Finally

Hubby and I just got back from a wonderful weekend in the mountains. Finally.

We've been talking about going away for a while. Finally, a week ago we set out for Gatlinburg, TN only to have car trouble an hour from home. We managed to get back home, but the car ended up in the shop for four days. (Yay for ten and a half year old cars with 209,000 plus miles...) Friday we again set out for Gatlinburg and this time we made it all the way! Yesterday's post shows a picture of the view from our hotel room.

It was good to get away from home for a weekend. That may sound strange for us empty-nesters, but somehow not being in our house makes us spend more one-on-one time together and that's always a good thing. I guess it's because when we are gone we don't have the distractions of things to do around the house.

We love being in the mountains. We've learned that we do not love Gatlinburg or nearby Pigeon Forge. Way too touristy. "The Branson of the Smokies", is what I called it. Now we know and don't need to go back.

A friend had recommended that we not take the interstate back. That was GOOD advice! We found some really pretty drives and the leaves were so pretty in the lower elevations.

Here are a few pictures that Hubby took:

Today I am thankful for...

...the beauty of fall in the mountains
...an argument that ended in both of us laughing so hard we were crying
...old, comfortable love
...contentment in coming home

A Room With a View

Today I am thankful for...

...this view from our hotel room. So beautiful. So peaceful.

A Friday List

On this Friday I am thankful for...

...a beautiful drive in the Smokey Mountains
...the mountains being only 1-2 hours away
...Skyping with my beautiful daughter and granddaughter
...my granddaughter recognizing me (she "shared" her cup of milk with me over        Skype)
...pretzels for supper when supper out was a flop
...big, comfy hotel beds
...short blog posts🙃

A Porch, A Skillet and A Freezer

Today was a stay-at-home-and-putter-around-the-kitchen kind of day.

I randomly decided to cook up a package of bacon for lunch that I've had in the fridge for a while. I hate how the smell of bacon can linger in the house for days so I devised a way to cook it on the grill --- in a big cast iron skillet! Works like a charm! Nice and crispy and the smell stays outside! Oh, and I only ate three pieces for lunch -- not the whole package!

I wanted to have asparagus for lunch, so I got out my steamer pot. There's an insert with holes in the bottom that sets on top of this pot of boiling water. I need to mention how much I am loving the new cook-top we had put in last year. It's induction and does so many cool things like boil water FAST! This pot is a 5 quart size I had it about half full. It took 3 minutes and 45 seconds to come to a roiling boil. Awesome!

I also cooked another chicken in the crockpot, deboned two chickens and cooked the bones and skin some more for broth. I'm all ready to make some homemade chicken noodle soup this winter.

Some days around here are kinda mundane.

Today I am thankful for...

...a screened in porch to sit in during these lovely fall days
...supper on the screened in porch with longer time to sit and talk with Hubby
...makings for chicken soup in the freezer
...mundane days

A Wednesday in The Upstate

Today was a good day here in South Carolina. It was a lovely 82 degrees with low humidity. Kinda warm, but pleasant. I despise wearing sock and real shoes, so I love that I can get away with that for the majority of the year here. Now if I can just remember to pack socks when we travel back to the Midwest to see our kids.

My afternoon was spent wandering around Costco. Years ago we had a membership at Sam's Club. I let that lapse mostly because it was 60 miles away. Costco is only 13 miles away. I like that and I like that the quality of the food seems to be better than Sam's Club. Today I walked up and down almost every aisle just to see what was there. Best find of the day? Cinnamon sticks that were $1 cheaper and three times the quantity than I had seen at the grocery store. Win!

Tonight Hubby and I went out for dinner with friends. We have enjoyed dinner out with this couple several times. We never seem to run out of things to talk about. Topics covered: manufacturing, ice cream parlors, employment, building school buses, pharmacies, boating, Hurricane Matthew, grown kids, engineering degree, wrestling.... well, you get the idea.  Tonight's dining adventure was at a Peruvian restaurant. Good food. I especially enjoyed the plantains.

I'm wrapping up the day watching Game 7 of the World Series. (Go Cubs!) I have a chicken in the crockpot that needs to be taken out (with another one to go in tomorrow). I thought I'd have a load of towels to fold, but sweet Hubby took care of that for me.

I'm thankful for...

...friends to go out to eat with
...new pictures of my grandkids that my son posted (brought tears to my eyes)
...beautiful weather
...a view of the mountains on our way to dinner

Is This Thing On?

<tap> <tap> <tap>

****blowing off dust****

Is this thing on?

It's been almost two months since I last wrote or published anything on here. Lately, Hubby has been bugging encouraging me to start writing again. So tonight I decided to open this thing up, wiggle my fingers some to warm them up, and get going again.

This morning's reading for Community Bible Study was reviewing last week's lesson in Exodus (15-17). The Isrealites had made it out of Egypt and through the Red Sea. In our lesson last week they were following God through the desert and complaining about being hungry and thirsty. God provided for them each time. Then they were attacked and had a battle with the Amalekites (exodus 17). When the battle was over, God told Moses to write it down so it would always be remembered.

In the commentary was a small section that talked about how God wants us to remember His faithfulness. It asked the question, "Which of these - journals, keepsakes, special days - might you use to help you and the generations that come after you remember God's goodness to you?"
I thought of this blog. I write about just regular stuff we do and I write about my relationship with God. Maybe my grandchildren will read this some day and they can know about God's faithfulness in their Grammy's life. I would love to read a journal of my grandmothers' or even my  mother's.

I'm gonna attempt a daily post in November and list things that I am thankful for. Because what better month to do that in than November?

So here I go...

Thankful for...

...my 10.5 year old, 209,000 miles car that's running again after three days in the shop
...my God who is always faithful and always provides, even when I grumble and complain
...wearing flip-flops on November 1st
...my granddaughter and my grandson (I'm sure this will be a recurring theme)

A Blue and White Quilt

Earlier this year I was thinking about the quilts I have made for my kids. I realized that I have made two quilts for each of them (including my son-in-law), except my daughter-in-law. I have only made her a table runner. Yikes. I decided right then that I would make her a quilt for her July birthday.

I knew she would love the Blue & White color scheme. I found the pattern on the blog Jo's Country Junction.  It was a pretty easy pattern and I love the uniqueness of it and the modern look.  

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A close-up of the background fabric and the quilting.

It was a hit! My daughter-in-law liked it enough that she wore it around her house in July. :)