We'll be back............

Do those mountains make me look fat??? Never mind, it was a rhetorical question.We drove up to this chapel, in Dupont State Park on the NC/SC border as our neighbor here said we had to see this "Pretty Place". That's what it's called at the Visitors Center when we went in to get directions. It's also called Symm's Chapel
and has been there for many many years. It is popular for weddings. The views are extraordinary. We asked another visitor to take our picture with the view in the background. The first had no view and 2nd put us in the dark.

We did the Urban Trail yesterday in Asheville. It meanders about this lovely city, highlighting architecture and history.
Poor picture of a cat on this light pole. There were many scupltures, abstract, historical and parks and monuments. And the weather was amazing.
We wandered about the hills and lakes and artsy towns once again. I stopped by two yarn shops (so far, I have not added to my projects) and in two of the shops, there were men , happily knitting and answering the questions of their customers. One was elderly, wearing a tie dyed shirt with a beard and he knew everything about every type of yarn and pattern. The other guy was younger and grumpy but was doing cables !!

I finished reading "Freedom" by Franzen. A really good read about a disfunctional family. His earlier book, "Corrections" was also a favorite several years ago. I may have to rediscover it. I also finished "Empire of the Summer Moon" about the rise and fall of the Comanche tribe. It was excellent altho a bit text-bookish at times.

Despite wanting to escape the heat of Florida for a few more days, we'll be heading home soon. Even in retirement, there are responsibilities.

Where there's smoke......

This was the view from our door yesterday morning. A sobering wake up to be sure.The owners were gone for a few days and someone walking by noticed smoke, disconnected the electric and turned off the gas and called 911. The fire dept was there in quick time but by then, fire had burned thru the wall and smoke was thick.
The owners live in this full-time, meaning most everything they own is in there with no home to go back to. The campground was spellbound by the event and theories abound at the cause. Based on the burn marks, it was thought that it was related to the gas line and the refrigerator which had a recall due to previous fires. Ours is a later model and not included in the recall.

They owners came back in the evening. Between the fire in the kitchen, the overpowering smoke and the flood of water, it looks totaled. But maybe they could still salvage personal items.

It rained the rest of the day and stayed delightfully cool. I even wore a sweatshirt.

Views

Our favorite thing about this trip, so far, is the weather. It's the big reason we escaped from the Florida oppressive climate and headed north with hope. The Blue Ridge Mountains have delivered and we are grateful.

Wandering aimlessly seems to be as good as plan as any and we have been doing a good bit of that.
We happened by the homestead of Carl Sandburg and walked the winding trail to the top for a view of where his wife raised prize goats and he wrote enduring thoughts. We opted not to spend the $15 each for a guided tour of the house.....seemed a bit pricey to me. Only the Asian group seemed to partake.

Later in the day, we drove to Chimney Rock and drove up to the park and saw the views and again, wouldn't pay to walk over 200 ft straight up to see the distant views. I don't like heights and especially ones that just drop off into nowhere. I would want to be paid to stand up there. Lake Lure is in the upper Lt corner and seems to have
been a big draw in the early century. And now there are many summer places around the lake and in the hills. The 2006 HGTV house was built there and they have a picture of it in the Visitors Center. Of course, no one who actually wins can afford the taxes and upkeep so it was sold at a big profit.

I have especially enjoyed wandering the many galleries and well supplied yarn shops around the area. Each little community is well maintained, very artsy with enticing restaurants. Its a lovely area......especially the weather.

And here's one more gratuitous grandkid picture with the shirt his grandmother bought.

You can smell it in the air...........

After a long day of winding our way north for 520 miles, we have arrived in AUTUMN.We are in Flat Rock, NC, about 30 min from Asheville in a quiet campground. The temperatures are delightful, the views magnificent and we have no plans. We'll meander a bit but mostly, we'll just be happy doing nothing.

Hello again

Now, where were we when last we chatted......................??

Since getting home, we've been sort of busy, well as busy as one can be without going to work everyday. And one of us, in the pursuit of attaining the near impossible, actually did achieve that goal. And he escaped without spending a dime on drinks since it was an early tee time and the other guys had committments and passed on breakfast.Next, I suppose he'll shoot his age !!!

Meanwhile, the youngest grandkids came down for a few days of sun and swim before school started. They have turned into little fish and we are envious of their endless energy.
Life is good in The Villages.................

And then they went home and started school......this was from Mason's first day at kindergarten.....(yes, I know it's sideways ....I'm basically lazy)
And then, because they worked so hard those first couple of days, they had more days off (Jewish holidays) and flights were not full so everyone flew west and ended up at this fun place.

With the iPhone and sending pictures with a text message , they take us along on their adventures. It's the next best thing.

Home

We didn't know when to stop so we didn't. What should have been a two day leisurely drive south, turned into a long 600+ mile jaunt to the front door. We had planned a stop in Georgia around 3 pm but got to that point earlier and it was only 5-6 hrs further so we just keep moving. Normally, about 350 miles a day is a nice drive although we have slogged on for longer periods but rarely after dark.

We managed to get home minutes before the heaven's opened up with all their fire power and torrential downpours.

The moving house is clean and tidy once more and waiting for the next escapade. Soon.

We 'heart' Asheville

We are camped at Creekside Farm , a small but lovely RV resort. There is a barn behind us with silo and 4 kittens......the thought only lasted a second...!!This morning, I did some laundry. This is a very efficient European all -in-one unit that washes and then dries. So nice to have along.
We had a full day yesterday but I have no pictures since I left the camera battery behind. We went to a local festival, explored more of the Parkway, ATE PANCAKES WITH BUTTER and left a lot to explore at a future date.

Today we hopped on and off a trolley with narration. We got an excellent overview of the area. It is rich with the culture of the Arts and Crafts and Art Noveau era. We even saw the Sears houses that were ordered from the catalog in the early century. We stopped at the expansive Grove Park Inn, built in the early 1900's. It has housed many celebrities and 10 presidents. It reminded us of the National Park hotels a bit.
They're reroofing it, thus the scaffolding. The stones cover everything.
We enjoyed a delightful lunch on the large stone porch overlooking the golf course and the city. There were two of these massive fireplaces in the lobby and a row of rocking chairs to savor the warmth in the winter.
This is a terrible picture of the complex but it was all I could find.

Reluctantly, we will head home tomorrow. We explored several options for extending but there are committments waiting (excuse me....I thought we were retired ! ) so we will take two days to get home and then look forward to another trip in a couple of weeks. Our return to the open road has been long overdue and we hope to make up for some lost time.

And now, it is wine time in the refreshing evening air....................wish you could join us.

Disappointment

All I wanted was a pancake......We headed out towards the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday but decided we needed fortification before the climb upwards. We stopped at a local place advertising "all you can eat breakfast". We didn't want unlimited eggs and sausage and bacon and grits and biscuits and gravy and ham. One of us just wanted a pancake. Which they did have..........but they didn't have BUTTER. !! Now, the pancake is an important part of the 'pancake with syrup and butter' order but the most important thing is the BUTTER. Not 'pure vegetable spread' or 'lite pure vegetable spread' of some unknown brand. The pancake is just the vehicle for transporting the BUTTER to your mouth. I'd have even skipped the syrup if they would have had just the BUTTER. After eating a few bites of a naked pancake with very imitation syrup in a squirt bottle, I gave up. So much for the local establishments. Next time it's straight to Cracker Barrel where the syrup is warm in little pitchers and the butter is.......butter.

We entered the Parkway at the southern end with plans to drive the 80+ miles to Asheville. The countryside was beautiful and we made frequent stops to view the Smokey Mountains. We were in no hurry.
There were many tunnels but most were not as blurry as this one.
As we climbed, the clouds settled in.
And soon, above about 4000 feet, the view became non-existent. We managed to get up to a visitors center above 5000 feet before the rain mixed with the fog and driving was hazardous. We crawled back down below the clouds and gave up on our scenic drive.
We headed to Asheville by a more direct route and enjoyed a stroll around the Biltmore Village. And we had gelato.

Savannah

We had been here many many years ago....when we were just kids, escaping from our kids on our anniversary. It was a brief stay but I remembered the beauty of the downtown area and the squares. Savannah has been through a bit of changes since we were there. The squares, (there are 22) seem a bit ratty altho I did not see any homeless in the ones we saw. The mighty oaks are massive and still dripping with Spanish moss. There are statues and fountains and plaques to read and commemorative rocks and it is a nice respite from the heat of the day. I remember the lovely row houses and larger mansions.....well, now they are interspersed with large ugly without character buildings for important functions like offices and parking garages. They demolished the lovely homes to make way for progress. An historical society was formed

and now it is the largest historical district in the country. Many of the homes have been refurbished to their grandeur.

We did a lovely trolley tour around the district. I took a few pictures but it is hard to capture the settings.
Jeff, this is the police dept and their fleet of cars in front. And you thought your dept had budget issues !
This lovely doll house is the oldest house in Savannah...I missed the date.
And this is the oldest building, currently a bar.
Savannah was lovely in areas but I think Charleston has a more genteel quality.

We stayed in an uncrowded State Park nearby. The mighty oaks dominated altho the 'chiggers' made us avoid being outside. (The Ranger warned us about them and then I had to google chiggers to find out what they were.......I was glad I hadn't planned to hike).

We are currently in the coooooool mountains of North Carolina. It is heavenly. Pictures at 11......or sometime when I get around to it.

Moving on out.....

I played golf at a new course the other day and in order to reach it, we had to cross over a highway via this golf cart bridge only. It doesn't look so steep here but it is quite a climb up and over. Actually, it wasn't a 'new' course, it was one of the original of the more than 30 Executive courses and was a nice change. The 'man cave' is almost finished with it's new coat of paint and drapes. Furniture is being refinished and pictures need hanging.
We're loading up the 'Moving Roadblock' and heading north tomorrow. We had hoped for cooler weather but not sure we'll find it.
We'll head for Savannah tomorrow and explore that area a bit. Of course, we'll take you along.

Ennui

....has set in. (It's a good word to use in idle conversation). I blame the condition on the orange days on the graph. Don't even think of taking the kids, grandkids, or yourself to Disney /Universal. I think they should pay people to go there in this heat.

During these torrid days, I wonder what I would be doing if we still lived in a more temperate climate. I am not a gardner, I detest weeding and clipping and bugs and snakes. But I do like HOSTA. I miss the opportunity to admire them and grow them. They require so little. Our talented neighbors with the green thumbs, tried to grow some under a shady palm......and failed. When I am old, I will spend my summers in a garden surrounded by every variety. ....but I still won't weed. Meanwhile, I have developed a more pronounced fondness for my Kindle. And I just knew that once it became available at Target at a reduced price, a new model would appear..........
It's now available in black or white and comes with a built in light on the case. But the best
feature is a 50% increase in the contrast of the print. That has been my biggest gripe. So, my order has been placed and it will ship at the end of the month. I will return mine to Target (90 day return policy). I have given up on the iPad. That is a hard thing for me to admit but I think this new Kindle version is a much better e-reader.

Otherwise, blog worthy days are few and far between but we have hopes that ennui will soon be replaced......by off-ui. (yes, sometimes I try too hard)

For Sale

Wouldn't you like to have this lovely 4 bedroom house on 5 acres surrounded by the most beautiful views of the hills and countryside and near a vibrant urban setting? Jeff is trying out the market and seeing if there are any bites. It is located outside of Washougal, Washington, a pretty drive from Vancouver and Portland. He has added a lot of upgrades to the house and landscape and it would be perfect if you needed a place for your horse. The view from the front porch reminds Paul of Ireland when the fog is settled in the hills. MLS #10060162

Life continues at a slow pace in the heat. My friend Sonia from Newtown, is down for the week. Normally we walk at a pretty brisk pace, whether here or up there, but today, she found the heat oppressive and the walk a bit much. It was 81 with high humidity at 7 am. It was actually hotter and more humid in the North east but I think I have acclimated a bit as I was not that uncomfortable. So, maybe we'll just continue our chats in A/C for the rest of the week.

Went to the big mall in Orlando yesterday.....just window shopping in the coolness. And had to check out the iPad again. I still like it but someone else isn't as impressed. Had lunch at Brio again and again I had the risotto.....still yummy.

A special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister Maureen today. Wishing we lived closer to help her celebrate.

It's too hot ...

to even consider getting away. We have been wanting to jump in the "moving roadblock" and head north. The thought of cool mornings and warm but pleasant days somewhere else was beckoning us. We checked temperatures near and far and decided that the hills of North Carolina might be a consideration. We only wanted to be gone a week or so and Asheville seemed about right. On the way, we would spend a couple days in Savannah. Now that would be hot and humid but we would wander about and explore the area and the beaches.

After making arrangements for plant watering, mail and papers, we decided to recheck the forecast and found that Asheville is now HOT and probably humid and that is not what we want......sooooo, we whined and complained and then decided to stay home. We'll try again when the stars are aligned and the temperatures drop. Altho the RV has excellent A/C, part of the joy of "camping" is being outside and meeting others. Not cooped up in front of the TV.

Meanwhile, the den is painted but picture will have to wait until the drapes are up and it looks more presentable. It is a great color but did take two coats.

Lazy blogger

For those looking for an exciting read from the old folks as we romp thru life, I'm sorry to say that not much is happening in retirement land. Yes, we are still playing golf, one of us continuing a streak of birdies and pars. Yes, it is still hot and we are planning a short excursion to find cooler weather in a few days. Yes, I am still reading on the Kindle and still undecided if I will keep it.......Target gives me 90 days to decide.

We both got haircuts of about the same length so now it's even

harder to tell us apart.....I believe they say couples start to look alike after many years of togetherness and we're starting at the top of our head.

After a year or so of procrastination, we're finally finishing the study/den/man cave/guest room. P is creating a desk and table out of our former dining room table. It was a hinged affair with a pretty inlay. I liked it but it just didn't work in this house and it was destined for the consignment shop. But his frugal nature fostered his creative side and he is busy repurposing the table. So, before we have a room full of furniture, I managed to pick out a color and begin the painting drudgery. I am not the neatest painter and couldn't resist writing on the walls. Unfortunately, this terra- cotta color is going to take two coats.....stay tuned for the finished view.

Someday, I'd actually like to see this place, St Andrews that is, in Scotland. But I would never consider playing this course. Besides the wind, the rain and the temperature, there are those amazing bunkers to consider. It's hard to imagine men clad in plaid skirts wanting to actually brave the elements with a stick and a ball.......seems like it should have been Ponce de Leon after finding Florida and the fountain of youth. But maybe the gators gave him second thoughts.

Of golf and garages

I need to brag a bit. Mostly because I usually complain about my golf game. This week, I played an Executive course called Roosevelt. It is a pretty course, fairly difficult, rated 3 on a scale of 1-4 difficulty and is hilly. Well, by Florida standards anyhow. I played from the forward tees which did make it pretty short. I got pars on the two 4 par holes and 2 additional pars and a birdie. I lipped out 2 simpleputts or my score would have been even lower......par on this course is 29 and I managed to eke out a 33. I'm not sure that is my lowest score but on a course of this complexity, I was pleased. Now, I know that all of you were thinking I was going to say I got a hole in one or broke a course record or won a tournament or something. But actually, this small thing will have me coming back for more.

Not sure how I happened on this site but found it a good laugh. It's called www.style-your-garage.com These are attached with velcro and therefore, easy to remove and put up. I would love to have one for ours but doubt that the we could keep it for long once the deed restriction patrols got wind of it. But we'd turn a few heads......

I would have liked to see one that looked like a view of a golf course. Since we live on one, it would appear as tho you could see straight thru the garage to the course.

Still using the Kindle....I've read 2 long books and ready to download another. I think there should be more contrast in the print and like the dictionary feature. It's light and comfortable to use and fits nicely in my various collection of handbags. But if an iPad happened to drop into my lap, I'd switch without hesitation.

Happy 4th

The holidays are always celebrated in a big way down here in retirement land. Today, the town squares had non-stop entertainment starting about 4 pm. We went to Lake Sumter Landing and spent a few hours enjoying the music and food. We have our very own twirling team. They are well known around the state and perform at sporting events and competitions. And no, I have no interest in pursuing this even tho I'm sure Lizzie would be thrilled if I did.....or horrified.
Freida had to have her picture taken with the stilt walkers. Despite all the entertaining events of the day, we do not have fireworks . I've always wondered why it isn't done down here.....they seem to offer so much of everything else. So we came home to watch it on tv. But just not the same.

We have had over 7 inches of rain this week and everything is lush and green and the irrigation is turned off. And the temperatures have dropped considerably altho the humidity is high in the mornings. But tonight it was about 80 with a lovely dry breeze.

Earlier today we went to see Toy Story 3. One of us had to get up to speed tho so we watched the first Toy Story last night. We haven't seen #2. I thought the latest was good but a bit intense for the little ones, especially the dump scenes.
And Ken and Barbie are a great addition to the toy box. We were the only adults in the theater without a kid.

Happy Birthday Princess !!

Isn't she lovely ?? We are all proud of Lizzie's accomplishments with awards
in Twirling and the opportunity to be an escort in the state Miss Colorado pageant. She is poised and talented. We are very proud and wish we were there to help
her celebrate her 12th birthday on July 1st. OK, you can stop growing up now. !!

Summer doldrums seem to have set in with nothing much going on. We have been playing golf, mostly early in the day and it is quite tolerable. The pool is a real treat and I use it as a bribe to get up in the dark and walk each morning, knowing I will come home and jump in to cool off and enjoy a coffee over the morning paper on the lanai. It's surprising how lively the neighborhood is at dawn.

I gave in to my conflicted feelings and actually bought a KINDLE. When amazon reduced the price, I was sorely tempted and then it showed up in Target and I capitulated. I'm still not 100% sold and find it not necessarily a good substitute for a real book. I'm talking about hard covers or large paperbacks.....there is something solid and tactile about a book and knowing how much is left and using an old favorite bookmark. Lately, the paperbacks have gotten much smaller in size and print. The Kindle seems more impersonal and not that easy to read in dim light, altho I love being able to change the size of the font. On occasion, I try and turn the page instead of pushing the button. And it is kind of cool to be able to sync to my iPhone or Mac and just continue reading. BUT, what I think I would really like is an iPAD...... it just seems a bit too expensive for an e-reader and a bit redundant if I have a computer. But like the iPhone, it just feels good. I'm still undecided but while I ponder this dilemma, I think I'll order another book for the Kindle.