Hello MondayTuesday

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 planning, 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. 

I wore my straw hat which helped some, but there's only so much you can do when you're squished in with 100,000 fans and temps are in the 90's and the sun is absolutely beating down on you. 

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. 

Everybody's Workin' For The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions, add your link at the end of my post. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger before you, or all the bloggers if you have the time. Here we go- 

1. Something you're working on currently? 

Cleaning out my closet and getting myself organized for our hop across the pond. I've needed new luggage for a while now and finally ordered myself a two piece set from Travelpro. Hubs has traveled round the world with his and it's held up well so I went with them again.  

I rarely use an extra large suitcase, but for longer trips it's nice to have that option. I'm bringing birthday gifts for two of my grandchildren and a few Christmas items I've picked up as well so I think I'll need the space. 

2. Tell us something about your first job? Was it a positive or negative experience for you? Did your parents insist you work while in school (either high school or college) or did you work because you wanted to? 

I guess technically my first job would be babysitter. I started babysitting after school for our across the street neighbor's nine month old daughter when I was in Jr. High. I was a responsible young teenager, and my mom was right across the road. My neighbor was a nurse and worked the second shift, so I'd sit for a couple of hours after school until the dad got home. They overpaid me all the time and I loved that little girl so much. They were true New Yorkers and would go out to dinner at something like 9 PM and come home in the wee hours of the morning and occasionally they'd find me sound asleep. 

Babysitting was a positive for me. I've always loved children and enjoy spending time with them. I always wanted to be a mother and I think babysitting only made me more certain of that. 

The family moved my senior year in high school and I got a job in a nursing home, working in the dining room. I liked the work and the people so would say this was also a positive experience. 

I don't think my parents insisted I work. I guess they probably expected us to work and we all did. That's just what teenagers/college students on summer break did. I'm not sure any of us saw not working as an option, but we didn't complain about it either. There were far fewer activities on the calendar when I was a teenager, so that probably helped. I enjoyed having spending money and liked the sense of responsibility a job gave me. I think those early jobs were confidence boosters too. 

3. Have you ever had a job that required overnight travel? How did you feel about that? Have you ever had a job that required you to wear a uniform? Do you work better in the morning or at night? 

I've never had a job that required overnight travel, but my hubs always had a job that required a lot of overnight travel, so I've experienced that side of it. When you have a hubs who travels a lot you learn to manage things you might not manage otherwise, you get on with things, and take care of the business of running a home.  I would say those are all positives. 

Here we are back in the mid-90's at BWI Airport, picking up hubs from an out of town work trip. How sweet it was to step off a plane and have your girls run right into your arms. Remember when you could greet your family right at the airport gate? Remember Continental Airlines-ha! 

Re: uniforms...the nursing home position I mentioned above required me to wear a white uniform, apron, white hose!, and white work shoes that were truly ugly. I didn't love the uniform, but it was part of the job. 

No question about it, I work better in the morning. I have never been a night owl. 

4. What's something you bake or cook that is labor intensive? Is it worth it? 

Eggplant parmesan would be one. I make Alex Guarnaschelli's recipe and it's definitely labor intensive and definitely worth it. I usually make one a year with eggplant my daughter's mother-in-law grows and shares. 

My mama's enchilada recipe is an all day affair too, also totally worth it. My mom used to make them every year for hub's birthday because he could eat a whole pan himself. I haven't made them in a long while, but this post has me thinking about how good they are so maybe that will happen soon. Or at least before year's end. 

5. One thing you're looking forward to in the month of September? 

The list is long, but first things first...it's my birthday month. On top of that I'll be seeing both of my girls and all of my grands in person (not at the same time but we take what we can get) and, best of all, we're making a trip back to a place I lived and loved and have tucked into my heart for always (England). 

Out of all the months on the calendar I think September might just be my favorite.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

There were no less than a dozen people here Tuesday working on 'the great backyard reset' as I've taken to calling it. As a result lots of progress has been made and I can finally see what it is we're doing lol.

Of course we still have a ways to go...

Enjoy your Wednesday everyone! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 567

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

1. Something you're working on currently? 

2. Tell us something about your first job? Was it a positive or negative experience for you? Did your parents insist you work while in school (either high school or college) or did you work because you wanted to? 

3. Have you ever had a job that required overnight travel? How did you feel about that? Have you ever had a job that required you to wear a uniform? Do you work better in the morning or at night? 

4. What's something you bake or cook that is labor intensive? Is it worth it? 

5. One thing you're looking forward to in the month of September? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

On The Street Where You Hodgepodge

Monday holidays always mess with me, but here we are rolling in to Wednesday without too much trouble. If you've answered the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge add your link at the end of my post. And remember good neighbors leave a comment for the blogger before them! Now here we go-

1. Tell us a little bit about the best birthday you've ever had. 

This is a toughie. I'm sure I had some really great birthdays as a child, but I can't recall specifics. My mama made occasions special and birthdays were no exception. 

I guess I'll say either my 40th or my 50th which I wrote about in posts here (In The Words of Gomer Pyle) and here (Let Them Eat Cake) The best thing about these two particular birthday celebrations was the forethought and planning that went into them and the surprise. 

2.  In what way(s) have you changed in the last five years? 

I started to say many, but I'm still me so maybe not as much as I initially thought. Obviously my hair is less 'natural' and my eyesight needs greater correction and I can't jump up from a seat on the floor without planning ahead, but none of those are a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Probably the biggest thing would be I'm a Nana now and my heart has grown in ways I couldn't have imagined prior to grandchildren joining our family. 

On the inside though, I'm not that different. I have less patience for all the judgement and assumptions people throw down these days, but I still trust my life to the Maker of it all.

3. What's your favorite thing about the street on which you live? 

We have really nice neighbors and this in the backyard-

4. The Hodgepodge lands on National Beer Day...are you a beer drinker? What's a recipe you make that lists beer as one of the ingredients? If not beer, how about yeast?

I am not a beer drinker. We make brats and add beer to the cooking water which makes them extra delicious.

5. As I grow older I would like to be a woman (or man, if there are any men in the HP today) who points people to Jesus.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My girls and their boys...

Labor Day 2022

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The Labor Day Weekend

Our Labor Day weekend was light on labor and big on fun, family, good food, and foul weather. We didn't let that foul weather dampen our spirits though, and it was the most fun-full Labor Day weekend we've had in a long time. 

Daughter1 and her two boys drove over on Friday from their Tennessee home. Her hubs was on call this weekend so he couldn't come with, and it was a long drive for her.  We all do what we must to have family time, and she's a trooper. 

Also, seven months pregnant so go her! 

They arrived about 6 PM and the grandboys hopped out of the car and asked to go swimming. Why not? We put on our bathing suits and cowabunga-d off the dock. 

Not the pregnant lady. She sat in a lounge chair and watched and everyone was happy. 

Daughter2 and her hubs and baby boy drove over from their Tennessee home on Saturday morning. It rained buckets but they arrived without incident. We oohed and ahhhed over baby boy and then hubs, my son-in-law and the mancub crossed 'swimming in the rain' off their bucket list. 

Oh and their chiahuahua learned he is in fact a water dog, much to everyone's surprise. 

The sky was so gray all weekend long and we had a tremendous amount of rain all weekend long, but no  thunder or lightning so we made the best of it. Swimming in the rain is how you make the best of it. 

Saturday night daughter1's in-laws, who live nearby,  joined us for dinner. As it happened our brother-in-law was traveling north from Florida and was also able to join us for dinner and stay the night. He hadn't met the newest little guy yet and doesn't get to see his nieces often, so this was a treat. 

Hubs grilled wings and brats and the in-laws brought everybody's favorite sweet potato cake for dessert. Since hubs celebrated a birthday on Thursday the boys added candles and helped him make a wish. 

On Sunday daughter2's in-laws drove over from their home to spend the night and celebrate daughter2's birthday. And see the grandbaby of course, but that goes without saying. Hubs and I really enjoy both sets of in-laws which is such a blessing.

Hubs and my son-in-law (along with their talented sous chef) grilled a ginormous brisket for our Sunday dinner-

They actually put it on the Green Egg the night before and spent at least another 24 hours discussing the finer points of grilling-ha! 

It was de-lish! I made a chocolate cake for the birthday girl and there were more candles and wishes and gifts. It was noisy and sweet and oh so special. 

Daughter1 and her crew left Monday morning for their ridunkulously long drive home. Goodbyes are always hard for sisters turned aunts.

Plus her six hour drive turned into more than nine hours and we just hope she'll come back lol. 

Daughter2's in-laws left a little bit later in the morning, and there was a miniscule break in the weather so we let baby boy have his first dip in the lake. It took longer to get him in the swim suit, hat, and life jacket than he lasted in the water, but it was super cute so that's something. 

We spent the rest of the day relaxing on the porch (there will be a nap in my week somewhere!), made a shepherds pie with some of our leftover brisket, and then watched college football because it's that time again. 

We love a full house and having family and extended family here is a true labor of love. Hope your weekend was full of the people you love too. 

Everybody's Workin' For The 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. Before you run off be sure to leave a comment for the blogger before you, because that's how the Hodgepodge rolls. Here we go-

1. Something you've labored over recently? 

Hmmm...I can't think of anything recently that involved true labor.  I guess I'll say planning a trip. Not physically laborious but it's been a bit of a brain drain getting all the bits and pieces to come together. 

2. How will you rest on Labor Day? 

Ha! We'll have a houseful here, including all three of my grandsons, so I'm not sure rest will be on the agenda. We're all looking forward to being together though, and there will be plenty of time to rest next week. In the meantime I plan to embrace all the noisy fun. 

3. Margaret Mead is quoted as saying, "I learned the value of hard work by working hard." Would you agree? Where and how did you learn the value of hard work? 

I agree with the saying. 

I learned the value of hard work from my parents. Growing up we were expected to work hard- try hard- do our best-whether that meant in school or in a household chore we were assigned. My parents worked hard too. They lived within their means, saved for a rainy day, and were generous with their time and resources with those less fortunate. That was the example I had and the one I have tried to emulate. 

4. It's National Eat Outside Day (August 31st). Will you? Do you enjoy dining 'al fresco' or do you prefer indoor seating? 

Hubs and I love dining al fresco and we eat outside every chance we get. If the humidity is ridiculous then we opt for indoor seating, otherwise we're all about eating outside. We have a table on our screened porch and love to eat out there in the autumn months especially. 

5. Somehow it's the end of August. What was the best day of the month for you and tell us what made it so?

We've had a lot of 'best days' this month so it's nearly impossible to choose just one. My best day would definitely be one where grandchildren were part of the equation. A day at the beach with Daughter1 and her family or a morning spent sitting on the porch with the cutest little nugget I know.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of the littlest man, here's the cutest thing you'll see today. This month. Maybe ever-

Be still my heart. 

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Hodgepodge Laboring

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger linking before you.  Ready-set-GO!

  

1. Something you've done in recent days or months that might be described as a labor of love?

Planning my daughter's birthday dinner with all her favorite things, finding one or two special gifts that will be meaningful to her, shopping for family Christmas pjs for my daughter overseas...

Preparing foods and shopping for/making small gifts with meaning are a labor of love for me. 

2. Last time you 'worked your fingers to the bone'?

I pulled weeds on our back slope for an hour on Saturday morning, and I don't know about my fingers but I definitely worked my back to the bone.

3. According to a recent survey people named the following ten jobs as the hardest-nurse, doctor, paramedic, police officer, firefighter, surgeon, healthcare worker, bomb squad, farmer, and prison warden. Of the jobs listed which would you say is the hardest? The one you'd most like to do? Least like to do? What's one job you would add to the list?

Currently I'm going to say being a police officer in America is the toughest job there is, and the one I'd least like to do. Of the jobs listed the one I'd like most would probably be nursing. I thought about being a nurse while in college, then changed my major to speech pathology which was also a rewarding field. 

What job would I add to the list? How about window washers on our city skyscrapers? Or oil rig workers, the people who climb those ginormous communication towers...anything where you need your wits about you to do your work all the while knowing there is a danger of falling from a great height. Shudder. 

4. A recipe you make that is labor intensive, but worth it?

My mamas homemade enchilada recipe. They take me all day, but of course that could just be me. Honestly they've always taken my mom a fair chunk of time to put together too, so I think it's just a labor intensive recipe. Worth it? Absotively posilutely!!

5. Last job you did or task you completed that required teamwork?

I feel like hubs and I do things on a fairly regular basis that require teamwork of some sort. Managing the dogs (I'll feed while he waters), getting the kayaks back on the rack (he lifts and I help guide then in to place and hang on to the straps), docking the boat (I hang the bumpers while he maneuvers the boat into the slip, then I carefully, and also occasionally not so carefully, step off and pull us in), and the list goes on. We docked the boat more than once this weekend so that's probably the best example of recent teamwork.  And good news! There was hardly any yelling or swearing. 

We need this shirt. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Daughter2 has a birthday coming up this week and I will write a birthday post on the actual day because years ago she told me it's the one thing she looks forward to the most (no pressure Mom-ha!) but for today I want to share this-

For my beautifully strong hilarious girl on the eve of a brand new decade xoxo 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 385

I don't know why, but a post-holiday weekend Hodgepodge always catches me by surprise. Here are this week's questions...you supply the answers on your own blog then hop back here on Wednesday to share answers with the universe.  See you there-

 

1. Something you've done in recent days or months that might be described as a labor of love?

2. Last time you 'worked your fingers to the bone'?

3. According to a recent survey people named the following ten jobs as the hardest-nurse, doctor, paramedic, police officer, firefighter, surgeon, healthcare worker, bomb squad, farmer, and prison warden. Of the jobs listed which would you say is the hardest? The one you'd most like to do? Least like to do? What's one job you would add to the list?

4. A recipe you make that is labor intensive, but worth it?

5. Last job you did or task you completed that required teamwork?

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Tuesdays Were Made For This

Does anyone else feel like this summer is blowing by faster than most? Maybe it's because our calendar has been so full, but really? Labor Day weekend? Already?

Hubs and I declared last night date night as it was long overdue.

Tuesday night dates on the lake are easy breezy. Grab your swim suit (or not, teehee) and a towel, then load up the cooler with a bottle of bubbly and your favorite kind of easy to eat supper foods. Our favorites include peel and eat shrimp, a great cheese and some crackers to go with, veggies and hummus, grapes, plus an excellent bar of dark chocolate.

The lake on a Tuesday night is practically deserted. We made a short stop at the waterfall and ran into some neighbors there. The lake is a whole lot like a small town in all the best ways, and we rafted up with them for a while before moving on.

Eventually we made our way to a quiet cove (fyi-they're all pretty quiet on a Tuesday) with not a single solitary house/boat/person in sight, dropped the anchor and our worries, and went for a swim.

There's nothing like swimming in crystal clear water sixty five feet deep as the sun sets to make you feel all the feels.

We agree this should be an every Tuesday kind of thing.

Why isn't this an every Tuesday kind of thing?
Putting it on the list.

I love watching the sun get lower and lower on the horizon, but my favorite thing is the sky immediately after the sun sinks out of sight. That's when the sky turns all the pastel colors in the paintbox.

For reals.

 In the words of Dr. Seuss, '...when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing."