Hello Monday

There is a change in the air. The temps are slightly cooler and you can just feel a difference. It makes me so happy. I love Fall and cooler weather. You never know in East Tennessee it could be a teaser and crazy hot weather will return at any time.

How was your weekend? Mine was really good. I had plans Friday night with a couple of friends, some grilled steaks and some catching up girl time. Work got in the way as it sometimes does. We had a huge storm at work just before I left to meet the girls and it knocked our power off for about an hour and a half. I was a bit delayed but I still made it for much needed friend time. We shared a steak and some snacks and solved all the world’s problems. I didn’t stay too late.

On Saturday my sister and I took my sister in law out for lunch for her Birthday. I then ran and got some groceries and got back home for the rest of the weekend. I spent some of Sunday dealing with my credit card. I had some suspicious activity and had to call the credit card company to dispute the charges, and get the account shut down. I am so frustrated with this. I am very careful with my card and my husband barely uses it. I think it may have happened after being used so much on our recent trip. This is the second time this year we have had this problem.

Just a quick random question because that’s how my brain usually works: When you return from a vacation do you unpack immediately? Or does it take a couple of days? I like to unpack immediately and at least sort laundry and get it ready to go.

Last week when we got home from our Vegas and Zion National Park trip, I unpacked everything and sorted the clothes and got them ready to wash the next day. I had an extra day off from work so I started in the next morning on all the laundry that needed to be done.

I also decided to tackle shampooing my carpet upstairs. The only place that we have carpet is our upstairs bedrooms. I want to get rid of it. With two cats inside the house all the time, it is hard to keep it clean. So I spent some time shampooing those carpets and they smell so fresh and clean. I love it!!!

I went back to work the Friday after vacation. I had a lot to catch up on.

Last Saturday, more than a week ago, I went with my sister and nephew and his wife to Nashville to the Time Traveler’s Vintage Expo. To be honest we thought there was going to be more furniture and stuff. But mostly it was clothes, purses, and jewelry and fortunately, I can work with that. I don’t buy a lot of vintage clothes because most of them are really small. I did buy a dress. I love the colors and the scalloped edging. I will wear it in the fall with a denim jacket and maybe some boots.

On the way to Nashville we stopped at Buc-ee’s in Crossville. If you haven’t been it’s sort of like a convenient store on steroids. It’s HUGE!!! It has about a million gas pumps. Also the bathrooms are immaculate. So if you need a bathroom break that is a great reason to stop. Not only do they have some yummy food they also have a great retail section. And wouldn’t you know they happened to have some Halloween cuteness going on.

***I know Halloween is over two months away but it’s never too early to look. Right????***

I’m such a sucker for Halloween decorations.

***I love her. I may have to go back and get her.***

Lots of yummy food and snacks.

Monday morning came too quickly. I am so far behind on my posts. I will post tomorrow about the Vintage Show. There were so many cool things there I just have to give it its own space.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!

Wrightsville Beach N.C. Vacation

Hello friends, It feels strange being back here. It has only been a couple of weeks but it feels like forever. I have really missed being here with all of you. This is a special space to me. Forgive me for not getting to your blog posts I am catching up.

A lot has been going on. Last week my husband and I took a much needed vacation to our favorite beach in North Carolina, Wrightsville Beach. Wrightsville Beach is very near Wilmington NC. We try to go almost every year.

A week before the vacation we hosted my nephew Chris, and a lot of my family, for Chris’ Birthday. It was a very special one, the big 50. And of course if you have read any of my posts you know I get a little crazy when I have people at my house. I want everything to be perfect. Probably to the point my husband is about to divorce me over it. I come up with a huge to-do list that borders on impossible. All the while I know in the back of my mind that all of these things are not going to get done. Well you know what?? a lot of those things didn’t get done. I was planning the party and planning the vacation and I knew I had to let some things slide, so I did. And you know what else? we had a great time even though I felt like some things in my house could have been a little neater. I doubt anyone even noticed.

Just after the party I started planning for our vacation. Me and hubs both worked up until almost the day before the vacation. And of course planning means someone coming in to take care of the kitties and checking on the house and etc etc.

We left out last Sunday morning at 5:00 AM. It is about a nine hour drive for us and of course add in food and fuel stops it makes it about ten hours. We like to get an early start and get ahead of traffic. I love driving for a couple of hours and finally getting to see the sun start to peep out.

***The weather was beautiful all week. This was the sunrise the morning we left for vacation***.

North Carolina has the most beautiful
Day Lillies planted in the medians of the interstate. They are so beautiful.

Every morning while we are on vacation we walk into town. It is almost three miles round trip. It is great exercise. We go early before the heat gets too bad. I just love this little town. The walk takes us on a back street full of walkers, runners and bike riders. Both sides of the street is a gallery of beach homes. I love them all. They are so unique. I always enjoy seeing the different ways people have planned their gardens and porches and decks.

***Many people walk their dogs into town. There is a watering station for thirsty babies.***

I loved this little book exchange library. I did finish a book while we were there and was going to swap it for a book here. We didn’t get to walk the last morning of our trip. We had to leave a little unexpectedly. More on that in a minute.

As I said the weather was perfect all week long. Lots of surfers hit the waves early in the morning. They have until 10:00 AM and then only sectioned areas can be used by surfers.

We ate at Poe’s Tavern again this year. This restaurant has a few locations in the U.S. North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. They specialize in burgers, fish tacos, sandwiches and salads. The restaurant and menu features all things Edgar Allan Poe. Edgar’s Drunken Chili, Beef Raven, Beef Tell-Tale Heart and Beef Rue Morgue are a few of the menu selections. Posters line the walls with movie clips and quotes. It really is a fun place.

***Poe’s Tavern. We had some amazing blackened sword fish tacos.***

We spent a lot of time just relaxing and enjoying the beach and some down time. I read a couple of books and of course brought knitting with me.

***The hot crab dip at the Oceanic is one of our favorites***.

On Thursday morning the nursing facility, where my mother in law is staying, called and said she had taken a turn for the worse. We decided to leave the next day. When we got to her she didn’t appear to be any worse than she had been when we left. But you never know at her age. I am sure the nurses and doctors were being cautious and wanted us near if anything happened. We were glad we decided to cut the trip a little short and get back home.

Several weeks ago we called a local tree cutting service to get a quote on cutting some trees near our lake bank. While we were gone the tree cutters came and took out many of the trees near the lake. Through the years the growth had gotten out of hand. That’s one thing that happens when you live in the woods. HA!! Our view of the lake was almost gone. It was a costly investment but so worth it when we got back home and had our view of the lake again.

We were so happy to get back home to all the babies. And they were so glad to see us. Kitty Kitty has slept with me every night.

I hope all is well with you? Do you like the beach? What is your idea of the perfect vacation?

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!

Hello Monday

Hello and happy Memorial Day. How was your week and weekend? Hopefully it was a nice long one for you. I am so humbled and awe stricken to think of the men and women who have served our country and gave everything in doing so. Let us never forget the reason we observe Memorial Day.

Have you ever had a week that felt like it was a month long? Well that is how work was for me last week. It seems like all I did was come home, eat some dinner and go to bed.

On Wednesday we noticed a dog running around the yard. We saw it on our blink security camera. We thought he belonged to someone visiting one of the neighbors. We kept seeing him and then when Mark came home on Wednesday he, turns out it was a she, followed his truck down the driveway and proceeded to make herself at home. She looked half starved. My husband said that was just the hound in her. We weren’t sure how she would do with the cats so we put the outside kitties in the garage.

***She came right up on my deck while we were gone.*** ***Sorry for the bad pic it was from the blink camera.***

The dog, I named her Sally, and was already figuring out which day I could get her to the vet, did not have a tag on her collar. She was big and goofy and so sweet. We gave her some food and water. During the night it rained and I was so worried about her. By morning she had gone back home. Turns out some people were camping down the lake and she was just wandering around. I was a little disappointed and a little relieved. Although I would never let my babies wander like this alone.

On Friday, I again went with some friends to Iron Works Grill on the river. They do karaoke every Friday night. It is so much fun. Plus the views are spectacular. Aren’t those mountains beautiful?

A couple of weekends ago I went to an estate sale. The people having the sale had actually had it for a couple of weekends so they were ready to get rid of some things. Well everything actually. This is what I got:

***This blue Buddha for $2.00. I think it will go great in one of our bathrooms.***

***I cannot pass up a nice cake stand. And this one doubles as a bowl $2.00***

Look at this purse. It is a little worn and I am going to redo the lining. I love it. It reminds me of the purses my mama carried when I was a little girl. I may try a little diluted bleach water to whiten it back up. $2.00.

I just couldn’t pass those things up. I know my husband rolls his eyes when I drag pieces into the house but I always find use for them eventually.

The pollen here has been crazy. So many people are having sinus and allergy problems, fortunately I am not. My poor husband has allergies and this time of year for him is really hard. We have also had a lot of rain. It seems like it has rained almost every day for a couple of weeks. I guess that helps the pollen a little.

***The roads near my house were almost flooded this morning.***

I leave you with the best thing I have received in a long time. A friend from work found out I like to sew and that I had a sewing machine. He told me that his mother or grandmother had an old tackle box that was full of sewing supplies. He asked if I would like to have it. He said he had no use for it. I told him I would love to have it. He brought it in today. It was full of all kinds of goodies. Threads, bobbins, needles, buttons, sewing machine tools, pins etc etc. I was in heaven. I offered to pay him for it but he said giving it to someone that could use it was enough. I was really touched.

I have been knitting like crazy with every spare minute. I worked on a shawl and almost have it finished. I guess you could say it is more of a wrap. I made another one exactly like it last year but it was my first one and I wasn’t too happy with the way it turned out. Hopefully I will have it finished and blocked by the end of the week. I also started another pair of socks. Pink.

That’s it for me tonight.

Always remember

Love your day your way!

A Few Days In Louisville Kentucky

Hello and happy Monday. Last Sunday I had to take a trip to Louisville Kentucky for a work meeting. I was meeting with the tourism group that my work is a part of. I will have a much more detailed post on each of the attractions that we visited. I had such a fun time.

As you may know. The Kentucky Derby was held on Saturday May 4th just four miles from the hotel we were staying in. We were going into the city on Sunday so most of the action had already calmed down before we got into town. I was traveling alone and I left out Sunday afternoon. It was about a five hour drive for me. Of course I put off packing until the last minute. I think if I felt better about how I look in my clothes it would be easier to prepare and know what to pack, but that is a story for another time.

I left out about 2:00 PM on Sunday and drove the entire drive with just a couple of quick stops. When I arrived the hotel was still decorated with hundreds of flowers from the Derby celebration.

We stayed downtown at The Embassy Suites on Fourth Street. It was so nice and the staff really had it going on in The hospitality department. Everyone at the hotel was so nice and helpful. Even though they had just dealt with hundreds of people staying at the hotel for the Derby. Our hotel was within walking distance of Museum Row, and the Muhammad Ali Center. And we were just four miles from Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.

I had stopped for a quick bite on my way in so once I got to the hotel I just settled into my room. It was very nice. It was actually a suite.

And you know me. I brought a good book and some knitting. My meeting the following day didn’t start until noon so I slept in. Such decadence!!!! Only a meeting and dinner was scheduled for Monday.

Along with the meetings I knew a lot of fun had been planned as well. When we do these meetings we usually get to meet with several of their lead tourism people. On Tuesday we got a behind the scenes tour of Churchill Downs, Toured the Derby Museum, visited a Loom House and was able to do a little weaving, we had a bourbon tasting at the Frazier History Museum, and finished the day off at The Louisville Slugger Museum. What a fun and tiring day.

***Churchill Downs. It was hard to believe that only 48 hours earlier this track was full of the sound of thundering hooves.***

***The Little Loom House. One of my favorite stops.***

I can’t begin to tell you in one post about each of these wonderful places. I will put them in separate posts so that you can experience each place.

After a short meeting on Wednesday morning I started my long drive home. Unfortunately it rained most of the way home and took me even longer to get there.

I was so happy to get home even though I did have to go right back to work the next morning. I think the inside kitties missed me a lot. They both insisted on sleeping on the bed with me.

That is what I have been up to. Add in Playing catch up at work and it has made for a very busy week. I have missed all of you and I am happy to be back.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!