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. 

Oh The Places We'll Go

Yesterday's Hodgepodge got me thinking about graduations and I decided to weed through one of my attic boxes for some pictures. Killing two birds with one stone so to speak...empty an album (or three) and write a blog post while I'm at it. 

Course I went down the rabbit hole pretty far and ended up sending pictures of pictures to some of my college friends and then hubs got in on it too and invited his old roommate to come for the weekend and this is how we roll. We couldn't quite make the spontaneous visit happen this weekend, but it will happen soon. 

Back to graduations...I'm not a Carolina sports fan (Go Vols!!) but I am an Eric Church fan and he gave the commencement address at UNC last weekend. I thought it was really good and worth a listen (linked here). 

I have no idea who spoke at my commencement and I have very few pictures from the day. Based on this photo it appears there was a professional photographer there (he's over my shoulder), but I guess we chose the diy route instead. 

I do know it was exciting and I did get a job, which was after all the goal. Some people say college wasn't all that useful in terms of their future employment, but in my profession it was very necessary and of course a lot of fun too.  

Remember panty hose? Remember weeding through ten pair to find one without a run? 

My parents gave me a briefcase as a graduation gift and I loved it so much. Made me feel officially adult. This was before the cute tote bag era we're in now, and you better believe I used that briefcase. I worked for a school system and in my role I traveled to more than one school so it was nice to keep all my paperwork together.  

Somewhere there's a picture of me in my cap and gown standing with my parents but it wasn't in the boxes I pulled out today. I promise they were there-ha! I found this one taken in my sister's apartment, and I'd love to know what we're saying. 

Look at the waist on those jeans! I guess it really is true, what's old is new again. 

Hubs graduated the December after my June graduation date and here I am cheering him on. That jumper was so cute. 

Also, he wasn't the hubs yet. 

Also I'm scanning actual photos which, let's be honest were not all that great to start with, but it was the 80's and we had no idea. We didn't take many pictures while in college, or at least I didn't. I have a handful and they're a real mishmash. Here's one from a date hubs and I had out hiking someplace. I couldn't say where? 

What I can say is I was definitely a natural brunette lol. 

I feel like today's generation of young women are more polished than my generation was in terms of hair/makeup/ skincare. Maybe we weren't quite as concerned with all that because we weren't photographed 37 times a day? I'm not saying we didn't care because we did love our hot rollers, but we didn't work out, drink gallons of water, or have a ten point skin care routine before going to bed at night like girls do now. 

We did have the best music though, and I'll fight you on that if necessary. 

I do have pictures from my girl's graduations, high school and college. One of my favorite pictures of my girls was taken on the day of daughter2's high school graduation-

Beauties. 

Both girls  had incredible speakers at their high school ceremonies, that's something I do remember. At Daughter1's ceremony the speaker was the first British woman to summit Mt. Everest and then later climb all seven summits. She was phenomenal. 

Plus my daughter was given the Principal's award which was a happy surprise. He said the nicest things about her. 

The speaker at Daughter2's high school graduation was a gentleman who was blind, but had accomplished much. I can't recall the details of  his story but I remember it as inspiring. 

Hubs and I still say we own some of the real estate their university sits on or at least it feels like we should. The campus is spectacular. They had photo ops before photo ops were even a thing. 

A rose garden...

Beautiful fountains...

Same fountains, another degree....

Today I'm off to see a little boy 'graduate' from Kindergarten. I know I know, it's not a true graduation, but we celebrate all the same. Marking life's milestones brings a lot of joy. 

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. 
You can steer yourself any direction you choose."~Dr. Seuss 

It's All Hodgepodge To Me

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. So glad you're here! 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. When someone finds out what you do or where you're from, what's a question they always ask? 

When I was in college in Tennessee Saturday Night Live had a regular skit with Joe Piscipo where someone would say, 'You're from Jersey? I'm from Jersey. What exit?' People thought it was hilarious to ask me the same when I would say I'm from New Jersey. 

Of course I'd reply Exit 4 because everyone in New Jersey knows their exit. 

When people are considering retirement or a move to the lake they often ask what we do to fill all that free time.  I tell them there's no shortage of things to do here, and what to say no to is more of a problem. 

2. Did you participate in 'Greek Life' when you were in college, or have children who did? If so what was your experience like? Taking another tack...have you ever been to Greece? If not, is that a destination on your bucket list? 

I was in a sorority and it was a wonderful experience. I made lifelong friends, was given many, many leadership opportunities, I developed skills I've used in work and volunteer positions all of my adult life, and found joy in helping others too. Philanthropy is a big part of sorority life, and if all you know of Greek life is what's portrayed on television or in the movies, your vision of the experience might be inaccurate. 

I have been to Greece, but haven't seen the whole country. We were in Athens in 2005 and had a fabulous time there. Can you tell it was warm? 

The ancient buildings, the history, the beautiful Aegean, the food...such a fun trip. 

3. Do you like Greek food? If so what's your favorite dish?  

I love Greek food. Who doesn't love a Greek salad? That's probably my favorite, but I enjoy lots of different Greek dishes...gyros, spanakopita, tzatziki, and of course baklava. There's a Greek restaurant in a little town outside of Asheville as you're heading towards Tennessee that is so so good. Whenever we're going that way we try to plan our trip around a stop there. 

4. What incredibly common thing have you never done? 

A tattoo? 

5. What is a telltale sign that you're upset? 

I'm an open book and you can probably tell just by looking at my face. If I'm on the verge of tears (which happens easily if I'm mad or sad) you'll know it.     

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I might have gone down a bit of a rabbit hole trying to find pictures of our trip to Greece. 

Look at those young teenagers there. Gulp. 

Monday Morning Musings

Hi Friends. I'm jumping right into the Hello Monday link party this morning, hosted by Holly and Sarah. This is where we chat about our weekends, and here's how ours looked. 

Fun. Fun is how it looked. 

Once upon a time I went to college and was part of a sorority and this weekend ten of those girls came to the lake for a reunion. 

We've gotten together at various times over the years, but were definitely overdue for another in person gathering. Four of us live within an hour of one another, and one of the girls has a house on the same lake as me, so we decided to invite everyone here. 

Three of us organized the food and we had half the group sleep at my house and half at the second lake house. Two of the girls flew in from a bit further away and arrived Thursday night. One  was a bridesmaid in my wedding and she's been to the lake before, and the other I hadn't seen in 40 years. 

We just picked right up like we'd all been together yesterday instead of yesteryear. 

Everyone convened at my house for breakfast Friday morning and the rest of the group rolled in throughout the day so the whole gang was together by late afternoon. 

The weather. Eh. Not the best, but then not the worst either. We didn't see the sun but it didn't rain us out either. We spent the entire day Friday sitting on my patio talking and catching up. Actually the clouds made it really pleasant for patio sitting and it was a super relaxed day. 

Hubs was a rock star all weekend long. He has also known these girls four decades, and enjoyed seeing us all together. He waited on us hand and foot, and cooked the most delicious pork BBQ for our Friday night dinner. We had pasta salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, and cole slaw too, and one of the girls aka another one of my bridesmaids, brought a scrumptious strawberry pound cake from a Tennessee bakery for dessert. 

We stayed up late and talked about all manner of things including old memories and our young(er) selves, new challenges, long ago mischief making, life in the third act, family, food, travels, work and not working, grandchildren, and in some cases what in the world we've been doing for the past forty years. There's nothing like a solid 48 hours spent with friends who knew you when you barely knew yourself. 

Saturday morning breakfast happened in whatever house you slept in, then my house loaded up on the boat and hubs motored us over to the other house. The weather wasn't ideal, but you can't come to the lake and not get out for a boat ride, can you? 

We spent the whole day Saturday at the other lake house. Some of us floated, some tried the paddle board, and some relaxed on the dock. There were lots of little conversations happening as everyone caught up with everyone. It was just a really lovely, special day. 

We all went back to my house for dinner. I'd made baked ziti earlier in the week and froze it before baking, so easy peasy and also super delicious. Another girl made a yummy salad and garlic bread and we sat outside under the twinkle lights and laughed ourselves silly. 

It was another late night, and then before you knew it the sun was up and it was time to say goodbye.

The last car load pulled away around 1 o'clock and I started some laundry, opened the weekend mail, we listened to our Bible recap, and hubs had a nap. He earned it after acting as the cabana boy-grillmaster-bartender-D.J., and chief 'could you bring us _______' guy all weekend long. 

He washed dishes, refilled glasses, ran up and down the stairs for whatever we left up or down the stairs, chauffeured us by boat, all without a single complaint, irritated tone of voice, or roll of the eye. He wanted the weekend to be fun for me and it absolutely was. 

He's a keeper. 

The last semi-large reunion we had was also lakeside. It was 2018 and we got up extra early that Saturday morning to watch Prince Harry marry Meghan Markle. Time flies, doesn't it? 

The world has changed a lot in four decades. When I was an 18-year old freshman phones were on the wall, we wrote checks when we needed money,  and computers were the size of a whole entire room that I had no need to enter since my major was not business. 

Our school was in a small town without a lot going on, but we made our own fun. We didn't take a lot of pictures so the memories live mostly in our heads. 

Today the students there have phones in their pockets, Apple Pay at their fingertips, and laptops with streaming services for their favorite shows they can watch any time of the day or night while typing a paper they'll email not print. The town has grown, the campus has grown...

...but we're still here making our own fun.

So what did you get up to this weekend? 

The Weekend Rundown

Good Monday morning friends. We had a fun weekend catching up with college friends, floating, boating, wining, dining, and just being together. Linking today with Holly and Sarah for their regularly scheduled Monday morning weekend recap party, and here's how ours looked-

Two couples we've known since way back when we were fresh faced college students in beautiful East Tennessee, made a trip to the lake to spend the weekend. The guys were fraternity brothers and have remained close…

Their girlfriends turned wives have also always been close...

Everyone arrived around lunchtime and we sat on the deck chatting, then decided to move ourselves to the water because the air was toasty. 

One of the girls brought her famous super-secret-recipe of a savory cheesecake for an appetizer and it was delicious as always. One of the guys is in the food business and brought some pre-cooked ribs for us to warm up on the grill for dinner. Of course about an hour before dinner the skies opened up and it rained buckets well into the night.  

We have had so.much.rain. but no matter, we warmed the ribs in the oven, added roasted vegetables, deviled eggs, and a pasta salad and we ate in the dining room instead of on the porch as planned. It wasn't a late night as everyone was tired. 

Not too tired for this yummy key lime pie though. This recipe is a no-fail keeper. 

Saturday morning dawned bright and beautiful and hubs made bacon and eggs on the griddle outside. We dined al fresco, then loaded up for a day of boating. With kids back in school and sports taking over the calendars of so many, the lake in August hums a quieter tune.  

We love it. We packed the coolers with assorted snacks and beverages, then motored back to a cove, dropped the anchor, and whiled away a few hours on the water. 

A small but somewhat black cloud rolled in, but we weren't worried. The forecast was for maybe rain later in the day, but that black cloud started to grow and we decided to pack up and head back to the dock. My daughter1 was going to drop by with her kids to say hi to the friends who've known her all her life so the timing was good. 

Not quite good enough though. When we came around the bend the sky was ominous. Luckily we were already wet because we had to fly through a downpour before coming out into sunshine on the other side. It was the kind of rain where you can't see your hand in front of your face, but hubs managed it like a pro. 

Daughter1 stopped by the dock with two of her three littles. One grandson is playing soccer and one is playing baseball and never the twain shall be conveniently meeting at the same park, back to back. C'est la vie. Her hubs took the mancub to baseball and she did the soccer run. Little Miss was along for the ride. 

We had dinner reservations at a nice local restaurant that evening. Hubs and I have only been there once before and we enjoyed the food. We've heard it can be a little loud, but as hubs said, 'well, we're a little loud', so we booked a table. 

It was absolutely fabulous. We were seated and presented with a chef's treat which was the most delicious little morsel of cacio e pepe shortbread topped with a dollop of parmesan aioli cream. 

We raved about them so much the chef sent us out another bite. He seriously should package and sell these. We also shared their 'Wellington' poptart starter, another delicious item. The whole evening was pretty much perfect. 

From the food, to the service, to the friends around the table it was a solid ten. Bonus fun fact Nikki Haley was a few tables over enjoying her dinner too. We didn't interrupt to say hello, but we absolutely considered it.  We came home and stayed up too late playing our favorite card game Swoop. 

Sunday morning one couple got on the road right after breakfast, but the other hung around long enough for a boat ride and an early lunch on the lake. 

Once we were back at the house they loaded up their car and hubs and I planted ourselves on the couch for an afternoon siesta. 

It will be a week of regrouping here, changing all the beds, washing towels, getting groceries and meal prepping for another round of company this weekend. It's still summer here and we're not mad about it. 

So what kind of fun did you have this weekend? Are you in fall mode or still hanging on to summer?