14 Things We Learned RT07-10

Things we learned in Gatlinburg, TN.











1. If your cabin doesn't provide coffee filters, a paper towel will actually do just fine.

2. Mac & Cheese with Hot dogs is a perfect meal. Especially when you don't want to buy many groceries. Just a box of Kraft, a bag of dogs and milk. Perfect.















3. Andy is too big for most horses. It looks like he's riding a pony, doesn't it?!

4. Andy doesn't know how to tell a horse where to go. We had to stop several times to get him reigned in before he took off in a completely different route up the mountain. But he's darn cute. Andy, not the horse. Well, ok, they're both cute.

5. After two hours on a horse, it's really hard to walk normally.

6. Climbing a 1700 foot elevation over 2 miles may cause one to feel as though they may die.








7. If in charge of the camera, your husband may take a million pictures of your tush.









8. Mountain water is unbelievably refreshing after a long hike.



9. The moon is brighter. The sky is clearer.












10. After a hike like that, with the sun going down and the air getting colder, it's hard to get Andy to smile.







11. A local brewery makes the best brews.



















12. Andy kills me at pool, but I'm way cuter, so that earns extra points.

13. We like to take "hold your arm out and shoot" pictures.

14. We wouldn't mind living in Tennessee. The weather was perfect. Perfect.

This was our cabin.

A Few More Aprons

Some of these I did before I left and some I did after we got back. One of the most fun things about coming home after a long trip, at least for me, is going through the huge stack of mail that arrived while we were out. (Unless that includes creepy Valentine's, of course) I had ordered a bunch of fabric before we left and there were three lovely boxes waiting to be opened.

What that means is that all I really want to do is lock myself in my office/sewing room/library and sew like mad.




Don't be surprised if that's exactly what I do. I have curtains to make (for myself and for sale) aprons galore, clothes, pillows, bags...the possibilities are truly endless. The projects are innumerable.

Hot-Lanta RT07-9

It seems in being concerned with the creepy Valentine and getting back to work and all, I forgot to finish up our road trip coverage.

From Florida we sped up through Georgia to Atlanta.

We arrived with slightly cooler, yet still beautiful, 60 degree weather (which I would give anything for right now) at the home of one of my aunt & uncle. It was Sunday night and we got to watch the Oscar's with them while we ate fabulous ice cream sundae's and very yummy enchiladas.







My aunt has been a hair stylist for years. Ever since I can remember, she has been the one to cut it, style it, and (yes, I'll admit I have had them before) perm it. So if I know I'll be anywhere in her vicinity, I will hold off on getting it cut by anyone else.



I know other people have "their" stylist, but I've always been ok being the kind of person who could go practically anywhere as long as the price was reasonable. When it comes to getting it done by my aunt, no one has ever compared. I've never worried about whether I would like it or not, and I've hardly ever had to give her direction on what I want. She just does it, and it's just perfect. So she did, and it was.

Yeah Toast! I believe I had a bagel with cream cheese (can you imagine us going two whole weeks without eating bagels!?) but hubby settled for his usual toast sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.








After a perfectly relaxing morning of chatting and reminiscing together (and checking email), we said our goodbyes (we never have long enough) and set out on our next adventure:






Where the carts are never big enough, the wallets are never deep enough, and the imagination never stops planning.

Valentine's Post #2 (Caution: Potential Creepiness Involved)

Oh look! A very cute, friendly, happy Valentine's card that I found in my mail when I returned home from my wonderful vacation!! Yay!

Hmm. I wonder who it's from? There's no return name. It was mailed from my town, though.


Can you read that? It's not from my husband. He not only said it wasn't, but you could tell by the look on his face that he was totally confused.

I'm really, really, really hoping it's from one of my girlfriend's trying to be funny. Because if it's not? I'm creeped out. Please be a girlfriend! If anyone knows anything about this, you really have to tell me. Please. Really.

In Florida RT07-8c

From Grandma's in Bradenton to Sister & Brother-In-Law in Fort Myers. Only about an hour's drive. Warm. 80 degrees. AC blowing.

Andy had been waiting for days to play Guitar Hero. He's only played it once before and it's probably one of his all-time favorite video games. Could the guitar look any tinier on him?




















We drove to Sanibel Island, only about a half hour away. Since we are so very outdoorsy, we went to a nature preserve to walk and see if we could find any alligators. We didn't, but there were tons of birds. Tons. Of Birds.

When we got to the beach we saw lots of shells and we took the time to stroll on the sand...oh to feel the sand between my toes now. My toes are freezing in socks and slippers here in snowy Michigan. Our vacation seems so long ago already.





Family Photo. This is also the crazy kitty who doesn't really like other people very much. She'll let you pet her for about a minute before she hisses at you as though you may kill her. I think she has still to overcome her inferiority complex due to the lack of tail. She sure can stare though, can't she?

On the Way to Florida RT07-8a

We drove from South Carolina through to Florida on Wednesday. As we left it was about 65 degrees. I watched the numbers climb slowly higher on our dashboard.

Deciding we would stop to eat somewhere in Jacksonville and thinking a good place to look for would be Olive Garden. Salad & soup would be fast and healthier than a burger. We pulled off once we were in the city to get gas and call information to find the closest location.

A very long story short, we drove onto and off the highway, through several areas and after quickly determining we wouldn't find an OG, were just hoping for a nice, sit-down restaurant. Not fast food. Somewhere we could rest and eat something that wouldn't mess with our insides. It took almost an hour, but we finally pulled into Sam's.

It just seemed right to have seafood since we were almost on the coast. I had Mahi Mahi and it truly tasted almost like chicken. And hush puppies! We surely don't have those anywhere up north! So tasty.

However, no offense to anyone who lives there, and I'm sure it's not as bad as we imagined, but I am really not fond of Jacksonville. No thank you.

But we made it to Andy's Grandma's just fine. She has the cutest little condo on the fourth floor (we tried to make it a point to climb the stairs)










Thursday morning she wanted to take us out for breakfast on the beach and we surely weren't
going to argue with that! It was sunny and warm and fabulous eating our eggs and toast and staring out at the ocean in Bradenton.








A stroll along the beach and watching the water roll in and the sunbathers bathing made for a wonderful, relaxing morning before driving down to Fort Myers.

Valentine's Post #1 (Caution: Materialism Involved)

I didn't really get a chance to tell my Valentine's story this year as I was a little preoccupied with travelling, but it's a good one.

Turns out, I have two stories to tell, but I'll leave the second for another post later. It's rather creepy.

Ahem.

I like jewelry.

Years ago I worked at Helzberg Diamonds and the experience taught me many things.

A) People buy a lot of things they can't afford.
B) Managers who expect you to own expensive clothing are often snobby but will also give you expensive things because they simply can't stand to see you in 'average' things.
C) The difference between real and fake diamonds and the hurt it causes when you fake it.
D) I like jewelry.

The problem with D is that I don't just like any jewelry anymore, but that I like good jewelry. Also that I have to pick out my jewelry on my own. Like gifts. I can't leave something like that up to chance.

All this to say, when I got a flyer in the mail for a local jewelry store with a special Valentine's deal on a very attractive ring, I fell in love. Or lust. Can you lust for diamonds? I suppose so.

I placed said ring flyer on my husband's dresser not really expecting him to purchase it, and knowing I truly didn't need it, but hoping deep down that he'd buy it anyway.

The other flyer that came in the mail was for a jewelry box. Just enough drawers and spaces for whatever you might need. Spend a certain amount and it was free! I didn't put this flyer on his dresser at first, not wanting to push my luck.

A couple days later, I found the jewelry box flyer in my desk and figured it was worth a shot. Though I realized that there was never really an opportunity for him to make it to the store since we only have one car and I'm almost always with him.

On the first day of our road trip after packing the car full and getting ready to climb in and set off, I found a gift bag filled with tissue paper and sitting on my seat. Completely surprised, but knowing what was in the bag. All day I gazed at my sparkly right hand, stopping now and then to gaze at my handsome valentine.

His story was that the Saturday before, while I was at the salon and at work for most of the day, he had walked over a mile to a friends' house to borrow their car and drive to the jewelry store. Plus, my suspicions were proven correct in that HE had been the thief to steal the $35 that was missing!

Could he be any sweeter? Trying to stash money away and then walking to borrow a car to buy me the one thing that my little heart desired?

It gets better. The night we were driving from New York to Virginia, we stopped in Maryland for the night at a motel. As we unpacked and got ready for bed that night I noticed something strange with all of our luggage.

"Why is there another jewelry gift bag here on the counter?!" I asked, quite surprised.

"What jewelry gift bag on the counter?" He responded wittily.

Inside was the jewelry box!

Turns out he had actually gone to the jewelry store on Friday when I had been home and he had had the car. He told me he was going to be at the music store for a while perusing instruments and equipment for work. Liar. He was there for about two minutes getting something he needed and then off he went to shop for me!

The salesman had tried to convince him to buy another small item so he would have enough to get the free jewelry box, but he said no, he knew I wanted one, but didn't want to get the wrong one...heh heh. He arrived home shortly after I had placed the second flyer on his dresser. I can only imagine the grumbling that occurred under his breath. The next day he did indeed walk to borrow a friend's car, drive back to the store where he told the salesman he needed to purchase something else to get that jewelry box.

What a guy. What. A. Guy.

South Carolina RT07-7

Charleston, SC

An hour and a half delay into town. Getting out of the van and walking up and down the highway. People late to important business meetings, appointments, travel, etc.

A fatality. Sometimes it's ok to wait.







Charleston. Sunny but windy. If you're not careful, you'll either blow right off the pier or at the very least, fall over.







Chasing the pigeons. See how they run. See how they fly.

Exploring through the park. Climbing and jumping and running.








Lunch at a cafe. Cafe.

An afternoon spent browsing through sidewalk shops, Pirate stores, knick-knacks.






Chick-fil-A milkshakes on the way back before dinner. My girlfriend's little girl. Is she not such a little sweetie? Always ready to pose for the camera.











Thank you, my friend for your hospitality and showing us around your fabulous town. I'm glad we're still able to catch up so easily and quickly after so many years and still feel as though we didn't miss a thing. It was wonderful to spend time with you and your family!

Gotta Go Back a Few Days RT07-6

The last part of Road Trip Oh Seven that you fabulous blogternet readers read about was our chilly hike through Shenandoah National Park.

That afternoon/evening we arrived in Roanoke, Virginia to stay with one of my teachers from high school. Does that sound weird to you? How many of you would ever think to stay at the home of a former teacher?

My high school was small. So small in fact, that my graduating class was the largest our school had ever seen and came in with a whopping 14 seniors. The teacher that I refer to had been my Math teacher, Science teacher, and sometimes even taught one of our Bible classes. He taught us from 6th grade until we graduated, went with us on a couple of our class trips and was basically one of my many foster fathers through my teenage years.

It was so good to see him and his wife and family after so many years. At least nine or ten, I think. They're just the same. Just the same. My heart was so full and warm to be with them, I thought it might burst.

We left shortly after breakfast for South Carolina. The plan was to do some hiking at Mount Rogers National Park. As often is the case, my plan was a bit faulty.

I don't ride well through hills and mountains. If it is going to be a rough drive, I need to be the one driving. For my tummy's sake. But this time I was the one with the map. Except I didn't have a very good map and I didn't have very good directions. We never found the trail we were looking for.


But we did find fries. Er, Fries.












A very cute little town that just so happened to have a trail along a river. Not the trail I was originally looking for, but it did just fine standing in.


First, we had to have lunch. Since we were in Fries, we figured we should also eat some fries. Covered in chili and cheese.

(Remember how healthy we were going to be? It all evens out with the hiking, right?)





We hiked past the dam, (making up lots of dam jokes along the way, of course) walked to lunch, hiked along the trail, walked back through town to our car and continued on our way to South Carolina. I drove and my tummy thanked me.

It's March

Freezing rain.

Thunderstorms in the middle of the night.

33 degree weather.

Mittens

Scarves

Hats

Coats

Boots

Dry skin

Cold toes


I wanna go back to Florida.

The Vacation Doesn't End RT07-8b

Florida is 80 degrees. We're spending the day at the beach on Sanibel. Andy's sister & brother-in-law have been very hospitable...their kitty has not. She pretends she's never met us and only lets you pet her on the very top of the head--and only for about three swipes and she's done.

No camera cable to transfer pictures, but there are many many more to come. I'll have a ton to update my flickr page when we get back.

Just wanted to let everyone know I was still alive and on the road! Tomorrow we're headed for Hotlanta.


A project for you. Tell me a story about your favorite pet as a kid. If you didn't have one, tell me about why your parents wouldn't let you!