Montreat, How I Love You

Oh, it's so good to be back.

As I type this blog post, I am sitting in a rocking chair on the porch in the mountains of North Carolina. And I am loving every minute of it. For me, Montreat, North Carolina is heaven on earth. I have been coming here every summer for my entire life (my mom even came here when she was pregnant with me, so when i say "my entire life" I am not exaggerating, people).

It's hard to describe specifically what it is that makes Montreat so wonderful. It's a combination of things, really. It's the crisp, clean mountain air that just feels so fresh. It's hiking to the top of Lookout Mountain with friends and family. It's making a bowl or a mug or a shepherd for the Nativity scene in pottery and feeling proud of having accomplished something. It's long talks on the porch in rocking chairs. It's celebrating Christmas in June. It's the barn dance on Friday nights. It's tradition. I could go on and on (I guess that I already have), but I just want to paint a picture of how much I love Montreat. I think of the quote by John Muir: "The mountains are calling and I must go," and I can totally relate. I often feel like the mountains are my home. I have so many wonderful memories from spending two weeks each summer in Montreat, and I can't imagine not coming here every summer.

I feel like there are two types of people: beach people and mountain people. It's probably not fair of me to categorize people like that, but it's just something I do. We (my family) have always been mountain people. That's just the way it is. Now don't get me wrong, I love the beach. I love taking long walks in the sand, swimming in the ocean, and just soaking up the sun. But there's just something about the mountains that truly feels like home to me. As I said earlier, I can't pinpoint one specific reason as to why I feel this way; it's just one of those feelings that you can't describe.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings, few readers that I have. I'll leave you with a couple pictures from one of my favorite places on earth...

the porch

view from my room

the gates