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Wow! What a week it has been! If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you probably already know that we’re enjoying a family vacation right now. Here’s a very abbreviated peek at what we’ve been up to!

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On Wednesday morning we left Virginia and followed the Blue Ridge Mountains all of the way to Boone, North Carolina where we rented a house for a couple of nights. It was a nice way to break up our trip, since our ultimate destination was Orlando, Florida!

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Pretty views from the front porch!

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After unpacking the car, we headed off to explore nearby Grandfather Mountain,

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The Mile High Swinging Bridge,

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a short little hike,

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and the environmental habitats (which the boys LOVED)!

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On Thursday we spent the morning at Tweetsie, which is an amazing Wild West-themed park complete with rides for the kids, a zoo, theater shows, shops, restaurants, and…a steam engine!! Basically, the boys thought that they had died and gone to heaven.

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After naptime back at the house, we spent the afternoon mining for gems. Again, a little boy’s dream come true! Water, rocks, and outdoor play…

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We walked around downtown Boone (cute college town), grabbed pizza and drinks at Appalachian Mountain Brewery and the nearby food truck, and then finished off the evening with some ice cream. Pizza +Beer + Ice Cream = VACATION.

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After baths and some packing, we all crashed in bed pretty early…but we were up before the sunrise to hit the road again on Friday!

We spent today in the car driving from North Carolina to my brother’s house in Orlando.

It was a painfully long day in the car, with one true highlight (especially if you ask Keith): our lunch stop at Duke’s BBQ in South Carolina.

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It was an all-you-can-eat buffet of Southern comfort food classics – all done REALLY well. They had everything from pulled pork barbecue and fried chicken to collard greens, butter beans, corn fritters, mac & cheese, coleslaw, onion rings, and fried okra. The desserts were equally good! Peach cobbler, chocolate pudding cake, and some of the best banana pudding I have ever tasted. Such a great pit stop, and my husband could NOT stop talking about it!

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After a long day in the car, we eventually made it to Florida and we are SO glad to be able to spend the weekend with our family. Cousin time has started!!

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blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

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Square overhead shot of hands serving a chicken pot pie recipe with biscuits
Overhead image of a bowl of chili mac on a dinner table with cornbread
Hands serving a platter of sheet pan sausage and potatoes

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