Halbrooks and Thompson

What is better when enjoying a great weekend in the mountains than to travel with your best friends? That's what Doug and Mary Ellen and Debbie and John Wayne Thompson did Halloween weekend. War Eagle!!!

April & Johnathan Sides - Christmas Already?

What sweetie pies we met this weekend! April and Johnathan Sides from Birmingham, Alabama enjoyed a weekend get-a-way after the secret was recommended to them by their parents who had stayed with us a couple of times. April brought us some blonde brownies from them. Yummie, yummie! Thanks!

They were the first couple to kick off our holiday season. Yep, our tree will be up soon, too!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary to you,

Happy Anniversary to you,

Happy Anniversary and may you have many, many more!!!

Do come back!

Diann & Carl

Helle & Gorm Wagner from Denmark!

Best wishes, you two, for a safe return to Denmark. You added much joy to our b & b with your delightful personalities.

Thanks for choosing the secret!

James and Bobbie Best

James and Bobbie Best -- what a precious couple. We all should age so gracefully!

Brothers...Trouble? Who's Cheating?

What a wonderful week! Bill, Carl's brother, flew down from Michigan to visit us and play golf. It's been dry in Alabama for 40 years. Wouldn't you know it rained? It finally quit, however, and the "boys" played and played all day--golf, that is. Look at the checker game -- cheaters!!! Do little boys ever grow up?

Your time to keep the kids, Chris!

Diann

Remember the sunrise!

To all of those who have visited the secret, just remember you can have a "mountain moment" anytime by closing your eyes and remembering!!!

Diann

Tim and Renee Fanning

Hearts are abound on the mountain. Can you find the heart near Renee in the picture?

Thanks for celebrating your birthday at the secret, Renee!

Darrell & Jamie Allbright 22nd Anniversary

Darrell, Darrell, Darrell....Jamie, you know I miss Darrell! Happy 22nd Anniversary, kids!

Do come back and see us again!

Diann (and Carl)

Jennifer & Justin Sargent, 6th Anniversary

These two sweetie pies, Jennifer and Justin are two of the sweetest "kids" we've met! Happy 6th anniversary!

Kennon & Kim Ledbetter, Trinity, AL

Thanks, Kennon for having your picture made! hee,hee!

This Is What It's Like

Sometimes breakfast last for over an hour! The younger folks are usually the first to leave the table, then those who have made plans for the day The rest of us stay to solve the world's problems or defend our favorite team. Regardless, all guests enjoy a full breakfast and great fellowship around a revolving table top that engages guests in delightful conversations.

The Six Pack

What a treat! Life at the secret is kinda like Forrest Gump's box 'o cho-o-lots. Ya never know whatcher's gonna get.

This past weekend was a special treat because we met Jimmy and Paige Newell, Luvern and Jim Morris and Judy and David Jackson.

The guys work together and the group attends the same church. Can you imagine riding the road from Mobile, Alabama to the secret? Good job, girls!

Happy Trails!!!

Welcome Honeymooners Mr. and Mrs. Rick Morgan

They alway do! -- Honeymooners leave star dust everywhere they walk and so did Rick and Tara Morgan while spending their honeymoon at the secret.

Congratulations and Best Wishes for many, many happy years to come!

Come back and see on an anniversary some day!

Carl and Diann

Happy 35th Anniversary Ken & Sharon

Happy Anniversary, Ken and Sharon Lass from Trussville, AL!

Have you ever had a feeling that you've met someone before?

That's how I felt the moment I met Ken (and Sharon). Just about the time I was going to say, "Haven't we met...." I realized I was talking with a man who has spent many days in our home!!! Yes, it was/is Ken Lass, the anchor/reporter from WIAT-TV, channel 42 in Birmingham, Alabama. We have watched him many years. I would like for anyone reading his to know that the nice, warm personality you see on TV is exactly the person he is!!! It was a pleasure meeting you and Sharon, Ken! Thanks for sharing your anniversary with us. Diann (and Carl)

Happy 74th Birthday Irene Mitchell

Marion and Irene Mitchell from Athens, Alabama celebrated Irene's 74th birthday at the secret this weekend.

Oh, to be this sweet!

Happy Anniversary, Irene!

Steve and His Hottie!

Steve is livin' our life! We'll, at last this weekend he did! Steve Tobin from Terrytown, La took a road trip this week to his 50th class reunion. He drove his GTO. He bought this little "hottie" brand new and recently had a frame up restoration completed--amazing, huh? Eat your heart out, guys!

On his trip he visited Greenville, Ga; Monroe, NC; Columbia, Maryland; Marlborough, MA; Hopkinton, NH and Ossippee, NH before stopping at the secret on the last leg of his little venture before returning home.

I can hear the music now!!!

Steve, I'm holding you to your promise to bring your wife to visit us someday! Happy Trails, Steve!

Family -- As good as it gets: Gerald Smith, Tom & Betty Lou Detscher, and Dalton Smith

Long ago, in a world only touched by visiting our fondest memories, there were two brothers who were very happy doing the things that brothers do. Life seemed to be pretty good for the brothers who loved one another...then.........da,da,da, da.....a baby was born.........

(scroll down to fast life forward)

Now, this was not just ANY baby...it was a G U R L baby!!!!

As the years passed, the brothers learned it wasn't THAT bad having a "sis" in the family.

Again, life moved on and one day the two bothers realized their life was going to change again. This time, they would be getting a BROTHER ----- in law)!

(scroll down)

...and what a wonderful "real" brother he became!

Not only did the brothers now have one another and a little sis, but they had gained a BROTHER!

(keep scrolling...)

How priceless is family? As we lose the ones we love, we look around and we realize we have our family, our children and those we love and who love us. Life does re-invent itself. It is constantly re-defining itself over and over again.

But, love....ahhhhh.....

LOVE!

Ain't love grand???? It really doesn't matter what form it presents itself as -- it's always GRAND!!!

Hope to see you guys again someday. If not "here," we'll just meet you "there!"

Love,

Diann (and the cook!)

Gerald Smith, Greensboro, North Carolina

Tom and Betty Lou Detscher, Villa Rica, Ga

Dalton Smith, North Carolina

This is not end, by the way; it's the beginning!

Happy Anniversary Gene & Gay Oswalt

If you don't believe it's a small world, listen to this.

Gene and Gay Oswalt are celebrating their anniversary at the secret this weekend. They read on our website that I graduated from Hueytown High School in Hueytown, AL in 1967. Gay mentioned to me this morning that Gene graduated in 1968. (Oops, Gene, did I just let everyone know your age? Sorry, buddy.) Anyway, just to tell the world more about you, Gene, was an All-Star football player and played under Coach Higginbotham, who was there when I graduated. Small world? Yep! Happy Anniversary, kids! Thanks for choosing the secret to celebrate your special weekend! Diann (& Carl--the cook!)

Another Amazing, Awesome Sunrise!!!

The sunrises are unbelieveable! God's handwork cannot be captured in a photo. The colors just do not show as they do in real life. Enjoy!

10.10.10 Sunrise - Amazingly, spectacularly beautiful!!!

Unbelievable! This is an untouched sunrise picture made on October 10, 2010 (10.10.10) about 6:45 am.

Enjoy and be blessed!

Happy Anniversary Paul & Kim Davis, Woodland, AL

Happy, happy anniversary Paul and Kim Davis. Just from meeting Paul this weekend, and by the picture, I know the last 14 years with Paul have been very interesting, haven't they Kim?

Best Wishes for many more happy years to come! Diann and Carl

Waymon Moore, me and Jack Mitchell -- Lucky me!

Yep, I insisted. I just had to have my picture made with these great men who live life the fullest -- love of God, sincerity, kindness, jokes and laugher are their earmarks. Thanks, Glenda, for taking the picture. What a wonderful weekend!

BFF's The Moore's and Mitchell's from Big Canoe, Ga

These are my new BFF's! Waymon and Shirley Moore stayed at the secret a few years ago. This weekend they brought their friends, Jack and Glenda Mitchell, who have been missionaries in Africa for many, many moons to enjoy and rest at the secret.

What fun we did have. What memories we made in such a short period of time. Joy, joy, joy was on our mountain this weekend!

Unique Photo of Jack Mitchell

This is the coolest picture. This is actually a picture of Jack Mitchell's reflection in the window. The view is also a reflection. Pretty neat, huh, Jack?

Jack and Glenda are from Big Canoe, Ga.

Yummie...Breakfast Time 9:00 a.m.

Here's what we do. Breakfast is served around a table top that revolves. B'fast always includes oj, coffee, sausage and fresh egg. In addition, we rotate either pancakes; biscuits, gravy and grits or french toast. Either way, you'll enjoy a great Southern style b'fast complete with fun and laughter. Do join us, 'ya hear?

What do you do at a bed and breakfast???

Here's what you are missing if you have not stayed in a bed and breakfast -- lots of fellowship, laugher and fun!!!

Birthday Boy!!! Delane & Rachel Bairrow

Happy Birthday, Delane! What do the younger people do on their birthday? They cozy up with one another, then they get in a little trouble (our shady lady) then they celebrate a wonderful weekend together! Thanks for choosing the secret! Carl and Diann