Five Things Friday

Two weeks and four events later, I’ve made my way across the stormy south and am heading north this weekend for the east coast leg of The CSA Cookbook Road Trip. It’s so hard to pick just five of my favorite moments as I’ve found something wonderful in every state, city, and random roadside town I’ve stopped in, but here are a few highlights from my week.

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1. Driving along the historic Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi. One day I’d like to do the entire 444 miles from Natchez to Nashville, but on this trip, we were fortunate to explore the first 122 miles.

2. A cypress swamp on the Natchez Trace. It was my first time ever seeing one in person, and I was floored by how beautiful, magical, and peaceful it was. This picture simply does not do it justice.

3. Visiting my friend Ashley English and her lovely family at their inspiring homestead in the woods. We stayed in this yome (yurt dome) on their property… which happened to be next door to the tiny home of Villagers owner (and my Asheville book signing host) Natalie. The lush greenery, the chirping birds, the pitter-patter of rain on the yome at night… I adored everything about our much-too-short visit!

4. Our first dose of sunshine in days was in Asheville — and we took full advantage of it by booze cruisin’ down the French Broad River for 12 miles with a pack of the local microbrew.

5. The Blue Ridge Parkway definitely ranks up there as one of my favorite scenic byways. We drove the stretch through Virginia and stopped at Mabry Mill along the way, the most iconic structure (and possibly most photographed) on the entire parkway.