Watery eyes and stopped up nose.....

I usually don't rant on my blog....but right now I am miserable. 

Fires are raging out of control....and rain...well, I can't remember the last time it rained. 

Stepping outside...is like stepping in a fog machine.....

My eyes are watery, my nose is burning, my nose is stopped up...and I can hardly breathe.

I cannot bare to step outside...I smell smoke, the air is so hazy.  

We are in much need of rain.

Even though I am miserable, I cannot imagine what the fire fighters are going through. My prayers are with them.

Oh, rain how I miss you....come soon.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Joyce-hope all goes well with your move.  I know you are so excited---wishing you a smooth move.

1. Besides your very own house, describe a place where you feel most 'at home'?


I  feel at home at my aunt's house.  My aunt is only two years older than me; she feels more like a sister than an aunt.  I feel free to kick back, take my shoes off, open the refrigerator, and relax here.

2. When did you last 'hit a home run' with something? Explain.


I don't think I have ever done anything to cause a lot of cheers!  Maybe one day I will.

3. Tell us about something you love in your house or kitchen that is 'homemade'.

Absolutely nothing :(

4. 'A man's home is his castle'...which of the world's ten most captivating castles (according to The Travel Channel) would you most like to visit and why-

Mont Saint-Michel (France), Edinburgh Castle (Scotland), Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany), Glamis Castle (Scotland), Windsor Castle (England), Chateu de Chambord (France), Hampton Court Palace (England), Prague Castle (Prague), St. Michael's Mount (England), Leeds Castle (England), and Swallow's Nest (Ukraine)

Love, love, love to travel to England and visit Windsor Castle.  I have always been intrigued with the royal family.

5. What's a recent or upcoming plan or project that's required you do a little homework before getting started? Did the homework cause you to abandon your plan or adjust it in some way?

Finally had furniture delivered last Wednesday for our sun room and living room.  Now to find the draperies --measurements sigh    The furniture is an olive green with a little bit of brown.

6. In your opinion, is homework an unnecessary evil or a valuable practice? Should schools be done with homework? Why or why not?

Homework is valuable PRACTICE.  Practice is the key word....not learning something new but to practice a skill already learned.  Unfortunately, long gone are the days where parents were home making sure the child was doing homework and the child ACTUALLY did his/her homework.  Now parents aren't concerned much with their child's homework and homework is the last thing on a child's mind.

7. Share a favorite memory of your childhood hometown.

Since Halloween is next week...a memory of my childhood trick-or treating comes to my mind.  Living in a small town and on a street with about 50 homes very close together....trick-or-treating was great.  Most of the neighbors would sit on their front porch, that is if it was warm, and make a big deal of how scared they were or who we were- when approaching for candy. Just about every house had at least three carved pumpkins on the front porch. I can remember sweating as I was walking-yes walking by ourselves no parent around-going from house to house.  Coming home my parents allowed me to eat some of the candy-a limit of course and looking at all the favorite treats I had gotten. I do not remember my parents ever searching to make sure my candy was safe to eat.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Spending the weekend with these ladies last week.....a fantastic weekend!

Weekend Get-A-Way

Here we come......Asheville, North Carolina

Back in July, a trip was planned to visit Asheville, North Carolina with a couple of college and sorority friends.  Two were driving from Atlanta, Georgia one from northern Virginia and I was coming from southwest Virginia.  We had rented a house in Asheville. We had not all been together in over 20 years....so one can imagine the thrill the night before the trip!

Screaming and hugging on arrival of seeing one another..was only the beginning of a fantastic weekend.

Thursday evening we drove into Asheville for dinner and spent the evening with much talking and laughing.

On Friday, we had tickets to visit Biltmore.  None of us had ever been and on OH MY...if you have never ever been I highly recommend a trip to Biltmore.  It is breath taking.

Please excuse me but I can't seem to rotate the picture.  The construction of this family home took six years.  We had purchased the audio guide and were able to hear an explanation of each room plus a 'little story'.
After touring the home, we went to the gardens.  Magnificent indeed!

 We grabbed a quick bite to eat at the Stable Cafe---yes the stables had been turned into a cafe.

 The winds were howling and it had begun to rain....

 but we  had to have another picture with this lion...and few more pics

They were beginning to decorate the home for Christmas.

Also visited the Winery and Antler Hill.  There were more than 20 handcrafted wines and the wine host took us on a wine journey...interesting

All in all, a great trip to the Biltmore.  We headed home and started a fire in the fireplace still talking about our day into the 'wee' hours of the morning.

Saturday we headed into Asheville.  Man was it ever crowded!! We drove for over an hour and a half trying to find a place to park---even the parking garages were full. We did drop off one of our friends to sign in to eat while the rest of us drove and drove and drove.  Finally a parking placed opened!

After eating we thought it was best to walk off some of our food....and of course take more pictures...

Yes, this is an iron wrapped in yarn.  We just thought it was so neat.

and then of course a silly picture....

We thought we were styling and profiling here.....
Shew...we managed to walk a few miles.

 .Sunday came way  too fast!  We stopped for coffee and something sweet before heading our separate ways.

 As we talked we came to this conclusion....you know, we didn't do a lot of nothin but somethin...and that somethin was being together...rekindling our friendship, our laughter, our strength for each other, sharing each other's  trials and burdens.

We left embracing each other....parting was sweet sorrow....and vowing to plan another trip this spring.

"Sweet is the memory of distant friends. Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart." Washington Irving

A weekend get-a-way that was most memorable.

Beautiful

 Happy Fall Ya'll

We are still experiencing warm temperatures with very little rain, but the trees are beginning to change.  I always thought in order for trees to change color the temperature must drop...below 40 at least.  Well, so far our temps have been very warm and the leaves are changing.  God has other plans.

Today was a gorgeous day and hub and I planned to take full advantage of it.  With a little coaxing from me, hub and I ventured on a short hike....to go across Backbone Rock.  In my younger days, I remember going on picnics here and climbing across the rock that went across the main highway.  Hub said he hadn't been across Backbone Rock in 50 years...so today was the day.

We both enjoyed the climb....but don't remember being so tired...thankful for the benches along the path to stop and catch our breaths. There are other things I didn't remember like there is now railing up...didn't remember the rails....or the nice walkway once one reached the top, or how scary it was to be looking down on the road.

We made it to the top!!!

Just a few stops needed on the way down....

Just listening to the water....how peaceful.

The water was cool...hub had to say...you still had to get in didn't you?  Why of course!

There was many changes since the last few decades, but one thing didn't change...God's magnificence!

Weekend Catch-up

This weekend was spent tidying up.....

With a lot going on the past couple of weeks, I haven't had time to do some tidying up around the house....laundry, dusting, etc.  I spent Saturday playing 'catch-up'.  Honestly, didn't mind though. Windows were open and the cool breeze and fresh air was nice.  I felt like I had accomplished something.

After the house cleaning, I began tackling the leaves!  Oh my.....a big job.  Hub came home and told me that UT was playing and didn't I realize the time?  I looked at the leaves...I had managed to rake a huge pile...I looked again and thought...the leaves weren't going anywhere.  I quickly showered and plastered myself in front of the television.  Hub grilled out a black and bleu burger and we woofed it down to finish watching the game. The game wasn't going as I hoped for so I told hub we needed to go to the Fall Festival. Hub was relunctant to leave but with a few huffs and puffs from me, he went.  The best section of the Fall Festival is the silent auction....which I love.  There were so many nice baskets ranging from fire pits to flight packages.  I had placed my bid on a few baskets and watching carefully the other bidders. I overheard someone say that Tennessee had won, so I kindly interrupted to join the conversation.  I got the details of Tennessee winning but was so distracted I missed my final bid on the baskets...BUMMED.  On the way home, hub was telling me how we should have stayed home and watched the game.

We attended a family gathering on Sunday.  The weather was feeling like fall but all enjoyed the cook-out and sitting around the fire.  Hub and I went for a walk....after stuffing our selves a walk did us good.  There aren't going to be many days left to walk outside after eating. The fall chill felt good!

Enjoy your week

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Have you ever been to and/or lived near the desert? What did you think? Travel and Leisure lists the 'coolest' American desert towns as-

Palm Springs CA, Virgina City NE, Bend OR, Winslow AZ, Marfa TX, Grand Junction CO, Silver City NM, Moab UT, Taos NM, Yakima WA, Borrego Springs CA, Terlingua TX, and St. George UT, and Tubac AZ

Have you been to any of these? Would you like to visit a desert town? Which on the list would you most like to see?

No, I have never been to any of these.  I wouldn't mind visiting a desert town....Grand Junction, CO. 

2. What's a plan or project you've deserted in the past year?

Deep, thorough cleaning the house.  In August (my plan to begin with), I was going to give my house a thorough cleaning.  I did not do the usual cleaning (blinds, windows, etc) last year (2015) because I was in a wedding mode with daughter. I told myself I would do all of this cleaning this year in August-school would be in session and I would have not interruptions.  As most of you know, #1 daughter and hub and I changed houses...moving in August...We are officially in our new home, but there are still boxes to be unpacked and little things to be done.  The deep, spring cleaning will be put off till next year.  I am in the mood for decorating for fall...spring cleaning just doesn't happen in the fall.

3. Desert-dessert? Share two or three words you find yourself having to think twice about when it comes to spelling.

Dessert---Something sweet---with two S

4. High and dry, like watching paint dry, dry run, dry as dust, not a dry eye in the house...which phrase can you relate to currently? Explain.

Dry as Dust until Monday.  We have been really dry for the past couple of months...as one walked you could literally hear the grass crunch beneath your feet. The rain .  Monday!

Most of the time.....not a dry eye in the house.  Just thinking about #1 daughter's health situation moves me to tears everyday

5. How often do you frequent the dry cleaners? Starch or no starch?

Actually told hub on Monday that I needed to go to the dry cleaners.  Honestly can't remember the last time I have been to the dry cleaners.  Hold the starch

6. What's a food or beverage you enjoy that's named for a place?

Coffee or Java....named after the island Java in Indonesia

7. Do you need solitude?

Yes....just to collect my thoughts.   With the day to day list of do's, I need to just be by myself.  When I take the time to recharge, I am a much better person mentally.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

This past weekend was my community's celebration....Apple Festival.  It was HOT!  Someone said it was the hottest Apple Festival weekends in 60 years.  The vendors and crafters were thrilled with the weather...A great crowd.

September is going by way too fast for me.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Thursday (September 22) is the first official day of autumn in this part of the world...how will you welcome the season? I know some of you have been celebrating way too early, but it's official now so permission granted. House Beautiful recently listed ten ways to make your home smell like fall (you can read the list here) What's a scent you love this time of year and how will you add it to your home?


I love caramel apple scent.  Burning a candle is the best way to permeate this scent throughout my home.  BUT I might just make some caramel apples this weekend...it is Apple Festival Time in Chilhowie!

2. Apple pie or pumpkin pie? Apple cake or pumpkin bread? Warm apple cider or a pumpkin spice latte?

Apple pie but you can skip the ice cream.

3. Do you suffer from what is sometimes referred to as an afternoon slump? What helps ward it off before it hits and/or tell us what helps you shake it off once it's here?

Some days I suffer.....these are when I just usually sit down to catch my breath or I tried to watch a television show in the afternoon.  

What Helps?

OR

4. Ladies-how have your friendships with women inspired you or made you a better person? For the men here today- how have your friendships with men inspired you or made you a better person?

The older I get, the more I realize how important friendships are.  I feel lucky to remain close to some of my college friends.  Yes these friendships have made me a better person.  Friendships with women have given me more confidence and encouragement when needed, comfort when needed, and an ear to listen to my problems and accomplishment

5. Are you a people pleaser? If you said yes, do you think that's a good or bad thing? If you said no, do you wish you were more of a people pleaser?

Yes...and it is both (to me) a good thing and a bad thing.  I most definitely need to find a balance between helping others and taking care of myself.   BUT I feel guilty when saying 'no'.
On the other hand, I don't like confrontations or disagreements so I try to smooth things over by offering another perspective/insight on a situation.

6. The seasons are a-changin'...share a favorite song relating in some way to change (not necessarily seasonal change, it could be change of any kind).

'A Change Will Do You Good' by Sheryl Crow

7. What do you wish would never change?

My daughters....I hope thy will continue to love the Lord, be kind, thoughtful, and caring forever.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.