Mother's Day Weekend Recap

Hello. 

Monday morning blogging always happens around here on Monday afternoon. Sometimes Monday evening. Sometimes Tuesday. 

We had a lovely at home weekend which was much needed and a rare occurrence. I had a power nap on the porch Saturday and Sunday both, which might have been the highlight. 

Friday night some new friends came for dinner. A few Sundays ago our pastor encouraged everyone to meet someone new, invite them for coffee or lunch after church or whatever, and so we did. We invited a couple we knew only very casually to come for dinner, and y'all we had the best time talking and  discovering the very many things we have in common, including both of us living in the UK for a while. 

Living life in person is how it's meant to be. 

Saturday morning hubs attended our neighborhood HOA meeting. We were electing new officers and they needed people to show up to be counted. One vote per household though, so hubs voted and I stayed home, called my momma, and washed my hair. 

Happy Mother's Day to me lol. 

It was a pretty day so we took the little red car for a spin, had lunch on the porch at a local lunch spot, and toasted the start of summer with a hand crafted Orange Crush at the lakeside cabana. 

It was for sure a convertible kind of day so after lunch we meandered around some neighborhoods looking at new construction with the radio blaring and the top down. 

Then that nap happened. On the porch with a soft breeze blowing. Perfection. 

I cooked a Home Chef meal on Saturday night then we watched some of our current binge-Succession. Who's watching this? Do you like anyone on the show? Every evening we try to decide if there is a single character we actually like and we pretty much agree no there is not, yet we keep watching. Still in season one and I think there are three but the jury's out on whether we'll make it all the way through. 

Neither of my girls were in the house on Mother's Day, but we have all been coming and going and everyone needed to just stay put. We will see both girls and all the grands in the next few weeks, and as long as I have that next visit on the calendar I'm good. 

My daughters both sent sweet gifts, and also cards where they write messages that make me feel all the feels. My two oldest grands colored a card for me which is one of my favorite things. We went to church Sunday morning, had an afternoon nap I've already mentioned at least three times now, and then hubs grilled scallops on the Big Green Egg for dinner. 

I made a lemon butter orzo and steamed spinach as the sides, and everything was easy and so delicious. 

And now it's Monday. Afternoon. Evening. Whatever. 

We had plans to get up and go to Costco first thing this morning but when we got in the car hubs noticed the tire light on and upon investigation discovered a nail. Bother. Off we went to the tire place which is not in the direction of Costco but we had no choice. We have two houses under construction on our street and I think this was hubs third trip to the tire center as a result. Everyone seemed to know him when we walked in and they're all so nice, and were quick too. 

Now to Costco. 

Wait, before we went to Costco we had to drop a return package at UPS. I ordered lightbulbs for a bathroom fixture and they were the wrong size, even though hubs and I both checked and rechecked to see if we were getting the correct shape, wattage, and style. Ughhhh! 

Does anyone else find buying lightbulbs now just the teensiest bit stressful? I'll have to worry about replacements another day because we still needed to get to Costco. 

Which is not close.

We have to drive into the small big city to shop at a Costco, so only go about once a month. We spend a ridiculous amount of money in our efforts to save money, then treat ourselves to lunch (not at Costco) before making the trek home. 

Once home you still have to deal with all the purchases. The meat has to be broken down into smaller packaging, and I have to rearrange my too full freezers to make room for it all, and the whole thing makes me think I might need another nap. 

Instead I blog. 

Hey, did you know Costco sells jelly bellies in a jumbo sized container? 

I thought my season of jelly bean overindulging ended with Easter, but discovered today it in fact did not. Whoohoo! Happy Monday everyone~

Hodgepodge Is King

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. Did you watch the coronation of King Charles III? Share some of your thoughts about that, or about the royal family in general. 

We were out of town, but did manage to watch most of the coronation thanks to the time difference between here and the UK. I enjoy following many of the Royals on Instagram, and also some royal watchers including-What Kate Wore and royalteawithjam which are two of my faves. 

Nobody does pomp and ceremony like the British and I enjoyed the pageantry, the solemnity of the ceremony, the fashion, and seeing the various family members supporting the King. While Harry and Meghan were a huge distraction leading up to the day, I'm glad very little attention was actually paid to Harry on the day itself. 

I think the monarchy is in a tricky position in this day and age, but I do think Charles, and then William and Catherine behind him, are trying to modernize the roles. There is a lot of criticism aimed at the monarchy, but I don't think you can discount the tourist dollars and attention the royals bring to their country. Personally I love watching them work. And I'm a teensy bit obsessed with Catherine's hair, wardrobe, and her natural elegance. 

2. What are you the uncrowned queen of? 

The Hodgepodge of course. 

3. In a box of chocolates which one do you usually go for? 

I like a lemon-orange-or raspberry cream and will go for that if there's one in the box. I also like the chocolate crinkles, anything with nuts, and also the caramels. I don't care for anything with a maple flavoring. 

4. Something learned at your mother's knee? 

So many things...a love of books, cooking, and Jesus are three that spring immediately to mind. 

5. 'Like mother, like daughter'...in what way is this saying true for you? 

I wrote a whole post about this a few years ago, which you can read here-One Of These Things Is A Lot Like The Other. Besides a love of family, great books, cooking, and Jesus you could also say we share a similar streak of stubborn lol. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

My bookclub read a really interesting book this month-The Daughters of Yalta: The Roosevelts, Churchills and Harrimans: A Story of Love and War by Catherine Grace Katz. If you like history, biography, and a WW2 setting, you might enjoy this one too. 

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 503

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with all your friends and neighbors. See you there!

1. Did you watch the coronation of King Charles III? Share some of your thoughts about that, or about the royal family in general. 

2. What are you the uncrowned queen of? 

3. In a box of chocolates which one do you usually go for? 

4. Something learned at your mother's knee? 

5. 'Like mother, like daughter'...in what way is this saying true for you? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Out Where The Water Is Wide

Hubs and I will celebrate an anniversary in June, and last year were given the absolute best gift, a new grandson, who arrived on the day. What that means if you're me is you need to go ahead and celebrate your wedding day a little early, because your anniversary going forward will now be all about that little man. 

We're okay with that. More than okay in fact but still, another year married should most definitely be marked. Every year is a milestone and its good to step back from all the distractions of life and take stock. Remember what you loved about this person who is somehow older yet still the boy you married. 

Honestly we were totally swayed by internet advertising in our choice of destination. When an ad popped up on hubs news feed for a Bed and Breakfast in the coastal town of Beaufort he said let's go and I said okay. We pulled out our calendars, found a window we could make work, and this past weekend off we went.

It was wonderful. Beaufort is so pretty, so seductive, we were ready to buy a house and move in. 

Let's back up to Friday which is when we left lake town and made our first stop -Savannah (Georgia). 

It happened to be Cinco de Mayo so upon arrival we went in search of a margarita. We ended up at the Savannah Tequila Company and had chips and guacamole for a non-lunch lunch. 

Afterwards we walked the riverfront, browsed shops, and meandered through the amazing collection of artifacts in the JW Marriott lobby. Worth seeing if you're in Savannah.  

We had a light dinner that evening in The Ordinary Pub, then hung out in a little place called The Rail listening to live music. It was a lot of fun. 

Saturday morning we drove just under an hour to Beaufort (South Carolina). We'd booked a mid-morning carriage tour because Beaufort is known for both her history and her fabulous homes, and the carriage tours give you a bit of both. 

The houses y'all. Seriously gorgeous!! There is water beside you and Spanish moss hanging above you and great big verandas calling your name. 

We had lunch at Plums, a small restaurant with a water view, where we shared some peel and eat shrimp and, at the recommendation of the couple dining beside us, a bowl of their gouda mac and cheese. Yum! 

After lunch we checked into our B & B-The Rhett House Inn, which lived up to it's internet advertised billing. The Inn is a 200 year old 'in town' plantation house that oozes charm and Southern hospitality. People assume the Inn's name comes from the character in Gone With The Wind, but Margaret Mitchell actually named the character after the Rhetts of Beaufort and Charleston. Thomas Smith Rhett and his wife Caroline Barnwell raised their children and lived in the house until the Civil War. 

There was champagne, flowers, and a box of chocolates in our room, our own little porch for sitting (or napping as the case may be) with an overall relaxed vibe that is very much Beaufort. 

Beaufort was Pat Conroy's town and I see why he was inspired to write here. 

After lunch we drove to nearby Parris Island because once upon a time I lived there. We actually lived in Laurel Bay, a military housing complex that sits beside the town of Beaufort. This is where new Marine recruits pass through, but my dad had been a Marine for a number of years when we moved here. My mom says out of all the many places our family lived with the Marine Corps, this was one of her favorites.  

Hubs and I went through all the ID checks and car scans needed to enter the base at Parris Island, then visited the Marine Corps Museum which is interesting and very well done. There's a short film that gives you a glimpse into what new recruits experience, and I'll go ahead and say it-Marines are tough!   

We had hoped to drive by the house I lived in some five+ decades ago, but times change, and the world gets crazier by the day, so now there's a gate and guards and you cannot just drive in and wander the neighborhood and say hey, remember when. I get it. And I'm grateful for our soldiers all around the world keeping us safe. 

Hubs and I had dinner in town Saturday night at The Saltus River Grill, which is a short easy walk from the Rhett House Inn. I recommend this one if you're in Beaufort...wonderful service and a delicious meal. 

Our B & B  at night-

Beaufort has been the setting for many a well known film including The Prince of Tides, Forrest Gump, and The Big Chill, so after Sunday morning breakfast on the huge front porch we went for a walk to see what we could see. Here's the Big Chill house-

It's gorgeous and their view is none too shabby either. 

There are beautiful homes all around the Old Point neighborhood, and the Spanish moss makes everything feel extra dreamy. 

We had some great porch time in the afternoon, then drove a couple of miles up the road to Port Royal for dinner. A friend recommended Fishcamp, and since we arrived early we sat beside the water and enjoyed the view from The Shellring Ale House right next door. 

Such a beautiful day! 

We keep full calendars and live busy lives. We are on the go a lot, we have company a lot, we volunteer, have hobbies and a home and grandchildren and all sorts of things that constantly pull at our time and attention.

It was so special to have a few days away to catch our breath and relax. To hold hands, laugh, take long walks, eat fresh seafood, and say cheers to choosing love 39 years ago and all the days since. 

The Hodgepodge Is Abloom

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you 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 'may' do this month? 

Swim in the lake, wash the windows, hike to a waterfall...those are all on my hope to do/get done list. 

2. "All things seem possible in May"~Edwin Way Teale. Do you agree? Elaborate. If not May, then in which month if any would you say all things seem possible? 

I do love the month of May, but if I were writing this quote I'd say September. September has always felt like the start of something new, I think because I spent so many years working in a school setting. 

3. April showers bring May flowers...is this true where you live? What's your favorite color of the rainbow? Your favorite May bloom? Do you enjoy visiting gardens? What's a 'famous' garden you'd like to visit? 

The April showers part of the equation is definitely true. Our azaleas are blooming and my iris and lily of the valley are also beginning to pop. My favorite color of the rainbow in an actual rainbow is pink, but my favorite color of the rainbow in general is yellow. Favorite May bloom? Peonies, iris, lilac, poppy and camellia. 

Picking one favorite flower is like picking one favorite child. It can't be done. 

Visiting public gardens and walking through gardens in general is one of my favorite pastimes. We've visited gardens of all shapes and sizes in our travels here there and everywhere, but I've never been to what is often referred to as the most beautiful spring garden in the world-Keukenhof (Netherlands). It's definitely at the top of my must-see list. 

4. Are you a fan of the Star Wars series of films? If so how many have you seen? (I think there are 12) Are you a fan of the sci-fi genre in general, in either books or movies? What's your favorite sci-fi book or movie? 

I'm not a big fan of the sci-fi genre in either books or movies. It's okay but wouldn't be my first choice in reading or viewing. I've seen a handful of the Star Wars films, the three original as we like to call them, plus one or two of the newer ones, but eh. 

I really liked the book The Martian by Andy Weir, and also the film adaptation starring Matt Damon. 

If you haven't ever read 1984 you should read it now. An alternate title could be 2023. Yowza! 

5. Cinco de Mayo lands on Friday of this week...do you enjoy Mexican food? How often? Do you eat out or make your own? Your favorite thing to order in a Mexican restaurant? Have you ever been to Mexico? 

I like Mexican food and make some version of it at home, but we also eat Mexican out. We have something with Mexican inspired flavors at least every couple of weeks, and judge all Mexican restaurants by the quality of their margaritas and their chips and salsa. The entrees are secondary lol. What I order varies, but generally some sort of enchilada. 

I've been to Mexico a few times, but it's not high on my list of places to go right now. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I may not have been to Keukenhof, but I have been to Washington State's Skagit Valley during tulip season and she's a beauty-

This was six years, two weddings, and four grandchildren ago-

Hey girls! I have an idea...let's recreate this photo in Keukenhof, yes? 

Did you know my girls blog? Well if not, then here ya go- Sincerely Shannon and It's Elementary

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 502

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. What's something you 'may' do this month? 

2. "All things seem possible in May"~Edwin Way Teale. Do you agree? Elaborate. If not May, then in which month if any would you say all things seem possible? 

3. April showers bring May flowers...is this true where you live? What's your favorite color of the rainbow? Your favorite May bloom? Do you enjoy visiting gardens? What's a 'famous' garden you'd like to visit? 

4. Are you a fan of the Star Wars series of films? If so how many have you seen? (I think there are 12) Are you a fan of the sci-fi genre in general, in either books or movies? What's your favorite sci-fi book or movie? 

5. Cinco de Mayo lands on Friday of this week...do you enjoy Mexican food? How often? Do you eat out or make your own? Your favorite thing to order in a Mexican restaurant? Have you ever been to Mexico? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Weekend In The Mountains

It's been a sunshiny day here in the Upstate which feels appropriate for the first day of May. The temperature hasn't quite gotten the message yet, but I'll take the sunshine. We've had so much rain this spring and today's blue sky feels like a real gift. 

Hubs and I drove through what felt like a monsoon Thursday morning, but managed to make it safely to our weekend destination-the North Georgia mountains. Specifically the little town of Ellijay, where we'd rented a house with three other couples we've known since college. 

Which was a decade or four ago, but whatever. 

These boys were all fraternity brothers and we've remained close now for let's just say a long long time. 

We're all married, we all have grandchildren, we all have various aches and pains related to the fact that we're not 20 anymore, except when we're together we kind of still feel 20. 

That's the beauty of old friends. The ones who knew you when you were still trying to figure out exactly who you wanted to be. 

You can be bare faced and bare souled and real and hilarious and honest and grateful. 

We had dinner down the mountain on Thursday night, then stayed up late (not late for 20 year old us, but late for 60+ year old us) talking, laughing, and playing Mexican Train Dominoes at the big kitchen table. 

The skies cleared mid-morning Friday and we loaded up the cars to make a short hop one town over, to the little town of Blue Ridge. I'd never been before, and it's a popular tourist and retirement destination both, so I was glad to see what the buzz was all about. 

Blue Ridge is cute with lots of great little shops and restaurants and you can park your car and walk at your leisure. The sidewalks were busy, but not overly so, and we were glad we opted for a Friday visit as we discovered there was some kind of fish festival happening in town Saturday. We stopped in a little wine bar early afternoon for a light lunch and beverage then headed back up the mountain to relax and have a later dinner at home. 

We had a view y'all. 

We spent a lot of time sitting on the covered deck and everyone brought their own steak for grilling that evening so it was simple, delicious, and low key. We had also been assigned 'parts' in a murder mystery and everyone had some little bit of costume they'd brought from home, and it was a hoot. Took a little bit of time to really get into, but once in we were all in.

 
I was not the murderer in case you're wondering. 

Saturday was a gorgeous day, with warmer temps and bright blue cloudless skies. We trekked back down the mountain to visit a couple of the wineries on the other side of Ellijay. When I say trekked up and down the mountain it sounds like a million miles, but it wasn't. It was a somewhat steep, winding road getting to and from the house, that we all agreed would be tricky in the winter months. 

Our first stop was Chateau Meichtry which is in a very pretty location. We had a tasting there before moving a couple of miles down the road to Buckley, also very pretty and the wines were more to our liking. 

This is us-

This is also us-

We're still us. 

We headed back up the mountain late afternoon so we'd be there when our chef arrived. We'd hired a chef to cook dinner at the house, and it was so much fun. 

We selected the menu based on what she suggested and had a lovely charcuterie board as a starter, then it was a green salad with paella made in a huge paella pan on the deck. She put noodles in her paella instead of rice and we all agreed we liked that better.

Hubs will own one of these set ups before summer is over. Just sayin'. 

Dessert was a seriously scrumptious tres leches cake, and our chef cooked, served, and cleaned up, so easy peasy.  

We headed home on Sunday and all agreed we should do this more often. The thing about old friends is it matters not how long ago you were together because in your head you are always together. In your heart too. 

Still it is really fun to actually be together.