WAYWARD MOOSE INN…wayward we were

My husband’s family wanted to get away for Christmas this year…losing their mother in September left a big hole and the memories are every where in my sister-in-law’s home…so, off we went. 
Driving into the NC mountains to stay on top of one of them…at the Wayward Moose Inn and Guest House…



MAIN INN

Everyone had their own room and bathroom, yippee!

After moving luggage, food and
decorations into the house, we decorated the tree and various spots around the main Inn…we had the entire place to ourselves.  Then…it was time for our first GAME NIGHT…Taboo, explaining people, places or things without using specific words…it was fun!

CollegeGirl & Fitz-Mom

My room overlooked the valley in two directions…one set of windows to the East and one set to the West… awesome!

Fireplace In the Corner was FABULOUS

Our FIRST ‘touristy’ move was visiting Biltmore Estate…(the pictures on their website certainly beat mine) however I wanted to share a few because I have a very photographable collegGirl…isn’t she pretty beside the poinsettias?!

AWESOME Hot House

WAYWARD AS I took these shots ...before I knew there is supposed to be NO PICTURES inside the house...but, I didn't use flash, so I didn't break the biggest rule.

Entrance Hallway next to Atria

 

The reception area is always to prettily decorated at Christmas...what a beautiful atria.


ATRIA

I always love the view from the porch on the back of the house


Glorious View from Porch

WAYWARD AS WE HUDDLED while DRINKING HOT CHOCOLATE AND LATTES:  It was 19* while we were there; and even though my hormones were raging, I got cold!  Can you believe it?! 

So…I bought a felt hat I just LOVE!  I can wear it six different ways…here’s one way…I was standing in the Conservatory hot house with all the orchids…I can do a complete post on just the flowers I shot























WAYWARD WHILE STOPPING TO TAKE A SHOT...THIS IS what you see as you drive by the Estate. They had candlelight tours going on with more than 3,000 people parading through the house; so they wouldn’t allow us to drive down the front driveway…this is as close as we could get.

 Will post more WAYWARDNESS later…
Hope you had a blessed Christmas!

SIMPLE WOMAN’S DAYBOOK…one more week of June

My own version of the Simple Woman's Daybook for today…

Outside my window...lots of cumulus clouds floating by, gradually joining together to become some scattered thunderstorms later in the evening I imagine.

I am thinking…Laziness overtook me late in the day… should have gotten myself out of this chair and gone to camp meeting at our church’s campgrounds…it’s beginning tonight.  (Different preachers for the next four nights, giving us their input on Matthew 25 and our ‘going’)

I am thankful for...having lunch at Red Robin’s with friends and CollegeGirl today, then spending the afternoon ‘talking’ about ‘stuff’ as she’s in between semesters…she’s working on a few  ‘TV show’ and ‘film extra’ sets…some pretty good part-time work; and, she’s met a couple of ‘stars’.  Or, I should say they’ve met ‘my star’…yea, that’s better!

From the kitchen...the hand-cranked ice cream bucket is waiting for its bath before going back to the basement…maybe I’ll keep it upstairs for a while and make another batch.  The peach/vanilla was AWESOME!…and there are leftovers

I am reading...FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (WWII Iwo Jima flag ‘raisers’)

I am creating...a crocheted baby outfit for a little girl that will be arriving in July. 

Around the house...my guest room continues to call out to me to ‘empty me, please!’.  It’s my ‘put it here in the interim room’ and the interim has run out, I believe.

On my MP3 player this week...talk radio…

One of my favorite things:  finding a really good recipe that is easy to remember.

One of my least favorite things...watching the squirrels eat the bird food after the raccoon destroyed the ‘squirrel stopper’ bird feeder.

 A Simple Grace Note: Our new pastor preached his first sermon today; it’s a bittersweet time (our last pastor was here 12 years).  Will begin ‘praying our new pastor up as he and his wife transition.

My simple devotion:  Freedom is ours in Christ…no need to hide ourselves behind a veil.  Christ as our intercessor, sits next to His Father (physically) while showing His ‘whiter than snow’ face speaks loving Words to cover our ugliness…this IS grace.

2 Cor. 3:15-18   ^“Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers “Israel's” hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

A Picture to Share:

1/2 can condensed milk

4 peeled/chopped peaches

tsp. vanilla

4 c. soy milk

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. Splenda

Thirty minutes of churning …MMMMMMMMM, good! 

ONLY FIVE FRAGMENTS

Mrs. 4444 is hosting another Friday Fragments.  Why don’t YOU join here, too?! 

 

Here’s my five:

• souls were poured out last night in our prayer/accountability group…lots of tissues pulled out of the box during our anxiety cleansing…so thankful God walks ahead of us and gives us only what we can bear
 
• a little chickadee has decided my bay window is his path through my house.  I’m telling him there really is a window there (that little beak is going to split if he doesn’t quit pounding it against the glass)…he’s not understanding my words apparently…he MUST have a headache by now
 
• baked some cinnamon bread this morning and the smell is wonderfully comforting on this overcast, colder weather morning.  I want to know, “WHERE’S OUR SNOW?  We haven’t had any and I don’t want DINOSAUR-sized mosquitoes this Summer
 
• my collegeGirl is going to be celebrating her 21st birthday next week…

 

she’ll be celebrating with one of her good friends in her collegeTown on her actual birthday… 

Will we get to celebrate with her? 

Don’t know yet…stay tuned.

 

• hubs is attending a weekend-long woodworking seminar at a local arena with tons of vendors, demonstrations and project ideas.  I like going to those sometimes, but the thought of standing on a cement floor for multiple hours makes my knees hurt…

IN SUMMARY: 

My eyeballs hurt, so there may be some cucumber slices during my afternoon down time (if said chickadee lays off his ‘machine-gun attack’ on my window, that is). 

If I have to lounge quietly with the slices on my eyelids, it will help me stay away from the cinnamon bread, ha HA…sounds like a plan and I’m making NO guarantees it will work.   

Now to go wrap collegeGirl’s gifts before Hubs comes back home with all his new band saw projects and takes over the workbench.

PROJECT 365...angels unawares?

Week 16.

COME ON OVER TO SARA’s 

On 4/17,

I finished my 5-hour sweater (and it took me longer than five hours, hahaha)

4/22
God provided a 'bee one' opportunity today after church...and I'd like to present this award to my hubs (who took the opportunity 'to bee one').  

Let me explain further:  While walking out to our suv after church, hubs was on the other side of the vehicle from me and I couldn't see that he had stopped to talk with someone.  A man had asked for money for food.  Hubs told him 'lunch with friends' was just where we were headed...and invited him to go with us (at the 'all you can eat' down the street). 

Still unbeknownst to me, the man, his backpack and full shopping bag piled into the backseat.  When I opened my door to get into the truck, my attention was caught by there being another person in the car. 

So, what does one do when a stranger is sitting in their car unannounced?

Kindergarten manners kick in...
I reached into the backseat with a handshake and introduced myself. 
(In my head, I'm thinking I might need to keep his hands busy because he might have a gun in that bag) :/

He said, "Hi, my name eez Patrick" in a muddled latino accent.  His hands and skin were very worn, caked with old dirt, yet gentle.  He repeated 'think you' several times before we left the parking lot.  (I should be 'ashamed' was running through my head)

At the restaurant, he shyly took a plate from the buffet line ... returned to the table and ate two plates of food.  He shared he's originally from Houston, TX but has fallen on hard times...having recently lost his home...and having been robbed of his wallet and credentials and no money to get them replaced.  We mentioned a few things he could do locally to help get 'back in order' and he talked about a couple of 'labor' jobs he had recently worked as well as a local garage that had let him live in their back room so he didn't have to sleep on the street some nights.

He didn't eat any dessert, just meatloaf and spaghetti...and green beans.  After saying goodbye to our other friend who had met us there, we drove Patrick back to the side of town not too far from where he said he needed to be.   As he thanked us again and while closing the back door, I heard him also say, "Thank you, Jesus..."

God is wonderfully creative in offering opportunities...Patrick came into our lives quickly and was gone before we turned out of the garage parking lot.

Look for your 'opportunities' this week, okay?

FRIDAY FRAGMENTS

  click the widget to join us...

*Outside... brought rain, wind, and fog as the latest HIGH moved into position…we had been in the 60s and I was WONDERFULLY comfortable; now, I’m hot because we’ll be in the 80s throughout the weekend and next week  >:(

**More room in the closet...Two extra large bags of clothes are now gleaned from the closet and ready for the thrift store (after I take pics for record purposes/taxes)

***Who's visiting? BabyGirl has been home on spring break and has been chilling…we’ve had a day out shopping for new jeans due to her success in dropping a few pounds…so excited for her success (done in a healthy way)

****Here's to accomplishments:  success has been accomplished…I’m now the ‘knower’ of working gussets, decreases and increases, while knitting socks…now on my third pair in a week.  they are getting easier and easier

5* Foodie Fact:  asparagus chopped on top of a four-cheese frozen pizza gives it a ‘hit’ of flavor that is sooooo good…definitely will be doing that again

CONCLUDING SUMMARY:  NOT ONLY is it beautiful outside, it is also more beautiful inside my NOW more-spacious closet.  I've so enjoyed getting to spend time with my girl...talking, cooking (now, she LOVES asparagus, too!) and I'll be sad to see her heading back to college on Monday (so I envision I'll be knitting more on Monday)

WHAT FRAGMENTS OF YOUR WEEK DO YOU WANT TO SHARE?  ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND!

Blessings,

John 8:31 "If you continue in my word, then you are truly Disciples of Mine; you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

MIRACLE 'BABY' & HER LITTLE BROTHER...great back-up music, Elvis!

It's been a while since I've updated my blog with my great niece and great nephew...

our miracle-baby, K, is now 5 years old and her last heart surgery was two years ago.  It's so wonderful to see how well she has been thriving.  We continually prayer for her continued good health and the God-led actions of her surgeons and specialists. 

The following is a picture of their visit to the aquarium recently...I just wonder if one of those really large hammerhead sharks was swimming past as this picture was made.


Little brother, R, is now 9 months old and recently had to have his first hair cut...K said 'that was silly'.























These two have wonderful times playing together...and, K, still enjoys 'stealing the show' whenever she hears music and knows there's a crowd.  Here she is helping Elvis at one of their town gatherings; and yes, she had a good crowd...and she even gets a dance partner close to the end of the video...(it's a 2min5sec video).
What a blessing to see their family enjoying one another as these two grow bigger and bigger. :)

John 8:31

"If you continue in my word, then you are truly Disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Blessings,

PROJECT 365, WEEK 2

Cheerful Thrifty Door is hosting a 20,000th visitor giveaway...and

THEN Rachel has...a giveaway going on.....
and FINALLY

Come join us over at Sara's for Project 365..

Sunday, 1-8-12...a wonderful church service about 'witness' and 'Peter' the we journeyed to a NEW Chinese buffet...ATLANTIC SUSHI AND BUFFET

and boy did they HIT the mark...EVERYTHING was wonderful...

REALLY!

Crab angles, sauteed mushrooms/shrimp...veggie spring rolls, frogs' legs, myriads of sushi, coconut shrimp, roasted pork, Kobe beef, and lobster casserole...omgoodness! 

The college 2nd yr and 3rd yr LOVED the food also...can you tell...

1/9/2012, Monday...BCS Championship Game and Babygirl's university beat the LSU  Tigers for their 14th National NCAA football championship...things were excited in our house.

Tues., 1/10/2012...no pics...babygirl drove back to college town  :(

Wed., 1/11/2012...back to normal activities...washing, drying, church stuff...and watching my birds fight over food with the squirrels.





Thursday, 1/12/2012 I checked the closet at church and grabbed new yarn for a prayer shawl...that night I started a new Red Heart "corner-to-corner" throw pattern...in shades of blue and one variegated...it's a very easy pattern and I would recommend this one to any beginner for sure.

sat, 1/14/2012...babygirl LOVES anything 'potter.  Since she's attending a leadership team retreat this weekend with her faith group, I watched him appear on SNL in her honor. ;) 
(they even did a spoof on 'hp'...it was pretty funny; however, his best skit was one where he played Casey Anthony's yorkshire terrier...too funny, sad, but funny.















John 8:31 "If you continue in my word, then you are truly Disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Blessings,

WHAT ARE WE?

My husband is a TRUE 'baby boomer', and my Skoot is a 'generation iY' for sure (anything Apple gets her attention as well as many new movies...the technology and the sights intrigue her generation to the maximum).
 


Knowing I was on the 'twilight' of the 'baby boom'...and knowing I had given birth to an IY'er, I was curious as to WHAT my generation had become known as.  (I'm sure this probably shows my ignorance of reading a lot of newsprint) so I googled. 

Yes, my generation does 'google'...there is 'lots of information' at our fingertips now.  However, one must remain steadfast and check references because of the 'false writers' placing many untruths onto the net as facts.

While scanning the voluminous writings about the 'babies of 1957-1965,' I found statisticians are calling us "Generation Jones".  Jones because of our trying to accomplish and gather as much or more than the Joneses...you know...that pie-in-the-sky couple who 'want it all' 'wear it all', 'travel to it all' and 'show it to everyone' along the way.

They say we're the "high-spending, influential adults who were raised on television, with our likes and dislikes being heavily defined by the 1970s and early 1980s.  (this explains why my hubs doesn't like 'my' music; he's specifically into 50's/60's).

There are apparently three main groups of us: Mainstream, Conservative and Radical.

Members of Mainstream Jones, 65% largely influenced by The Godfather and Blondie; favourite magazines--Radio Times and Good Housekeeping.  (well, what do you know, I do get Good Housekeeping monthly)

The Conservative Joneses, 20% influenced by The Waltons, glam rock, Saturday Night Fever and Wings.  Favourite magazines--Woman's Own and Sainsbury's Magazine.  MTV was a preferred channel.  (I watched the Waltons a lot...jes sayin')

The Radical Jones element, 15% influenced by Apocalypse Now, Rock Against Racism and punk, particularly the Sex Pistols. Favorite programs include The Office, the Rugby World Cup and the news.  Celebrity Radical Joneses are headed by Madonna, Nick Hornby, Sting, and Bono. (I still enjoy Sting)

The Joneses were promised an easier life by the advent of electronic technology but were scarred by the economic crises and mass unemployment of the 1970s and 1980s. (I was deeply involved in the technology birthing into the telephone industry...I started working there at the age of 20 and saw MANY new technologies brought online while learning just WHAT a computer was.)

 I had been raised using a correcting IBM Selectric...iYers won't know what that means (it was my ELECTRIC typewriter that had a 'correcting' feature built into it...it stood alone and didn't connect to any network or web)

Pieces of all the sub-types describe me, I think, so I'm not going to definitively choose which one is me...(guess that would be that old "having it all" kicking in again, guess once a Jones always a Jones).  Where do you fall into these generational schematics? 

ANYONE feel like sitting with me tonight, sipping decaf cinnamon-bun latte and sharing some reruns of the WALTONS? 
It's almost Christmas and I'm feeling the need to say GOOD NIGHT, JOHN BOY--sweetly bringing some sweet memories back into this 50-something body. 

Blessings,

DECEMBER 1...RED

JOINING susand @ THIS DAY...(JUST CLICK THE ABOVE TO JOIN WITH US)
Her challenge:

Quest for 25 photos even though the calendar is full

let's NOT miss photo opportunities

make sure you're in at least a few photos

may not get every single one; but, give it a try. The list is in the right sidebar:

So...here's my first crack at it.


DECEMBER 1...red t shirt, red nails..and another Harry Potter Christmas remembered.


She grew up reading the books, ALWAYS reading and noting the 'best lessons' Harry learned, ALWAYS coming out of each movie repeating the 'best-lesson' lines.

Some don't think Harry's story is good for kids...

I challenge them to give Harry a try...

enjoy the 'fantasy of it all', 

get INTO the 'enjoyment of reading' J. K. Rowling.

You might be inspired and CHANGE your outlook on literature and writing techniques (like my girl did), 

You can 'escape real world issues' and join us in flying, laughing, and crying with Harry, Hermione and Ron...and Neville.

You might be surprised at how many GOOD things you learn. :)

Blessings,

RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS...yep, got 'em both

joining Mom's Best Nest...just clickit...  

w/ Here come the Girls 

and 

Melancholy...sad, gloomy, blue ... each time Skoot has to depart and return to college; wanting to get in the car and travel with her; thinking of all the 'possibilities' between here and T'town.

Asking her to 'look in my eyes' and 'repeat', "I promise I will pay close attention to the road and drive slower during the rain" before getting into the driver's seat helped a little of my 'motherly concern'...while at the same time beginning the prayers for her safely traveling down the road.

Reaffirming her gasoline tank situation and reminding her to call me when she got there, rounded out my 'normal' discussions after I hugged her 'goodbye' one more time.

Waving as she pulled out, I'm thinking, "Mommies just crave to: "protect them no matter what", "peek in their bedroom door seeing them enjoying their Holiday rest", "feed them their favorite whatever/whenever", "capture their smiles for all times' sake in case they aren't within reach", "talk to them about their heartl-felt concerns" and "hug them whenever/whereever/always".

I'm just cravin' those things noted above, and she just left out the driveway.

Walking back into the house knowing I must get onto other things and keep myself busy until I hear the phone, or get a text, or see an update on Facey-Booky.
Welp...Hubs back to work, Skoot back to school...  

"OK, tree, it's just you and me" :/

TODAY'S VISITOR...lovin' me some baby talk

My sister brought her six-month old grandson to visit today...

So I'm sharing some CUTE faces and sounds with you ...

Getting to have time with them reminded me how quickly time passes...and that we have to grab every today and love every moment in it.  Oh the days I heard my own girl making these precious sounds while she played.

I miss her not getting to enjoy this time with us but I know she is about her studies in college...where did the time go?

How many great nieces or nephews do you have in your life?

 Blessings,

WHERE I’M FROM...

JOINING KAT...Having used Kat's template, my answers are in the underlined:

I am from a family who came over from_Martin Luther's stomping ground and Martin used to "tack proclamations on doors", you know? (in Germany)

I am from the _sweetest tomatoes, and the creamiest corn___ .

I’m from the Deep South, where chicken is fried, not baked and mosquitoes are NOT our friends.

I am from the uncles fighting over Great Granny's peanut cake and _pan-fried apple pies.

I am from gathering with my mother's four brothers and one sister, from hearing Great Granny whispering her prayers as she cooked and _listening to Papa's old duet album of Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty.

I am from hot, sticky mornings at the fan-cooled Methodist church after we ran out of baby powder. 

From hearing funny remembrances from all my aunts and uncles about their time_ growing up together.

From the time Nana and Aunt Jackie high-jacked Papa's Model T, bumping down through the pasture, not being able to reach the brakes and running into the watering pond.

And from the time Nana at the age of six stood in front of the house fire warming herself after bath and her nightgown caught fire, Papa through a quilt over her to put out the flames_ and suffered from that 'badly burned finger' the rest of his life. 

I'm from locking away every memory my Great Granny and family have shared with me; in my heart where they are forever safe.

Jer. 33:3   "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."        

Blessings,