Merry Monday

Good morning friends. Recapping a fun weekend here today and linking it all with Holly (Pink Lady) and Sarah's (Sunshine and Books)  Hello Monday blog hop. Here's how ours looked-

Many months ago I saw that a band I love was going to be in Knoxville in December, and somewhat spontaneously we bought tickets and invited hubs and his brother and sister-in-law to join us. In hindsight, spending a weekend away in the month of December might have added to the busy-ness of the season, but it also added to the fun festive feel we long for this time of year. 

Hubs and I drove over the mountain and through the construction woods to his brother's lake house on Friday. The ride through Asheville and also through the ongoing construction on the Tennessee border went pretty smoothly and we made it to their house early afternoon. The little brown dog is always so excited to see one of his favorite people, aka my sister-in-law. 

We chatted and caught up, then headed into town to meet a college friend for dinner. It was a fun night in a festive venue and we were seated just beside one of their pretty trees. 

Saturday morning we watched some College Game Day, then made our way to a Christmas market being held at Maryville College. Such a lovely campus and we enjoyed browsing the stalls there. This little hot chocolate truck, a remodeled horse wagon, was adorable-

We bought a couple of stocking stuffers then stopped in to see the RT Lodge we've heard so much about. It's stunning! I've added it to my list of places I need to spend a night. R.T. Lodge has an interesting history dating back to 1932 when Susan Wiley Cooper Walker, the widow of Andrew Carnegie's business associate John Walker moved to Maryville. 

She fell in love with the wooded grounds surrounding the campus and persuaded the administration to allow the building of a residence in those woods if she agreed to will the home to the College upon her death. 

She passed away in 1950 and the college President lived in the home for a time. In 1997 Ruby Tuesday leased with the university to develop the property as a training facility and retreat center. 

They restored the main lodge, carriage house, and grounds and added two additional buildings to the property. 

Insert sidebar here-we need these super long skewers and the containers for our firepit. Carry on. 

SANTA!! I KNOW HIM!!

The Lodge operation has expanded to become a hotel, restaurant, spa, and special event center and it is an absolutely beautiful facility. We had tried to book dinner there for this weekend quite a while back, but there wasn't availability. Definitely going to do that another time though. 

We came home and watched some football before picking up hubs mom for dinner in another great spot in town-The Walnut Kitchen. 

They seated us beside the tree here too which made it feel very Christmasy. Sunday morning we went to church with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and then Sunday night was show time. 

SHOW TIME! 

Also Episode 9 in our dating chronicles. 

We saw Needtobreathe at the Tennessee Theatre and they were, as always, fantastic. It was actually a double date, but that counts too. Hubs brother and sister-in-law went with us, and we all had a great time. 

The band has roots in our neck of the woods, and my girls saw them play at fraternity parties on their college campus long before they became well known. 

In a funny small world sort of thing, we ran into a couple who are neighbors of ours in SC. Turns out they're good friends with the parents of the band's bass player and he's leaving the band, so they came over to TN with his parents to see this last show. I love when these kind of unexpected connections happen. The venue is beautiful and I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. 

Also, the band is so good. 

We'll head home this morning so we're back in time to regroup before our Monday evening event. 'Tis the season! 

What kind of fun did you get into this weekend?

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 632

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (December 10th) to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over? 

2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends? 

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion? 

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite? 

5. Let's do a little holiday this or that? 

• shopping or wrapping
• baking or decorating
• eggnog or wassail
• real tree or artificial
• turkey or ham
• white lights or colored lights 
• ugly sweaters or matching pjs
• peppermint or cinnamon 
• presents Christmas Eve or presents Christmas Day

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Share Your Shelf-November

Hello friends. It's the first Thursday of the month which means it's time to share what we've read the month prior. For me it was not a lot, or at least not as much as I would have liked. 'Tis a busy season and time normally spent reading has been spent on other pursuits. 

Share Your Shelf is hosted by Tanya (The Other Side of the Road), Joanne (Slices of Life), Marilyn (Memphis Bridges), and Jenn (My Joyful Life) so hop over if you want to add your own link or see what others are reading. 

Here's how my November looked-

1. Horse by Geraldine Brooks

This was our book club's November selection and I mostly enjoyed it. The story is told with three timelines, the Civil War era timeline being the longest and in my opinion the best. There's a brief 1950's interlude and a modern day (2019) timeline too.  The modern day story  annoyed me in a number of ways, and it was the part of the book where I felt like this wonderfully talented author took the opportunity to push an agenda.

But! The older story line was so good and a delight to read. 

Horse is primarily a work of fiction, but is based on the true story of the record breaking horse called Lexington, a successful racehorse but an even more successful sire. 

In 2019, grad student Theo and Smithsonian osteologist Jess follow separate clues—a discarded horse portrait and a forgotten skeleton—that draw them together in both research and romance. In 1850, enslaved teen Jarret forges an extraordinary bond with the racehorse Lexington, a relationship documented in the diary entries of artist Thomas J. Scott as horse and handler are sold across the South. And in 1954, gallery owner Martha Jackson is stunned to learn that a painting brought to her for appraisal depicts Lexington himself, a horse tied to her own family’s past. 

Geraldine Brooks is a gifted writer, she won the Pulitzer for her book March.  I struggled to rate this one, mainly because the present day storyline didn't work for me. There was still much about the book I did enjoy, so a mixed review. 

2. Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

This is one that had been on my Goodreads list a long time. In fact, I marked it as 'to-read' ten years ago, and I'm trying to go back and read some of those early titles now. This was a very enjoyable book, and another that lands in the historical fiction category. 

The story follows two sisters in wartime England, Emmeline and Julia Downtree, who are separated from each other during the Blitz. Before the Blitz began Emmy dreamed of designing wedding dresses. That dream was about to become a reality when Emmy made a choice that changed the course of her life, and the life of her sister. 

There's a modern storyline as well, but it's minimal and is used to tie everything together. I enjoyed the setting and the characters were well developed. The reader cares about them and I want to care. Four stars for me. 

3. Theo of Golden: A Novel  by Allen Levi

Oh my. What a beautiful book. Truly one of the best I've read in a long long time. I loved it so much I bought copies for all the readers in my family for Christmas. 

A man known only as Theo arrives one spring morning in the small southern town of Golden. He stops by the neighborhood coffee shop, and is drawn to the ninety-two pencil portraits hanging on the walls there. The portraits are sketches of Golden's residents, drawn by a local artist. One by one Theo buys the portraits and returns them to the people depicted. Each handoff sparks a story, begins a friendship, and changes a life. 

A heartwarming, emotionally rich story that had me from page one. It's the kind of book I wish I could read for the first time again. I gave it five stars. 

Have you read anything good lately? If so please share. 

A Holiday Hodgepodge

Welcome to December and to the weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and leave a merry comment for your neighbor there. Here we go...

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

I think it's related to the sense of excitement and anticipation we feel this time of year. It's wanting to go the extra mile in terms of generosity and kindness. It's purposely slowing down to count my blessings in the midst of all the hustle and bustle. 

Some years that holiday spirit is hard to find, but this year I'm going to say mine is at a 7. There's so much to love and look forward to, but there's also a lot to do. 

2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why. 

Cindy Lou Who from The Grinch has always been a favorite. Hubs and I watched Home Alone the other night, and how can you not love Kevin McAllister? 

I love Linus from A Charlie Brown Christmas, the friend who finds the good in the scrappy tree and who when Charlie asks 'Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?' replies by reciting Jesus birth as recounted in the book of Luke. 

Linus, who carries his security blanket everywhere, drops it when he gets to the part that reads 'Fear not; for behold I bring you tidings of great joy". This little cartoon that first aired sixty years ago is still so powerful, so sweet, so loved. 

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

I do like gingerbread. I don't think it was a favorite growing up, but I love it now. 

We have done gingerbread houses from time to time. That activity isn't on the calendar this year. 

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? freeway, highway, or motorway? frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?

sprinkles-lightning bugs-soda-sneakers-subs unless what I'm eating is an actual hoagie (iykyk)-highway- icing-sauce if we're talking pasta, but gravy if we're talking meat and potatoes 

5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood. 

The season didn't start until December and I think it was definitely simpler. Most people had just one tree, and we'd go to the local nursery to choose ours. It didn't go up until closer to Christmas and we all helped with the decorating. 

There was a lot of cookie baking done beside my mom in the month of December. 

The feeling of anticipation on Christmas morning. My sister and I (we shared a room) waking up super early and the excitement we felt as we lay in our beds talking while waiting for the street lights to go off so we could wake up my parents. That was the rule-no getting up while the street lights were still on. 

Then sitting on the steps with my brother and sisters as we waited some more for my dad to start the fire in the fireplace, make the coffee, and take our picture. Finally walking in to the living room and seeing all the beautifully wrapped gifts and my stocking in 'my chair'. So many surprises...I rarely knew what I'd be getting. 

I had a doll I loved and every year my mom would take her from my room after I'd gone to sleep on Christmas Eve, and dress her in a new outfit. She'd be sitting beside my stocking when I came down on Christmas morning.

My mama made Christmas morning so magical. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.  

It wouldn't officially be the Christmas season without me posting this song on my blog. This carol wasn't a particular favorite of mine as a child, but it has become a favorite in my adult years. The lyrics are so meaningful, so very relevant to the world in which we live...

'and in despair I bowed my head, There is no peace on earth I said, For hate is strong and mocks the song, Of peace on earth, good will to men...'

The story behind this particular song is a good one (you can read it here), and this Casting Crowns version is absolutely beautiful-

'Then rang the bells, more loud and deep, God is not dead nor doth He sleep, The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men...'

Episodes Seven and Eight

Linking today with Joanne for Talking About It Tuesdays 

If you've been reading here you know hubs and I are aiming for 52 dates in 52 (ish) weeks. I'm recording them here because I think it might be fun to put them all in a photo book at the end of the year. 

I'm two episodes behind because the days are flying and full and writing it all down isn't happening the way it used to. Today will be a two for one kind of post. 

Day date episode seven. Here it is-

Backing up two weeks to this day, which was part of a week where we had stuff on the calendar every single day. Now some of that 'stuff' meant we spent time together, but I'm trying to make these moments we mark as just for us. 

Lunch at McAllisters it was. 

Hubs had an appointment in the city and I had an appointment to get my nails done. We met for lunch on his way home, after I left the salon and also after I stopped to mail a package, but before I hit the grocery store which happened to be in the same shopping center as McAllisters. 

Some weeks are like this, and I'm going to say simple is very welcome in the middle of busy.

I like their food and we each got a half sandwich with their broccoli cheddar soup which was delish. We had a nice time and talked about some of the day date places we might go and see and do in the new year. 

Day date episode eight happened on Saturday. Originally we had decided on Wednesday, but then the weather was spectacular and it made more sense for hubs to get the outside lights up while he could wear shorts since cooler weather was on the way for the weekend. 

We pivoted to Saturday and we bundled up. Actually it felt festive to put on my furry boots and my 'Canada coat' as it's been dubbed because hubs bought it for me in Canada more than 25 years ago. People still stop me whenever I wear it to ask where I got it. The boots I got in France, not quite 20 years ago but they're still a favorite and so warm. 

We headed into the city to check out a small Christmas market. When I see hubs in his hat I feel like it should have a post of its own.  He bought the hat in Austria after much hard selling on the part of the vendor. She told him she'd add the Edelweiss pin for free if he purchased so he said yes. This hat has been such a fun thing all these many years, the start of many a conversation with people everywhere who spy a pin from a place they love, or who are just curious about what the pins represent. 

The pins (currently numbering 53) started mostly by accident. He added one when he bought the hat, then ended up adding another on that same trip, and then another the next place we went, and so on and so on, and suddenly it became a thing. He's traveled all around the world adding pins to mark the miles, and now this hat tells the story of a most interesting life. 

I love going in to the city this time of year. The past few years we've gone to a Christmas show at the theatre there, but this year we can't make it work, so this might be it. 

The market was set up just outside of The Grand Bohemian Lodge, a luxury hotel whose architecture was inspired by the National Parks. Lots of stone and cedar and it's really beautiful. Besides lodging they have a spa, restaurant, bar, and an art collection featuring both local and internationally known artists. 

The Bohemian has been around for about three years now, but we've never stayed overnight or eaten in their restaurant. It was a chilly day, but we enjoyed browsing the stalls and made a couple of gift purchases before heading inside to warm up and have lunch.  

We sat at the bar, and per usual hubs immediately made friends with the people beside us. It's one of his very best qualities and something I love about him. It can also be annoying but mostly I love it. 

They had a brunch menu with some lunch options and I ordered eggs benedict because if it's on the menu that's what I order. Hubs got shrimp and grits for the same reason. Both were delicious. 

We also had to try an order of their deviled eggs which were so good-pickled mustard seeds, crispy maple duck confit, and chives. 

We walked through town and went in a couple of shops too. It wasn't overly crowded because locals were all inside somewhere watching the Clemson-South Carolina game. Yay Tigers! We were home in time to watch Tennessee play Vandy which was super painful, but we did finish decorating the tree while the madness happened and that helped. 

And now here we are, another week filled to the brim with happenings. Our next date might just be be that trip to Costco with lunch somewhere after since we've put it on the calendar. This is retirement. And December. And our life in this season. 

Which is actually pretty sweet. 

Hello December

Good morning friends and hello December. I'm sure this month will move at the speed of light, so I'm trying to pump the brakes a little and enjoy the many blessings this season brings.

Linking with Holly (Pink Lady Blog) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books) today for their Hello Monday weekend catch up. Mine will be more than a weekend and that's okay too. 

Backing all the way up to Wednesday when it was 70 degrees, sunny, and the perfect sort of weather for hubs to get the outdoor lights up. Let me just say this is not his favorite task. ahem. 

He gets it done though, and the end result is always worth the aggravation. We splurged on these giant nutcrackers this year-

What can I say? We're grandparents. 

Like every year, there's a fuse that keeps blowing on one of the light strands out front, and hubs says he'll just keep replacing it until he runs out of fuses lol. It's 2025. Why hasn't someone solved the Christmas light problem? 

He also put a tree on the dock and it tipped over a couple of times in spite of being weighted down. First world problems I know, but still these are the things that niggle and can put a chink in your holiday spirit. I think he's got the dock tree problem solved so yay hubs. There are always a few kinks to work out when the decorating begins. 

Hey, remember Thanksgiving? We had a really nice day and enjoyed dinner at daughter1's house. Life definitely feels full circle on days like this one. One day you're buttering a roll for your seven-year old, and thirty years later she's baking a beautiful apple pie for your dessert. Grown up girls are such a gift. 

My grandmother's china on my daughter's table-

We split up the meal and I made shrimp cocktail, cranberry sauce, squash casserole, mashed potatoes and fruit salad. She did the turkey, dressing, gravy, a Brussels sprouts salad, rolls, and that scrumptious apple pie with homemade custard. Sooo good! If you've never had homemade custard poured over your pie you don't know what you're missing. Thanks England! 

We had a fun afternoon chatting, watching football, and of course eating. Daughter2 was in Tennessee but had her in-laws there along with hubs mom. We'll all be together later this month and both my sons-in-law have jobs that require some work arounds in terms of holiday travel. We figure it out. 

Friday morning we woke up to the thermometer in the house reading 60 degrees. We had the air conditioning running on Wednesday and the heat turned on Friday. 'Tis the season.   

Hubs brought the boxes down from the attic and I dressed for the day's chore aka decorating the house. It's a job, but I think sitting beside a lit Christmas tree in the early morning dark is one of life's best and simplest pleasures. 

Saturday hubs and I had a day date, but I think I'll save that recap for tomorrow's post. I'm two episodes behind in recording and want to catch up here. I know you can't wait. 

So what's new with you? I hope your weekend was merry and bright! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 631

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (December 3rd) to share answers. See you there!

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why. 

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? freeway, highway, or motorway? frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?

5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.