Good Monday morning friends. Joining Holly and Sarah today for their regular Monday morning catch up. Hope you had a nice weekend. Here's how ours looked-
Thursday. Our first full day home from vacation. I was up early and out the door to the volunteer slot I work every Thursday. I stopped for gas before remembering my usual spot that takes my grocery points is cash only due to Helene.
I know the scope and geography are hard for people unfamiliar with the area to understand, but you should know this is not a case of people being told to evacuate, and instead deciding to ignore the instruction and ride out a hurricane, hoping for the best. That isn't what happened here. These are people who have been overwhelmed by flash flooding, rain, wind, and a literal mountain of water.
I didn't capture every course in pictures (I blame jet lag), but I got a few. This baked brie appetizer was sooo good.
Friday I went to the grocery store for real. The stores are a bit hit and miss right now, particularly meat and dairy, and one of our main stores is still cash only so a long way to go. My frig was pretty empty when we left town, but anything I did leave was lost. Besides food for the week I needed to start restocking the basics...mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressing, that sort of thing.
I had to throw away all the food in my chest freezer, which should have been fine but the gfi tripped and it didn't reset when the power returned so ugh, what a mess. We had to empty the freezer then pull it out of the garage and drain the icky liquid inside, then scrub it clean before we could get it going again. Fortunately I had a Good Ranchers order arriving over the weekend so we're pretty well re-stocked for meat.
Friday night friends invited us to their house for dinner and cards. Our next door neighbors came too and we had a wonderful meal and lots of fun playing a card game called Swoop. Somehow when we looked at the clock it was 1 am and I cannot tell you the last time I was up at 1 am. I blame jet lag.
Also I made an apple crisp to take for dessert and here's proof-
I forgot to take a picture when I pulled it out of the oven but trust me, it was yummy. I followed this recipe-The Best Ever Apple Crisp-and will definitely make it again.
The Friday night sunset from their dock was a beauty.
Saturday morning hubs and I took our coffee out to the new patio space beside the waterfall. We don't have any furniture there yet but the weather was beautiful and the light golden.
We pulled a couple of chairs from the dock over to the patio space and sipped our coffee with a waterfall soundtrack. I love it.
We're still waiting on a guy to come back and install the griddle and connect the water to the sink in the BBQ bar before we break it in. These projects are a little bit 'if you give a mouse a cookie he's gonna need new patio furniture to go with it' if you know what I mean.
We'll make do with our current stuff until we figure out what we want for the new outdoor dining space. It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be and my current outdoor table looks dinky in there. Plus the plan going forward is to cook big breakfasts and dinners out there when our grands are here and there's a lot of them lol. We need a bigger table.
We also need an electrician to come out so we can hang a fan and get some twinkle lights in, and like I said...that mouse needs at least ten somethings to go with his cookie.
Saturday night we went to a party at our neighborhood clubhouse-a low country boil. Yes three nights home, three nights out. We hit the post-vacation ground running! I forgot to take a picture (it's the jet lag I'm sure) but for those who don't know a low country boil is usually shrimp-corn-sausage and red potatoes boiled in a big pot with seasonings. It originated in the Carolinas and it's delicious. Friday was a gorgeous day, the temps still feel summery here although it's supposed to cool off later this week, and we had a great time catching up with some of the neighbors we haven't seen in a while.
We didn't stay late because the Vols were playing Arkansas Saturday night, and we needed to be home for that. Our hometown team also had a big game happening at the same time so there was some channel flip flopping. Yay for the hometown team who pulled off a win. The Vols were not so lucky.
Sunday afternoon we went for a boat ride. Officially autumn but still 80 degrees so why not? The lake is so pretty this time of year.
We putted around the neighborhood to see if there was any visible damage and saw a few huge trees down in several places. Overall we're very lucky here. There weren't a lot of boaters out and we flew down to the far end of the lake for fuel. Our usual closer marina had only gotten their power back on Friday and they were without gas anyway.
After buying gas we flew back down (up?) the lake to my daughter1's in-law's dock. They were home so we tied up and went inside to visit for a few minutes, and of course we never leave there empty handed.
Hubs grilled some flat iron steaks for dinner and we ate on the screened porch which has a birds eye view of the new waterfall. It was a lovely way to end the day.
I'm off to the dentist this morning which is not my favorite thing, but I'm determined not to whine about it. Life is so hard for so many right now, and I feel fortunate to be able to get in my car with a full tank of gas and do something as ordinary as go to the dentist.
Have a nice Monday everyone!
Oh wow you really hit the floor running when you got back. You must be exhausted!
ReplyDeleteSuch perspective about getting to do the mundane. Where exactly are you? I must admit that I am behind all the news of the hurricane devastation, but I do know about Asheville. It's hard to write about our trip when people are dealing with this.
ReplyDeleteYour new outdoor space is looking soooo good.
I think you have to say yes to social opportunities when they come!
I just read your post before that answered my question. Please do keep us informed especially if the media are not portraying it adequately. Why is that? So frustrating! I have a former student who lost everything in Asheville and who is having to move to Kentucky for now.
ReplyDeleteYou hit on something I've been feeling but couldn't quite put into words: the fact that so many are going through hell right now and I feel bad when I complain about small things. We have it so good and we were not impacted by the storm. The other one coming is far south of us (let's hope it stays that way)so it makes it easy to go on living my life. But again, it feels like I ought to do more and not talk about the awesome things I'm up to. But, life goes on.
ReplyDeleteSuch joy and such heartbreak! I love your perspective; we always need a good dose of that, right? Your weekend sounds lovely, and I always enjoy hearing of your time with neighbors and friends. You live amidst some pretty wonderful people!
ReplyDeleteOh that waterfall is gorgeous! We plan to buy one or two fountains for our outdoor space as I love the sound of running water. It sounds like a really lovely weekend! Thanks for your great perspective on what is going on, what really matters, etc. It is a bit hard to write of the frivolous with so much suffering. But I think that acknowledging it and giving people practical advice on helping out are great ways to not brush aside the horror while still relating to others the fun/mundane details of our lives.
ReplyDeleteYour lake really is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to know what has been happening with the storms. I saw clips on TikTok of the flash flooding and it's scary.
The wine dinner sounds like a great evening out and that apple crisp looks like a fantastic dessert.
It sounds like it's been non-stop for you since you have got home.
I love that you share the beauty of that area. It truly is and seeing the calmness of the water brings hope. I am glad you guys were able to have a fun weekend with friends and share good food too. I am glad you have a peaceful retreat there and hope the appointment goes well today. Thank you for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are all safe and thank you for sharing that charity to contribute to- just awful what these people are going through- oh that apple crisp looks to die for!
ReplyDeleteThe ordinary is so appreciated in times like these. Well the glimpse you gave us of your new outdoor space looks amazing! Yikes you have been on the go since you returned. We weren't able to keep our eyes open past 6pm for many days! We continue to think and pray for those in your area that suffered so much loss...
ReplyDeleteI feel so bad for everyone who got hit by Helene. Glad you made it home and your wine club food always looks delicious. Oh my, that is a beautiful sky. Your waterfall is so beautiful. You have been so busy. Mark grew those jalapeno peppers this year but they were too hot for him. We have been giving bags away to Gabby's aunt who uses them to make salsa. It was the best thing that grew in our garden this year. The heat in CA just didn't help us this year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Week Joyce!!
ReplyDeleteYou have the energy of the Energy Bunny. LOL!!! ;-) Love Ya! Carla
We have family in the Carolinas so we "get" the geography and how rare it is for those poor mountain communities to be hit with so much water. It sounds like you really hit the ground running after your vacation! Your backyard waterfall is gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteSuch nice photos
ReplyDeleteEverytime I see another picture of more devastation . . .I just can't believe it. Whole roads are just gone! I'm wondering if your three nights out and about helped with your jet lag!!
ReplyDeleteIt is heartbreaking to see the devastation of those affected by the hurricane. Your photos are beautiful. Hope your dentist visit went by smoothly.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you are safe, but know that the whole area will be recovering for a long time to come. The new waterfall is beautiful, and I think I'm worn out just from reading about all your activities this weekend! :)
ReplyDeleteYour new waterfall is beautiful!! Jet lag is an excellent excuse for many things but I don't know how you went out the first three nights you were home. Whew!! :) Praying for those still dealing with so much loss and heartache and also praying for all in Milton's path (me included). xo
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