Everyday Images

I enjoy the Everyday Images link up hosted by Kym (Another Cup Of Coffee) and thought I might try to make some of my recent random photos fit the prompts. Bloggers tend to snap a lot of pictures and a prompt like this one is a nice place to set them down. 

Kym posts new prompts every two weeks and the most current are-

flag, simple and/or complicated, at home, Wednesday weather,

 doorway, movement, and branched

Well flag is an easy one because I'm adding patriotic decor in spots around the house and several feature flag motifs-

This is on my coffee table, a little vignette that's fun and festive. I chose poppies because they make me think of soldiers and sacrifice. The pop of red in a little blue floral vase is so pretty. These are artificial poppies, but look so real. I ordered them from a company called Luv Sola Flowers which I think is out of California. The stems have some bend to them which made arranging easy. 

Love my 'smells like freedom candle' too. What does freedom smell like? For some reason I immediately think of freshly mown green grass, which is not the scent of this candle, but that's the first thing I thought of. The label on the bottom says gun powder, but I had to check so I don't think it's obvious. 

Since we're talking flags I also bought hand soap for my powder room and some disposable towels, both with red, white, and blue flag designs on them. 

Simple and/or complicated-

I spent Thursday afternoon cooking. I made dinner to take to a friend as part of a meal train (pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, and glazed carrots), then made a big pan of ziti to have ready to go for Friday night's dinner when my two sisters, my brother-in-law, and my nephew will be at the lake. 

And I made hubs and I a big cobb salad for our Thursday dinner. I'll make a dessert tomorrow but it felt simpler to devote an afternoon to the bigger cooking as opposed to spreading it out over a couple of days. 

Hubs is grilling wings Friday too but that's his department and he's got it covered. 

at home-

I'm writing this post at 8 PM on Thursday and this is the first I've sat down today. Maybe all week? 

Here's the sofa on our upper deck which is pretty much my favorite place to sit and it's currently on point with my patriotic theme. Happy birthday America! 

Wednesday weather-

Hmm. I take a picture almost every morning, but did not snap one on Wednesday. It was drizzling when we got up, we had thunder at one point, humidity, clouds and then a very pretty sunset. We had gone to dinner with some neighbors and I attempted to take a photo of the pastel skies from their driveway. 

Doorway-

I didn't have anything that fit this particular prompt so I scrolled back through my camera roll and found a photo I took back in March that I never posted. Yes, of course that counts. You make your own blog rules, right? 

I took this when I was visiting my daughter2 in Tennessee and we shopped in the prettiest little store. Even the doors were beautiful-

Movement -

Well the beaver family has returned. Not the original beaver family because ahem, they're goners, but maybe one of their offspring? 

He's movin' alright. Moving is good though because we do not want him stopping and staying a while. 

We started seeing one good sized beaver swimming from the back of the cove towards the channel, which means he swims under our dock bridge. You have to get up very early to see him (which we do) and he is busy. As a beaver. Ha! That saying has merit y'all. We watched him one morning swim across our cove and under a neighbors dock all while carrying a large branch with the leaves still on it. Crazy! But kind of interesting too. 

On Tuesday he had a friend with him. Oh boy. 

We don't want him/them setting up house on our property so we're doing what we can to deter them . I don't think I'll elaborate. 

Also, I wrote back in 2020 about the beaver who ate his way through our hillside landscaping and if you've never seen one you might think they're cute, but I'm here to tell you they are not actually cute. One reason we put in the waterfall was to save the hillside and the beavers have not come up the hill since so it's working. 

branched-

This one feels like a challenge. Technically they're under some branches-

These two deer were in my neighbor's front yard the other day. They were not bothered by me at all. 

Happy weekend everyone! 

A Rosy Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week' s edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go...

1.  How would you define 'the good life'? 

This is a hard question to answer, but in a nutshell I'd say the good life is knowing my purpose, having loving relationships, enjoying good health, a strong and growing faith, and the things I need. 

It's the feeling of contentment that comes from being grounded in those things. 

2.  What's the most used app on your phone (and are you proud of that)? 

I checked my phone to confirm, but my most used app is Notes. I jot all sorts of things I want to remember there, and have headings like local sites, books, shows, blog ideas, restaurants, travel tips, quotes and more. I also have a note where I drop song titles in my efforts to create a top 100 playlist. I'm getting there. 

Am I proud of it? I wouldn't say I'm proud because how often I use an app doesn't feel like something that engenders pride. That being said,  I'm not embarrassed either, which feels like a distinct possibility with some of the apps out there. 

3. 'Every rose has it's thorn', 'everything's coming up roses', 'looking through rose-colored glasses', 'it's no bed of roses' or 'stop and smell the roses'...which rose idiom best relates to something in your life currently. Explain. 

When I look at the June calendar I see a little dot on every day of the month, but two. Some of the dots mark appointments, some mark events happening on a given day, some mean houseguests are coming and/or going, and all that to say it's a busy month. Good busy, but busy nonetheless. I want to make sure I take time to 'stop and smell the roses' and I will. 

4. How do you feel about floral flavorings in food or drink (rose, hibiscus, elderflower, lavender)? 

Not a fan, particularly of anything with rose flavoring added. I don't mind elderflower if it's not too heavy. 

5. Over the course of your life what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else? 

What does God want me to do, and am I doing it? 

This question shapes how I view my purpose, how I spend my time and resources, how I make decisions, and how I relate to others in my role as daughter, friend, parent, grandparent, and a partner to my husband in marriage. There is no area of my life left untouched when I ask this question. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tuesday was Primary Day in the Palmetto State. Do you vote in the primaries? When you vote do you research the candidates or go in blind and make your best guess? 

I open the sample ballot and then I make hubs and I little cheat sheets to take with us. If there are questions on a ballot I like to read those ahead of time. We're electing a new governor this year, and a senator, and then some state/local offices too and I want to know who I'm voting for. 

Someone running for state representative knocked on our door the other day and we looked him up because we were impressed by his effort. 

The Other Highlands

Hubs and I celebrate 42 years of married life this month so whoohoo! Go us!  June is busy here so we sometimes celebrate early or sometimes late, but we always mark the day in some way. It matters. 

Everyone has their own story, but in ours I can look back and see how going the distance (so to speak) has been a series of decisions, choices, moments that might feel small but when strung together add up to something big. I see marriage as a daily thing, as opposed to a one time stand-at-the-altar thing. It's daily effort. Daily intention. Daily commitment. 

Also a tremendous joy and blessing and more than a little bit sanctifying. 

Also we need Jesus who keeps the train on the track when it threatens to derail. 

This year we decided to celebrate early since I'll be helping with preschool crafts in VBS on our actual date. Our third grandson was born on our anniversary and we're going to celebrate him at the lake this year with a cousin party the week after, and Father's Day is thrown in there somewhere too.We know we have to be intentional or the day will come and go without fanfare. 

Which is okay too but, I like a little fanfare. 

We live on a lake surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. There are loads of charming mountain towns within an easy drive from us, most about an hour or just over but our favorite is a little town on the NC line called Highlands. 

There's a famous hotel in Highlands called The Old Edwards Inn and they have a restaurant called Madisons which is also well known. Hubs has been there once for a work party, but I've wanted to try it since we moved here and an anniversary seemed like a great reason to make that happen. 

We didn't stay at Old Edwards because we brought the little brown dog with us. He's old and hasn't been feeling great lately so we booked a dog friendly hotel instead. We stayed in a place called Park On Main and if you're traveling to Highlands with your pet I highly recommend. 

The hotel is on the main drag so walking distance to all the cute shops and venues, and they've thought of absolutely everything in terms of staying with a pet. 

There was a dog bed, towel, and bowls in the room all ready for him, treats in the lobby, and of course dog decor done in a fun way. The lobby is filled with dog portraits. We had a little balcony that looked out to the back side of the hotel and the manager told us the people who'd stayed in our room before us saw a bear wander down the street there two days in a row. 

We had no such luck, but I was watching. 

We drove up to Highlands on Thursday and it was a picture perfect day weather wise. Our plan was to do a non-strenuous hike (partly the dog and partly my stupid ankle), then have lunch at our favorite lunch spot there (The Wild Thyme), then meander, take a nap, relax in the garden of the wine bar which was conveniently across the street from our hotel, and walk to Old Edwards for a late dinner (8 PM, and yes, that's late for me). 

We made the hour drive up and over the mountain from the lake to the town and went straight to the trailhead for Sunset Rock. Or Sunrise Rock depending on which direction you go. We opted for the sunset side, although it was mid-morning.

It's a gravel trail with a very gradual incline that opens up to a beautiful view of the mountains and some of the town below. 

We hung out on the rock for a short while before trekking back down, and then crossing the street to stop in the Nature Center there. 

We've come to Highlands several times but I had no idea this was even here.

There's a botanical garden just behind the center with all sorts of walking trails, a bog, a small lake, so many blooming beauties including my favorite, the lily pad- 

There were lots of butterflies and even a snapping turtle who smiled for the camera-

We walked all the way around the lake, mostly on a boardwalk path but also through some rooty woods and then got back in the car and parked in town. 

We wanted to dine outside since we had the LBD with us so we opted for our favorite lunch spot-The Wild Thyme Gourmet. The food here is so good and we sat under a very very RED umbrella which made our orders bright. 

A glass of French rosé? Yes please. 

Followed by a cup of the most delicious, delicately spiced gazpacho and then a roasted veggie sandwich for me and crab cakes for the hubs. 

We had ice cream from Kilwins which is just across the square for dessert. Georgia peach for hubs and toasted coconut with chocolate covered coconut bits mixed in for me. If coconut ice cream is on a menu I will almost always go for that. 

We wandered down the main street, went in a couple of shops, then drove the truck down to the hotel to check in. 

As I said we loved our room, how immaculate the whole place was, not to mention cute, and all the little touches. If you happen to have a Tesla they have covered charging stations in their garage. We don't but several of my neighbors do, and some read here. 

Late afternoon we walked across the street to the cute wine bar set amongst the trees there. Friends of ours at the lake know the owners so we introduced ourselves and chatted with them briefly, then sat in the Adirondacks and relaxed. 

Did I mention the weather was perfection? Bright blue skies and temps in the 70's. 

Afterwards we went back to our hotel for a little siesta. I needed to be awake to go to dinner at 8, which not gonna lie is often closer to my bed time than my meal time. 

We walked the four blocks down to Madisons and arrived a few minutes early so were  sent upstairs to The Hummingbird Bar to wait with a beverage. The service was top notch and really made an impression. I had my traditional anniversary drink-a champagne cocktail and it was yummy. 

Dinner was a treat. Hubs had let them know it was our anniversary and there were camelia petals scattered on our table. The chef sent out a sample of their pimento cheese with spicy buttermilk crackers to start, and I have already gone on the hunt for this cracker recipe. So good!! I found a copycat here (Copycat Old Edwards Inn Buttermilk Crackers) so I'll let you know how that goes. 

We ordered our entrees and a server came by and set down a dish of their blue crab dip. We told him it wasn't ours so he moved on and then our server came over with the blue crab dip and a card. 

Turns our our friends (same ones who know the wine shop owners) had called the restaurant and ordered it for us. What a sweet and thoughtful surprise! Not to mention delicious. Truly made our night and I want to pay that forward someday. 

Our meals came, I had the red grouper special with brown butter cauliflower and hubs had a NY strip with broccolini. We didn't have dessert but our server brought out a sweet small serving of a shortbread topped with a raspberry mousse and we did not say no to that. He decorated the plate himself. 

We walked back to our hotel and called it a night. 

Friday morning we enjoyed the continental breakfast included with our reservation then got on the road home. We could have stayed and done some shopping but hubs is mid-home sale for a client and there was some work being done at the buyers new house he wanted to check on. The clients are out of state and he's on top of things for them. 

We were home by 11 and I unpacked, started some laundry, then planted myself on the outdoor couch to blog and soak up the lake view. 

 Cheers to 42 and love that endures!  

Linking today with Joanne (Slices of Life) for Talking About It Tuesdays

The Weekend

Good Monday morning friends. How was your weekend? Ours was really nice and I hope yours was too. We celebrated our anniversary on Thursday, which is a little bit early but when your calendar looks like ours you grab the blank space and go for it. I'm going to write a separate post about that and just talk about the weekend today. 

Our anniversary celebration involved an out of town overnight but we were home by 11 Friday morning. I unpacked, started some laundry, and then sat on the porch and spent some time blogging. At some point hubs needed to pick up something from Daughter1's house and I tagged along for a ride in the MG. 

Once home we got ready for a neighborhood get together poolside and I made an appetizer to take along. I did not take a single picture but it's a yummy recipe.  A friend shared it with me, and it's easy and delicious. A water cracker topped with whipped cream cheese, smoked salmon, chopped hard boiled egg, chopped red onion, capers, and cracked pepper. We had a nice time catching up with neighbors and the food is always good. 

Saturday morning hubs and I took our coffee down to the lake and enjoyed the view. 

The dock guys finally came to do the staining (the weather created multiple delays) so hubs moved the boat to the neighbor's dock in case there was any mess. There was not and it looks almost new. 

The mancub made the All-Star team and they had a full weekend of games on tap. Game one was Thursday night and we missed that as we were away, but we made it to the first game on Saturday and it was fun to see him play. 

It was hot so after game number one hubs and I took Little Miss and Max back to our house to bake their momma a birthday cake, and the Mancub and his parents stayed to play the second game. 

We had lunch on the porch then got to baking. Their momma loves angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream on her birthday, but explaining a-why there's a hole in the middle of the cake, b-why there's no icing, c-why there's no sprinkles, and d-why we have to wait until tomorrow to eat it, was a whole conversation. 

It looks tastier with the whipped cream and berries, but someone forgot to snap a picture. Oops. 

They colored pictures for their mom and we watched a movie. Everyone was worn out from all the baseball, the heat, and the going going going so it was nice to chill for a while. 

Their parents picked them up then I made another appetizer to take to a neighbor's house that evening. We were invited with another couple to watch game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals, and it was a fun night. The host said bring a very light and easy appetizer so that's what I did. I had a jar of blueberry lemon thyme jam I'd bought when I was at my Daughter2's in Tennessee a couple of months ago, and poured it over a brick of cream cheese with crackers and pita chips for dipping. It's sooo good! 

My team didn't make the finals, but it was an exciting game nonetheless, with two overtime periods, and we didn't get home until after midnight. 

Sunday morning we went to church, then popped home for a quick lunch before taking the cake and the berries and the whipped cream, and the candles, and the gift over to Daughter1's house to celebrate the birthday girl. 

Okay so she's a few years older than this now, but whatever. Mommas gonna mom especially when a birthday rolls around. 

She had a lot of help opening her gifts and everyone loved the cake. We didn't stay too long because they were hosting a pizza party for the baseball team and we were pooped. We came home and I took care of some paperwork that needed taking care of for Monday, then worked on my blog and relaxed. 

We had an easy pizza dinner too, then watched a really sweet older movie I'd never seen-The Magic of Belle Isle. If you've never seen it I recommend. 

And that was pretty much the weekend. If you've chatted about yours on the blog today, hop over to add your link with Holly and Sarah. 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 657

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

1.  How would you define 'the good life'? 

2.  What's the most used app on your phone (and are you proud of that)? 

3. 'Every rose has it's thorn', 'everything's coming up roses', 'looking through rose-colored glasses', 'it's no bed of roses' or 'stop and smell the roses'...which rose idiom best relates to something in your life currently. Explain. 

4. How do you feel about floral flavorings in food or drink (rose, hibiscus, elderflower, lavender)? 

5. Over the course of your life what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A Rather Nice Hodgepodge

Welcome to June and this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1.What's something you find extremely difficult that most people would say is simple?

Directions. As in how to get from A-B and where in the world am I lol. I have absolutely no sense of direction. On the one hand I'm thankful for GPS, but it also makes me a little lazy.  I quite often rely on it, and don't worry too much about finding my way. 

Also, if you're telling me how to get somewhere don't give me any of that east west nonsense. Is there a McDonalds on the corner or a Texaco? I need a landmark. Sometimes when we're hiking and I'm unsure of which way to go hubs will say something insane like, 'How can you not know where you are??? You know where the sun is in the sky.' Huh?? 

2.  "And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow fast in movies I  had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer." 

~F. Scott Fitzgerald

Does the season of summer make you feel this way? Elaborate. 

September is when this feeling hits for me. Years of living life by the school calendar is likely the reason why, but September always feels like a fresh start. Technically September is the end of summer, although I tend to think of it more as the beginning of autumn. 

3. Pickles. Love 'em or no thank you? What's your favorite type of pickle? What's something you eat that definitely needs a pickle added?

I love them in all forms and I love cucumbers before they become pickles too. My favorite is probably a crisp dill pickle, but I also love bread and butter pickles. 

Something I eat that needs a pickle added? A burger needs a dill pickle slice, tuna salad needs some chopped pickle, a hot dog needs pickle relish, and while not a requirement I do like pickle on a deli sandwich. 

4. Tis the season...do you know any June brides? Are there any weddings on your summer calendar? What's your favorite movie wedding? 

I'm a June bride...

We don't have any weddings on our June calendar, but we do have a July wedding this year. It will be red, white, and HOT, but lots of fun too. I love a wedding. 

My favorite movie wedding? 

Maria and the Captain in The Sound of Music ranks right up there, but I also love the wedding scene in Crazy Rich Asians. 

5. June 1st is/was National Say Something Nice Day...say something nice here. 

I think the Hodgepodge is one of the nicest little corners of the Internet. Thanks for playing along each week!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Since we're talking nice...

A neighbor brought me some of her gorgeous hydrangeas. They're even prettier in person. We have hydrangeas in our yard too, but they're just starting to bloom, and none in this color. So pretty!! 

A reminder I'm hosting A Day In The Life link up here on Thursday, June 18th.  If you don't know what that is check out last week's Hodgepodge random thought for details.