be at peak color, and the temperature should be cool and crisp. For us and our dogs, the perfect weather! AND once again, it will bring back wonderful childhood memories.

antiqued hammered copper components, antiqued copper chain, patinated leaf and beads by Shannon LeVart, large wood kiln fired bead by Mary Ann Carroll

Where has the Art Spark "Sentimental" journey taken you?