Spontaneous as it gets!

Just to warn you, there are a lot of pictures in this post.  I guess I'm making up for lack of posts, but we had a very fun, amazing, spontaneous three state, 3 night vacation.  It was perfect and took our minds off anything we didn't need to be thinking about.  

However, everywhere we went, they either lacked employees, were closed on Monday due to lack of help, or the employees were telling us that they can't get anyone to work due to the status of unemployment in these states.  Anyway, we still found things to do and see.

First, we rented a lake house for a few nights with a hot tub.

Driving around trying to figure out what to do on day two, my husband found an adventure park.  We rented this and our guide was in his in front of us.  We had walkie-talkies to talk back and forth on.  My husband has driving experience with these, and it was an hour and a half of full blown fun.  We left covered in mud, but it was so worth it.

After that we drove to another lake lodge where the food was said to be very good.  The windy roads were so beautifully dotted with redbud trees.  

The view over the mountain where the restaurant was, had an amazing view.

Out of the blue, we decided to drive to West Virginia and try the well known Hillbilly Hotdogs.  Did you know Guy  was here and did a review?  His picture is inside.  The seating area inside was closed, but when it's open it is all inside old buses.

They are known for their deep fried hot dogs and one that they serve with slaw on top.

Our spontaneous route to Portsmouth, Ohio took us through Kentucky.  In Portsmouth, you can view a flood wall mural that is very stunning.  These are not all the murals, but you can see the art work is amazing.

Back home, my husband wanted to mow before taking off on a bike ride in the evening, so I quickly went out to one area of the property.

I picked wild violets.  Although our vacation was coming to an end last night, it felt great to be back too.

We'll be eating some home grown asparagus soon too.  Tip:  I pick it and put the stems in a jar of water in the fridge until I have enough for a meal.  It will stay crisp that way.

Our weather was perfect for our getaway, but we are back to the 50's and the news this morning (via radio) said watch for a mix of snow.  I'll be watching that evening low, in case I need to cover the asparagus.

Today, I have lots of cleaning to do, and laundry.  I need to check the pantry and freezer to bake us a healthy breakfast and write a dinner menu plan.  After eating out most days, I need to get back to some healthy food.

Retreat ~ Back to the Grind

My husband surprised me with a trip to our favorite cabin in the woods.  It's not only in the woods, but way up in the hills.  The road up to it is dirt and there are no guardrails.  I literally grip the door as we go up or down, but once we are up it's total bliss.  It's the next best thing to camping.  The hot tub is the best part.  The cabin is for 2 people only, and it was a surprise stay for our Anniversary (again).  I am not sure who needed it more - him or myself.  I'm just glad it was not snowing nor freezing ice taking those roads.

The cabin had a TV, movies, books, deck of cards, so we had plenty of entertainment.  The full kitchen allowed us to pick up stuff at the grocery and cook/eat at the cabin.  

Speaking of shopping, the grocery stores there were pretty bare.  Way worse than in our hometown area.  The bad part of driving there, is that small town gas stations kept their restrooms closed.  We had to take advantage of rest stops before heading into the hills.

Many stores had their hours reduced, days of the week they were open reduced, and some were on the verge of going out of business.  Our favorite restaurant was closed. The one store we headed out to shop at was closed.  They were a business that made things from metal - candle holders, yard art, signs etc.  They made the items right there, which meant shopping was USA made.  So sad to see them not open.

The funny part, is I had booked the same cabin in the spring for our birthday's, but will be canceling it with what's going on in the world right now.  We can always book camping trips instead (if they are open).

We are back to the grind today.  Both of us. Instead of a 6am hot tub soak and coffee, it's back to stoking the fire and prepping breakfast and dinner this morning.

We need to split wood possibly before the weekend, but I'm hoping I have enough until then.  Oh, the cabin we stayed at had a gas fireplace.  Oh my gosh it heated up so nicely.  We are considering installing one in place of the pellet stove in the other end of the house.  It's on the wish list now.

I do not have my boxes yet to start the hallway project, but excited about it.  Then I thought, "I should paint it while it's all cleaned out" and then I thought well that would be spring in order to paint.  We shall see.  There is plenty of other things on the to-do list too.

I best get busy. Have a nice day.  I had to ask my husband what day it was, I'm so out of whack, ha ha!  It was strange taking off on a Sunday for sure, but we well rested.

 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Christmas week is always busy for us.  We celebrated our youngest turning 19.  Christmas Eve day my husband and I spent several hours doing heavy lifting at my Dad's place.  We were super tired by evening.  Christmas day we all cooked in our pj's and had a very relaxing day.  Our older daughter delivered a Christmas meal to Mom and to my younger brother, although the weather was pretty nasty with snow and wind. Younger daughter has a very (mentally) difficult Christmas, but we got her through it.

The little tiny island we got married on.  Then and now (from opposite views).  The little quaint town had to fill in the one side of the island due to erosion, and the sign was removed since then.  You can see in the second photo of where it was (it was a tiny small island).  First photo is our one year anniversary.  There is a small B&B there by it and that is where we celebrated our 22nd anniversary over the weekend.

We did some small town shopping, eating and whatnot.  I loved browsing their bookstores there and bought one book for $1.00.  We dined at a local brewery, and tried their bruschetta.  As all new businesses, they are making their food in different ways. Can't say it was the best bruschetta (made with olives and feta), but the pizza was delicious. Tried my first whiskey sour, because the cocktails were of limited choices.  I do not like whiskey sours.  We tried Buffalo Trace whiskey - good but expensive.

Oh, I found a copy of a two-book collection that I have been looking for.  However, it's signed, and was not priced.  They took my info and will call me with a price if they verify signature.  I have a feeling if it is verified as a true signature, it will be too highly priced for me.

I learned something too.  We browsed an antique store for a (what I thought was called a lamp shade) for my kitchen oil lamp.  Learned they are called a petticoat.  I'm told to bring my entire lamp in and they will fit it with one.  Sort of excited about that.

Back home and back to work now.  So much is now on the to-do list, but it keeps me busy.  The car repairs will resume, and other work.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Will link when she posts.  I have to get started on my day.

What 2020 has taught me . . .

-Don't think on decisions too long, because life goes too fast

-Get the tattoo.  I was given one for Christmas by one of the daughters and I thought "You know, life is short, just do it!"  They are mother daughter tattoos.  Yes, I really did it.

-If you can't visit friends and family call them.

-Random acts of kindness put happiness in my heart

-Take more trips.  Don't put them off. And to take the younger two girls on a vacation every year.  They work hard too.

-To take care of myself better.  I have not been that great at working out.  Eating great, but not working out.

-Write a Will.  Dad didn't have one and it's been one headache for my younger brother. 

-to carve out more date nights with my husband.

-sadly it's taught me that some friends are more supportive than family.

The weather outside is . . .

Warmer than the past weekend.  37°/22°F.

On the breakfast plate . . .

Coffee so far.  Will make a casserole later this morning.

As I look outside my window . . .

The snow we got on Christmas day is all melted.

As I look around the house . . .

I also have several lists laying at my computer for the week. 

What I am wearing today . . .

Right now I am still in jammies and a thick robe

Currently reading . . .

Nothing today, but hopefully back to it.  Just haven't felt like reading lately.

On the TV . . .

Whatever catches our eye.

On the menu  . . .

-ham/bean soup to use up all the leftover ham

-chicken tikka masala

-meatloaf, sweet potatoes, 

-salmon patties, roasted veggies

-kamut snack bars

-breakfast casserole with bacon and veggies, greens

Something fun to share . . .

Nothing.

Prayers, Inspirational quotes, Devotionals . . .

My cousin who lost her husband to covid, youngest (still having a rough time), 

 

Weekend Getaway

While I should have been canning, my husband and I took off for a getaway, and took a boat tour.  Well worth it.  

I am up early to wash dishes that were left on last Friday, and the one daughter who was home and on vacation, left more.  Everything I need to can was still dirty.  My mental health vacation needs another one.  All I can say at this point, is that I am pretty sure my husband is on board with the lack of help and respect around here.  He finally sees what I have been dealing with.

It's been a long day already. Yesterday was the one year mark we lost our 4 month old grandson, so we made a quick trip over to see them before retiring for the night last night.

Oh, while out on our getaway, I scored canning jars.  There were no lids to be had, but I got myself jars with lids (which I needed, as I am down to my last 9 jars or so of half-pints).  I also finished a crochet project during our drive.  I hope to have a handiwork update soon.

Happy Homemaker Monday

We had another weekend retreat at our favorite island.  It was the best weekend ever.  We went alone this time.  We met more islanders and laughed and laughed and laughed.  Tried a Storm Cloud shot for the first time.  Hubby didn't like it so much, but I did.  Sort of on the sweet side.

It was pretty busy on the island and the place we rent is now booked until mid August already.  Our friends that own it, have a machine that they set inside and put a timer on and it kills anything.  Sort of like what the UV machines do, but different.

We were home early, unpacked, laundry started, lawn mowed, garden checked, catnip went into the dehydrator and potted plants watered. Sage went into another dehydrator.  It was hotter here than at the island (beautiful weather and nice breeze at the island).

We have six acres, but not all is mowed.  Our old goat pasture looks like this now.  Hm.  Time to locate people to bring the goats in to eat it down?  When our buck was in this area, he ate it down regularly for us.

We did some flower bed weeding, and cleaned one of the air conditioner filters too.  It's probably a good thing we did work on Sunday.  By evening, I figured out my sciatica was back.  At first I thought it was just a pulled muscle.  Not a good time to happen.  I'm digging out my papers on stretching exercises and will start on that first.  I will have to have the girls do my garden work for a few days until I can get back to feeling better.  I didn't sleep good at all last night due to the pain.  It's a horrible pain.

Here are my biker gnomes.  They are going back out. I'm just not sure where yet.

Today I am joining Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather . . .
89°F/63°F.  No chance of rain.  Sunny.

How I am feeling this morning. . .
In serious pain.  Frustrated this happened, but I succumbed to this awful, off and on problem, due to falling on ice and landing on my back and hitting my head on cement over 13-14 years ago. It comes and goes when it feels like.


On my mind . . .
How am I going to get my work done today?  The timing is awful. Also, the health store where we buy our true organic/non-gmo meat from has closed permanently.  The produce stand where we buy our sweet corn announced yesterday they are also closing permanently.  What's not getting destroyed from idiot rioters, is closing due to lack of income (from being forced to close).


On the breakfast plate . . .

Sweet potato and black bean frittata with fresh cilantro from the herb garden.


On the reading pile . . .
Nothing this week.  I took the week off.


On the TV . . .
Whatever we find interesting on Amazon Prime.


On the menu this week . . .
Well, first I have to make out a grocery list, after checking the pantry and fridge.  
-Stuffed Shells, veggie
-Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn
-Chicken/veggie kabobs on the grill


From the camera . . .

I picked shell peas this morning.  They are doing great.  I missed these last year.  Lots more on the vines, and that makes this gal happy.


Looking around the house . . . 
It was cleaned up yesterday by one daughter so she could have a backyard cookout with some friends last night.  I will need to get the herbs out of the dehydrators and refill one with mullein leaves and flowers.  My wild mullein is 6 feet tall right now.


Chore I am not looking forward to this week . . .
Everything and anything I can manage to get done, like watering everything.  I will resort to my sprinkler for the vegetable garden, but I hate to run the water pump that long.


To relax I will . . .
Stay off any news on the TV, stay off any social media (getting so sick of it), crochet and maybe watch cooking shows to stay off my feet.  Although movement helps.  I will do my stretches however.  It's the only thing that helps get rid of the pain.

On my prayer list . . .
Well, for starters for this pain of mine to go away.  Our country, our President,  and law enforcement. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good Morning Monday!

I'm joining up with Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

Lots to do today.

We literally went "off grid" over the weekend. We stole away to the island and took two of the girls.  Oh my gosh they loved it. Their first time there.  There is no cell service there on most of the island and it's spotty in one area.   By the way, we have to go back since we didn't get our traditional margaritas this trip.  They now have a hippie store there, and the girls fell in love.  One came home with tye-dye crocs and pink heart shaped sunglasses, ha ha!

We got a flat tire on our golf cart, so we were sitting at an outside bar/restaurant. Oh darn, had to order a long island iced tea.

We got help, but had to wait about an hour.  In that time I got a text message.  Had we not gotten the flat tire, I would not have gotten the text that said if someone didn't pick him up on Friday (we had already left), that the person was taking him to the Humane Society that day).  Our daughter got someone to go get him via social media.

Guess what we picked up when we got home?  Yep.  Our youngest daughter now has her own dog.  His name is Romeo. He's a pitt-mix.  He is the most adorable puppy you could have too.  So loving.  By the way Romeo LOVES Jesse, but Jesse is scared of him, and avoids all contact, ha ha ha!  Oh my gosh, he tries to play with Jesse all the time.

Speaking of Jesse, thanks to our son, he now has steps that go up to our bed.  Poor ol' guy just can't jump up anymore.  He also has a step stool to get into our son's car when we need him to watch him. 

We came home to a fully mowed lawn, weed whacked and some of the trees cut down!  So, so, so thankful for that.  I'll be heading to the bank for some cash for our biker friend.  So thankful for the help.  His lack of presence was simply lack of communication.  He'll be back to finish the trees, but not until this heat wave ends.


On the breakfast plate . . .
Have no clue.  Daughter ate all the eggs but one, and didn't bring in any of the ones from the coop over the weekend (double grr).  Gonna hire someone else next time.


The weather outside . . .
Woke up to 67°F, high of 90 and a good chance of rain.  They are predicting a high of 113° later this week.  Yeah, not looking forward to that at all.  I will have to ice the chickens several times.


Right now I am . . . 
Procrastinating.


On my bedside table . . .
The same.  Never cleaned it off.


On my reading pile . . .

Movies I watched . . .
The Holy Grail, Indiana Jones - only thing we could get on the island, lol!


On the TV . . .
Whatever service we could get on the island.


On the menu . . .
Have no clue.  Just getting adjusted to being back out of our "island" mode.


On my to-do list . . .
Dishes
Laundry
Floors
Trash and clean out fridge
Pick radishes
Weed
Run to town for errands
Water everything
Go thru mail that came while gone
Order more beads for bracelets - got more orders
Clean up computer desk area
Take a trip unsupervised somewhere (oh yeah)



What I am creating . . . 

I spent a short bit of quiet time at the island, crocheting a kitchen hand towel.  I was an island hooker, ha ha!


Looking forward to . . .
Our first camping trip, and we are in the midst of planning our next island trip (most likely our last for the year).


Looking around the house . . .
It's a total mess.  We had our 21 year-old here while gone, and she didn't clean anything, not even the dishes (Grrr!).  I'm not happy with her right now.  She has been late getting her dog his meds and hasn't made effort to see her own dog. He may be staying.  We'll be seeing about that. If she is that busy, he deserves to be here with us.


From the camera  . . .
I didn't take my camera to the island, but I took my cell phone.  I'll be honest I didn't take many, and it was the most and best way to retreat - no connection, no service, just us and the peace and quiet and relaxation.


What I am wearing today . . .
My new silky summer robe that says "Wifey" on the back.  I finally replaced it. Summer PJ's and my Harley Davidison slippers.  I'm just not ready to start this day and I am finally, finally back on my normal sleep schedule.  No more 4am mornings.  Hubby is back on days and 8 hours.  Woohoo!


One of my simple pleasures . . .
Unsupervised shopping.  He he!


Praying . . .
No special requests right now