Just an Update

You know I can't post without a picture so here is a lovely sunrise picture for you.  I took it from the parking lot at work early one morning.  I am still bummed about my sprained ankle as it is robbing me of the precious fall days that we are having.  I am working but that is all.  Today I made a quick trip to the drug store next to work for a couple of items  - that was my big outing.  I am missing being out and about taking pictures and  before I know it, it will be winter, the trees will be bare and everything will be brown.  Brown makes me sad.

But, not to panic because on Friday I am flying to San Diego to visit my son and his family - the Little Grandson's as opposed to my Big Grandsons.  Little ones are 2 1/2 and 5.  Big ones are 19 and 20.  And - Christie, mother of the Big ones, is going with me!  We plan on have LOTS and lots of fun!  But, I was panicking about all that airport walking so I called Delta and they said they would provide me with a wheelchair.  Another new experience for me!

I was browsing a few local blogs today and realized that "From the Land of Palm Trees" Doug, had mentioned me in his blog!  How nice of him - so I shall do the same.  Check him out!  Click here! 

Once a Sailor

After our vacation with our friends, Heather sent me a flash drive with all the pictures she had taken on our trip. I had shared all of mine with her before she left. One of her pictures from downtown Charleston really jumped out at me and it wasn't until today that I took the time and searched my database of pictures and found the one I wanted. It is amazing - boat people just always gravitate to "boat things", like anchors on walls. This is my picture taken May 16, 2010 -

This is Heather's picture taken August 26, 2011. Aren't we amazing?

Goodnight, Irene

Because of Hurricane Irene the last part of our trip changed from our original plan.  The hurricane was headed right for Mollie's home in Virginia Beach, VA.  Mollie's home isn't just any ordinary home but a lovely boat on the bay.  She needed to get home fast!  So, we rearranged our plans and as soon as we finished with our tour at Maker's Mark we headed back to Charleston - but we could not make it that day.  The plan was to find a place to spend the night and have Mollie back to Charleston and her vehicle by noon the next day.   We did a quick online search and with a couple of phone calls we had THIS!!

We ended up arriving at the Cranmore Cottages at dusk after a dinner in Hendersonville, NC at one of our favorite pubs there - Hannah Flanagans!  Now, granted, they charged us a lot more than they would have if we had made reservations before and weren't 5 people but just look at what we got on the spur of the moment!

This was just the cutest little place.  Two bedrooms, two baths and poor Mollie had the sleep on the sofa again. (and then get up, ride 4 hours and then drive 8 to get home)

We didn't have time to enjoy the fireplace, the jacuzzi, the view or the just darned right comfy atmosphere.

But each one of us agreed we would go back in a flash!  It was so cute and well done.  You would have loved it!

Check them out at their website.  They really are very reasonable.  Cranmore Cottages  We were in the Treehouse.

It didn't take us long to unload the wine and relax!  Great spot - even if just for a quick stop!

Joan's Secret Garden

I was reading a blog by my "Blog Friend", Joan Perry, titled Secret Garden and the picture just looked so familiar.  It took me all of 15 seconds to locate my picture of the same garden.  Joan has been my inspiration for my "My View of Charleston and the Lowcountry" Blog.  Joan, aren't we amazing??

Maker's Mark

Maker's Mark.  It was the best of the best as far as tours go.  I am sorry it is last because you are probably so tired of my Kentucky Bourbon Trail pictures and stories.  But don't pass this one up.  It was fantastic!

The trip just finding this place was amazing.  We just kept trusting our GPS and finally, well, there we were.  In the middle of far out nowhere Kentucky was the beautiful distillery.  It made us think that maybe it got it's beginnings in the old Moonshine days???  Very out of the way place.  But just look at the beauty.  I don't have room and you don't have the patience to look at all my pictures so I have chosen some to depict each aspect.

The buildings were all painted dark brown with red shutters.  It really was stunning. (Some of these pictures you just NEED to click on to see the large one.  Much better.)

We got to see the workings of filling the bottles, putting the labels on, dipping them in the hot red wax and then boxing them up to go.

It is hard to see here but the labels are going on.

We loved watching these ladies dip the bottles in the wax.  They didn't seem to mind at all that there were 25-30 people watching them work.

Here you can see the wax sealing the bottle.  It is their trademark.

Just look at all the bourbon! 

Each of the distilleries had lovely warehouses that smelled oh, so good!

The tasting room here was just the best.  It was all the color of bourbon and the glasses sparkled in the bourbon colored light.  How could you not love it?

This was very serious business!

CHEERS!

Fancy Food

I have sprained my ankle so badly that I won't be out having any fun for a while. It happened early Saturday morning, it is now Monday afternoon and I still can't walk on it. But - I borrowed this really cool wheelchair from a friend and am having so much fun (?) with it. Whole new perspective!

I am on the planning committee for the holiday party for my company and last Friday we went down to the Marriott Hotel to sample some of the lovely foods we might decide to serve at the party.  They were so simply presented that you KNOW I had to drag out my camera.

First we had a Tortilla Pinwheel, a Pork Quesadilla and a Spring Roll.

Next we had a Bacon Wrapped Scollop, Chicken Lollipop and a Mini Beef Wellington.

 I loved these Mini Filet Tacos.

 And of course the best was the last - fruit with Chocolate Fondue and a chocolate chip cookie thrown in for good measure.

 No pictures of people because it was all kind of stuffy but shouldn't have been because the host even bought us each a glass of wine.  But the food was all really, really good!

Now, do you want a picture of me in the wheelchair??

How to Enjoy the Beach

I don't think this needs any comment from me. Enjoy.

We Didn't Finish Kentucy!

We decided that the wine in Kentucky is right up there with the wine in North Carolina!  As we continued our trip on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail we took a side trip to check out a vineyard and a winery.  It was just gorgeous; everything about it was beautiful, from the trip through the country to find it, to the rows of grapes and the tasting room.  But the wine was not repeatable. 

The tastings were five dollars each but fortunately the nice wine glasses were included in that and Jim and Heather couldn't take theirs with them on the plane so guess who now has 4 new wine glasses!  The best part about them is that they go in the dishwasher!  That is always a good thing.

There were acres and acres of vinyards and the plants with grapes were covered in netting to protect from birds.  Makes sense but not pretty pictures.

The grapes were gorgeous but the wine was not.  Of course this crew had a wonderful time anyway!

Meet Charlie

Well, Charlie has hatched and we now have our very own little dinosaur! He has a problem with his leg though and can't stand but we found him a prop so he should be just fine. He loves being at work with me as he gets lots of attention.

Charlie is Growing!

By tomorrow Charlie should have busted out of his egg!  Stay tuned!