So busy!

Whew! It's been a crazy last couple of weeks. Last weekend I went on the Girl's Mountain Getaway Trip, a twice-a-year-outing with my bestest girlfriends (who also happen to be an aunt and cousins).
(Little Church on the Mountain - in the resort)

We don't go far...we all have family obligations that keep us from wandering too far away. My Mama was all worried about us all leaving for the weekend, but when I called her an hour and a half after leaving her house to say we had arrived at the cabin, her fears were relieved. (Me and Aunt J before dinner at Paul's Steak House, Helen)

Girl's Mountain GetawayTrip is always a fun and relaxing time for me. We don't do anything exciting, we just do what we like to do, which is eat, shop, watch movies, eat, shop, laze, eat, play bingo, (yeah, like old people play), and sleep. This trip we had dinner, drinks and dancing at Paul's in Helen. The next morning had us up early to shop...and I don't mean outlets or malls. We go to all the local thrift stores, church yard sales, consignment stores and garage sales we can find. We all have 'something' we are looking for. SF always looks for craft and teaching supplies for the daycare she owns and operates. I was looking for Tiki Party decorations. The others had nothing in particular in mind, but found treasures. SF and I hit the jackpot at a church sale. She got lots of crafts and supplies for a Western Themed party she is having for her daycare kids. I found tons of Tiki/Luau party decorations and supplies I need for a friend's retirement party! We were both very happy.


(Aunt J, MS, SMR - Aunt J is Mom to these two sisters)

When we are in or near Helen, we always have to visit two places; Nora Mills Granary and Betty's General Store. I sampled grits and bought sorghum syrup, blueberry and pear preserves, and a pecan roll at Nora Mills. SMR got funnel cake mix for her kids. At Betty's we got all the supplies needed for an 'at home' dinner...bread, tomatoes, mayo, and chips for tomato sandwiches. It is not in good taste to leave Betty's without sampling the salsas and mustard dips. It is a sin to leave Betty's without purchasing at least one of the saucer sized cookies from the deli/bakery. I kid you not, the cookies are homemade, and the size of a saucer, if not bigger. The peanut butter cookies are scrumptious, but the chocolate oatmeal are to die for! And they are only $1.59 each! If you are on Weight Watchers, they count for all 35 of your EXTRA points for the week!

Just a year ago, SF and I gladly took the tiny center bedroom with twin size bunk beds to avoid being trapped in a room with any of the other ladies, who were notorious snorers. But these particular cousins had gastric by-pass surgery last year and have both lost over one hundred pounds each and no longer snore. Therefore; SF and I drug the mattresses off the twin beds and pulled them into the living room and got the best sleep ever since these trips began, years ago. Yes, into the same room with MS, a previous log-sawer. I think SF and I did any of the snoring if any occurred. SMR, however, drew the short straw to sleep with Aunt J in the back bedroom and barely got any sleep at all...because Aunt J (who is her Mom) did not have gastric bypass and still snores. Or most notably, she does a thing with her mouth like swoosh (big intake of air) and puh, puh, puh, puh, puh (short little bursts of air blown out of her pursed lips). It's very annoying and nearly impossible to sleep through.

Saturday night we spent the evening playing Bingo with all the other mountaineers and SF won a round, and then we watched chick flicks late into the night. Sunday morning we packed it up and made one last stop before heading home...the Huddle House in Cleveland, where our delightful waiter entertained us between bringing us scrambled eggs, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, and coffee. SF left him her Bingo winnings for his tip, which was well earned.

Other things going on in my life...driving Courage back and forth to the airport (she flew up to see BF at Fort Lajuene, NC), taking my Dad to various doctor appointments, and working over time to make up time lost when taking Dad to various doctor appointments. I am ONLY A TEMP, so I don't have vacation or sick time to use for such things. Thank the Good Lord, my supervisor lets me make up time when possible.


(SF is proud of her Bingo winnings.)

My house is a wreck, (who has time to clean?????), I am sleep deprived, and haven't been exercising like I should. But it is well with my soul. The Hubster and I did take time out to see a couple of movies...Star Trek, which we both loved (yes, we are nerds) and Obsessed, which was very predictable and quite the let down. Better luck next time, Beyonce.