The Weekend

How was your weekend?

We were in town, so that was nice. Friday night was my pokeno night. There was just a small group of us that were able to make it, but we had a lot of fun. There are actually 22 in the group and while we were talking we realized that there were no divorces in the group and the average length of marriage was 27 years! Wow! I feel pretty lucky to be part of such an amazing group of women.

Saturday was a beautiful day outside. I just did some things around the house and we had homemade pizza for dinner. My crusts are getting better! ;)

Sunday was an overcast, cooler day. We went to Mass, which was the one when all the youth take part  doing the different things: greeters, youth choir sings, etc. There were two little boys in the choir that have the most amazing voices! When Mass was over, I waited to try to see who their parents were and of course, one's mom is a Cantor, so it was obvious where he gets his gift.

After lunch husband and I headed out to Middleton Place to see the Camellias that were blooming. We walked around for about an hour and then headed home.

No visit would be complete without a stop in the stableyards!

Happy Monday!

Thursday Thoughts

Not trying to be a brat, but can you see that temp? That was as I was driving to the lake yesterday! I think this time last week it was around 35 degrees! I hate schizophrenic weather!

I had to get the oil changed on my car. They let me know that I needed new tires, which I already knew as husband had told me to call around this week and get prices. Yeah, one new tire is $283. I need four. And that price is before you add in the cost to put them on the car! Yikes, not what I wanted to be spending money on!

A Marshall's opened a couple miles away from my house. I decided to make a quick trip over to check it out. It was crazy! You couldn't even get a parking space and people were actually pushing and shoving for free popcorn and a cookie! No thanks, I made a bee-line back to my car and left. And, I wasn't even there for the popcorn or cookies!

Tomorrow is pokeno night with the girls. I am looking forward to going. I don't think there is going to be a big crowd. That's fine by me.

I started going to a bible study for moms at my church. It meets on Thursday nights. I didn't go tonight, I kind of feel that I am not getting out of it what I had hoped. But, now I feel really guilty for not going! Ugh, I guess I'll give it another chance next week before I totally bail.

What's on your mind?

Catching Up

Last weeks "winter" storm was not bad for us... though I can't say that for some of my neighbors! We had some freezing rain and several branches came down in our yard, but we were so fortunate that we never lost electricity! Just down the block we had neighbors who lost power for three days! Un-freaking-believable! And, in the next county over, where husband works, some STILL don't have power! 

I wanted to show you my new slip covered loveseat and sofa:

The lighting is a little off in the photos, but they are exactly the same color! And yes, I might be just a bit crazy ordering them in natural! I ordered them from Club Furniture and can't say enough wonderful things about them! If you are in the market for new furniture I highly recommend. If ordering sight unseen and without taking a "test sit" worries you, just shoot me and email and I will be glad to tell you all about my experience!

There was actually some snow up by our cabin and we had been planning to make a trip up there this past weekend for awhile. So husband left work early on Friday and we took off! 

We swung by and picked up the college son, stopped for some pizza at our new favorite place in Seneca, Joe's Pizza, and then headed to the cabin. 

There was quite a bit of snow on the side of the house and it covered the water cutoff and it took husband and son awhile to find it!

The snow was quickly melting, but there was still a little bit when we woke up on Saturday morning:

I couldn't help but make a small snowman!



Saturday morning husband and son took off to play some golf, even though it was only in the upper 40's! Too cold for me! After they got back we took a ride over to Toccoa GA and visited Toccoa Falls. I don't know that I had ever been there before and I grew up a little over an hour away! 

On our way back we stopped in Clarksville GA, which is an adorable town! We ate an early dinner at Natalie Jane's Tavern. It was very good. I don't eat meat anymore, so I often have a hard time finding something good on a menu for me. Well, they had a veggie patty that was awesome! I substituted it for the beef on one of their hamburgers and it was divine! We'll definitely make a trip back there.
We saw Captain Phillips over the weekend, and for a film that I thought I wouldn't like, I was pleasantly surprised! I really liked it and thought Tom Hanks did a great performance. We also saw Last Vegas, again, heard so many bad things about it, but it was actually kind of cute. We also watched a movie that really disturbed me, but Christian Bale was in it and was outstanding. It was called Out of the Furnace. Awful language and violence that made my stomach hurt, but unbelievable acting! 
So, did you enjoy your weekend? 

Ice Storm 2014 Part 2

Right now it is about 38 degrees and has just stopped raining. The weather people say we may get some freezing rain tonight or tomorrow. Oh gosh, if husband has to stay home tomorrow I will go crazy! Did I tell you he said he had an epiphany the other day and he has decided that he is aiming for retirement in 5 years! What?! I'll definitely have to start working full time again. We would kill each other after about two weeks! Oh well, we shall see!

I went to Harris Teeter and stocked up on enough food to get us through the next couple days in case we can't get out tomorrow. I'm thinking a French Onion Soup would be great tomorrow, so I got all I need for that.

It's already been snowing in the upstate. College son sent me a text to let me know that classes were cancelled today and tomorrow. But, he just sent another text and said the snow had stopped and he hoped it started back up tonight and tomorrow. I wish I had gone ahead and headed up to our cabin! We are going up this weekend, but it would have been nice to see some snow.

So, are you getting snow where you are?

Roller Coaster Weather

Above was the view out my front door on Wednesday morning last week. Today it is going to be almost 80! I really don't like this time of year. I like it to be cold, as it should be in the winter, and then I like it to warm up in the spring. I think I live in the wrong part of the country!

I ran outside to take photos of the frozen plants:

and, would a "snow" day be complete without some homemade chocolate chip cookies?

In between the freezing rain days, I worked at the house museum and we finally finished up on Friday. Even though you would think I would be tired of polishing furniture, it has really made me want to polish all the antiques in my house! That's going to start tomorrow!
I worked on Saturday, which ended up being not a very nice day, weatherwise! We didn't have too many guests at MP, but the ones that were there were great!

Sunday afternoon we skyped with daughter for two hours! She is doing so well. She made the comment that she is so proud and thinks it is so cool that she can speak two languages! We are very proud of her and think it's pretty cool too! She also said that she feels "invincible and feels like she can do anything". That makes a mom's heart almost burst with pride! She is at the half way mark of her time there. It's hard to believe that she is on the downside now. 

I like to check cookbooks out from the library before I spend the money buying one. I checked this out last week and OH MY, there are so many great recipes! Definitely on the Buy list!

I can barely believe it's already February! This week I have a meeting or something on the calendar every night! And I thought my life was going to slow down with both of the teens away from home! :)