Day 2

Vacation libations.  I splurged on Boodles gin and Fever Tree tonic. Enjoyed it in the screened porch at our cabin. 

Watched the sun set. 

Headed to the cute town of Blue Ridge to buy tickets for our train ride tomorrow. 

Found a cute lunch place, Chester's, downtown. 

Happy folks. 

Love this one of us. Waiting on our food. 

Next we headed to the apple orchard  

Ryan was happy with his fried pies of every kind. 

Next was a hike to see a waterfall. It was tough going. Don't worry Mom, I was ok. 

A stream ran next to the trail. 

Mary Grace and Ryan made it there first. Cooling her feet in the cold, cold water. 

The boys climbed to the top. 

They were so hot that they dipped their heads in!!

Back home. Our view from one side of the deck. 

Sitting on the deck with my girls waiting on chicken tetrazzini for dinner. 

Headed to the hills

And Mary Grace is driving, Ryan navigating, Ed and in the backseat. Sophie and Paul lead the way in their car. 

Lunch stop in Birmingham. We love Jim and Nick's. Oh and don't forget the McDonald's stop, Mom!

Pulled pork on a baked potato. Yes. 

Huge rock walls let us know we are getting there. 

On either side of the highway mimosa trees were blooming. 

There were hundreds. I wish I could smell them. 

Pilgrimage

Went on a bit of a pilgrimage with my friend, Amy. I rode with her to Starkville to take her mom home after a visit. Amy lived in Starkville as a child. She showed me the houses she lived in and other sights. We started off with lunch in a new restaurant in an old building, Restaurant Tyler. 

Very cute inside. 

Lunch special. The shrimp tasted like the ones the old Morrison's cafeteria used to make. 

Downtown looked much the same. MSU however did not. It looked like a huge university had eaten my little college. I found things I remembered in the middle of campus. 

Found my freshman dorm, McKee Hall. 

Here is Hathorn,where I spent two great years. I didn't even try to find Wood Manor apartments, if they even exist. 

Went to Oddfellows and located the Hogan family. They are Amy's maternal great and great great grandparents. 

Amy's grandmother died while her 2 daughters were very young. She is buried in this beautiful enclosure all the children called Kiki's garden. 

Her real name was Katherine. That is where Amy's daughter, Katie, got her name.  

She was a proud member of the DAR. 

Had to add these newest pics of baby. 

I love it when they sleep like this. 

Next adventure - family trip to Blue Ridge GA for some mountain time. Made chicken tetrazzini to take for a meal up there. Stay tuned for more on that fun!

Cuteness

Ok let's start with cuteness. Junior loves his Truffles. 

How cute is this great niece? Leila Elizabeth Merkoskey.

Nana and big brother

Dupree doing his duty as sick companion   

Lucy turns 20! Ivy made cookies. 

I forgot how great homemade cookies are. 

Went downtown today to celebrate Margaret's accomplishment with her continuing education graduation. Love those old store fronts. 

Look at those old light fixtures in the old Bougoius jewelry store. 

Down the street. We had lunch at Parlor Market to celebrate.

Met later with 4 sisters wine. I think I'm the short fat one on the end. Very proud of our sister, Margaret. 

Renewing old friendships

Yes, it is almost time for my 40th high school reunion, but that is not what I'm talking about. 

29 years ago Ed and I moved into this house. Adirondack chairs were just coming into vogue around then. They were very expensive and had to be ordered literally from the Adirondack mountain area. My friend Vicki had a pair. Ed looked at theirs and built 2 for us. He even custom built mine to fit my short legs. They are so comfortable. Obviously they needed a new coat of paint. 

I stuck with the classic porch green. 

I'm a messy painter. 

Better? Here's to 29 more years! Sophie turns 28 today. So it seems we were producing more than houses and chairs  

There was lots going on while I was painting. Ed was cleaning up a bee hive, neighbor was cutting huge trees and Truffles was busy patrolling it all. 

You may not can see it but that is a black King snake hanging out of the fountain. I know they are good snakes but Yuck.