It's been a whirlwind here for the past many weeks and I'm going to try to do some catching up on the blog. There's always a lot going on here in September, this year more than usual, but I haven't had much time for writing about it all.
Since we have to start somewhere let's discuss the weekend. That feels do-able.
Also, it's Tuesday, not Monday and I don't know why a holiday Monday throws the whole week off when we're retired and everyday is Saturday.
Backing up to Thursday...
Hubs birthday always lands somewhere. near the Labor Day weekend and this year we had plans to spend it in Tennessee. My sister-in-law's sister offered us her Vol tickets and they happened to be playing my girl's teeny tiny university so we said yes.
Teeny tiny compared to the University of Tennessee anyway. A game in Neyland Stadium is always a good time, no matter who is on the field.
Getting to the Knoxville area from the lake has been a bit of a challenge these past few years, courtesy of the ever on-going road works, insane amounts of traffic, and Hurricane Helene (yes, they're still repairing the damage).
We decided to take the longer way around to avoid Asheville, and the long way is beautiful and winding and if you're not in a hurry a lovely drive. We end up going through the town of Cherokee, and over the mountains near Gatlinburg, and the road hugs a stream a fair amount of the way. Truly spectacular.
I'd packed sandwiches and we pulled over and had a truck bed picnic and let the pup get out and sniff and stretch and we all thoroughly enjoyed the stop. We dined right beside this mountain stream which is so much better than fast food off the highway.
We got to hub's brother's house about 3:30 and sat on their deck for a while before changing for dinner. There's a restaurant we've wanted to try called RT Lodge, that sits on the campus of Maryville College. Tucked in the woods behind it actually and we've never been able to get a reservation when we've been in town, but managed to snag one Thursday evening.
Two college friends who live in Knoxville joined hubs and I and hubs brother and sister-in-law for a fabulous night out. RT Lodge was once a private home, and later was acquired by Ruby Tuesdays and used as their training center. These days its a boutique hotel, spa, and fine dining restaurant. I'd love to stay there sometime...the vibe is swoon-y.
We had drinks before dinner in one of their sitting areas, and then moved upstairs to dine. Hubs had the roasted oysters to start and I had a delicious peach and blackberry salad made with arugala, Benton's ham, goat cheese, and pistachio. Yum!
Our mains were all so good and we shared three desserts-a coconut mousse, blackberry cobbler, and a salted caramel corn profiterole. It's definitely a place to return to!
Friday morning hubs and I took his mom to brunch. We went to First Watch and we all had breakfast. It was nice to have some in-person time with her, and bonus she brought me her homemade spicy pickles and a jar of okra too.
After brunch hubs and I stopped at the most charming little shop near my sister-in-law's home, and ended up having a bit of a shopping spree. I bought a cute pillow for the porch, three bracelets to layer, two packages of cocktail napkins for something hubs is hosting next month, a new clear bag to take to sporting events, and a new diffuser and reeds for my powder room. Oh, and a fish to sit in the outdoor dining space.
We went back to their house and played cards for a while before getting ready to head to dinner with more friends. The same six of us from Thursday night, plus two more couples we know from university. One couple has just recently moved back to Tennessee after many years away, and it will be fun to see more of them when we're in town.
We went to Chophouse and then afterwards back to one friend's home where it was easier to talk. She'd made a super delicious ice cream cake to celebrate hubs birthday and he was touched by the gesture.
Also, he loves ice cream.
Saturday was game day. Also, a million degrees, but GO VOLS! One of hubs fraternity brothers hosts a big tailgate with a tent (and cooling fans, that's important!) and we were going to hang out there before the game. But first!
One of my 'blog friends' (Maria from Memorable Moments and Modest Missives) has a daughter working in ministry at UT and she saw I was going to the game so texted asking if it might work out to meet her daughter who was also going to the game.
I love it. My sister-in-law was all in and as luck would have it we were passing her tailgate location en route to ours. Did I mention the heat? Whew. It was a scorcher.
Hubs took a photo of the two of us together, but I'm never sure if I should post a photo of someone on my blog who I don't know well? I saw the picture on Maria's blog so am adding it here too.
Suffice it to say she was super sweet and it was fun meeting her in person. I told her I felt like her mom would want me to give her a hug, so I did. I've met her mom in person too and I love the way the internet, the blog world especially, can make connections like these happen.
We went on to the tailgate and caught up with our hosts who we went to uni with and more friends who were at the tailgate trying to stay cool too.
Some young alums from hubs fraternity had pictures on their phones of some long ago parties and social events as they're looking to do some planing, and lo and behold hubs was in them. Not so surprising if you know him, but the pictures are more than 40 years old so were fun to see.
We made our way in to the stadium and our great seats. The shade hit our section late first quarter, which was such a relief. Still not cool, but also not quite melting anymore either.
A member of the band passed out on the field and I cannot imagine being in one of those uniforms on a day like Saturday.
The band did a sweet tribute to Dolly as she is loved everywhere, but no where more so than East Tennessee. She grew up in the next county over and has given back in more ways than I can name here.
We were winning by a comfortable margin so peeled out of there in the third quarter. Literally peeled as we were pretty much glued to our chairs. We got back to the house and showered, ate pizza for dinner, then watch Clemson get crushed by LSU. I kind of hate what college football has become, in terms of kids hopping teams, making millions, etc. but here we are.
Also, we will never root for a Lane Kiffen win.
Hubs and I got on the road back home Sunday morning, and again we took the long way which felt extra long and extra wind-y. We stopped at a couple of overlooks because how could we not? So much beauty in the Smoky Mountain National Park.
Hubs grew up here, but the views and the scenery and the mountains never get old.
I've got several things on the calendar this week, including hosting book club Tuesday afternoon, so was glad to be home with some time to regroup. And hubs would say recover from the drive too, because man that route is not for the weak of stomach.
It was a gray Labor Day Monday but we got some things done here. I unpacked, did the laundry, prepped for book club, made a meal plan for the week, and then hubs grilled us a burger for dinner. It was a really nice weekend. I think hubs has been well celebrated, the Vols won, and hey, we've still got two more weeks of summer.
Linking with Holly and Sarah for this week's Hello Monday on a Tuesday.
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