December 25, 2017

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Merry Christmas,
 
It’s currently 5 degrees out and clear. We received 1” of snow last night, securing a white Christmas up top. Yesterday’s high was 36 degrees with an overnight low of 5 degrees.
 
Hwy 441 from Cherokee to Gatlinburg is closed. Please visit the Smoky Mountain Roads – Twitter page for updates on road closures. ---> ​https://goo.gl/HikrMr

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​Yesterday’s sunset looked promising. I’d gone the entire week without getting a proper sunset or sunrise. With only a few minutes to go before the show, my excitement built. The curtain suddenly dropped, clouds covered the view. Maybe that’s how Santa does it? He rides in on a cloud? So it goes…
 
I woke to a white world. Excited, I packed on the layers and launched outside. The biting air inspired me to add more layers to today’s wardrobe. I looked up at the stars. STARS! More excited than before, I finished my morning routine and broke trail to Apollo Overlook. The internal debate to make a break for Myrtle Point was decided by a large cloud traveling from the northeast. Moving fast, the cloud engulfed the point. I wasn’t going to risk it. I set my camera up, hid both camera batteries in my chest pocket and watched as the colors began to explode in the sky. My face burned from the cold. I covered up and attempted to capture the beauty.
 
Walking back to the lodge, I could feel the temperature dropping. My fingers ached. My cheeks were sore, partially from smiling. I couldn’t contain myself. I had to take a walk around the lodge…

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​Back inside, the thermometer read 1.8 degrees. It had gotten colder. I re-lit the stove. One burner for tea; the other for the final touches on yesterday’s Christmas Eve project. Instead of throwing away the peel from the grapefruit I was gifted, I opted to make candied citrus peels. I had wanted to bake bread, but accidently baked five loaves the day prior. One loaf of banana blueberry nut bread, two loaves of Anadama bread, and two loaves of oatmeal bread. Three of the five loaves lay comfortably in the freezer - saving counter space for Christmas Day baked goods. I huddled next to the heater. I was thankful for heat, snow, and sunrises.
 
Onward,
Seth
 
P.S. – Since it is Christmas, I’ve added a few extra photos to today’s blog post. My gift to you!

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"Christmas isn't a season. It's a feeling." – Edna Ferber