North GA Mountains

As I alluded to in my last post, my parents were visiting us this past week from Texas and we had a GREAT TIME.  Can't lie and say I'm not a little pooped out - they kept us very busy!  My parents like to go-go-go...


We wanted to do something different this time, since we had explored most of Atlanta on their previous trips. They had not seen the new house, so exploring that (and getting them to help on a few small tasks) was also on the agenda.  We decided a short trip to the North Georgia Mountains would be just the adventure.


Helen, GA is a little German village that celebrates Oktoberfest each year, among other things.  We went on a very busy Sunday and enjoyed the usual:  eating good German brats, drinking some brew, and finding little shops to drag the boys into. 

Hanging in Helen with little Greycie

That night we stayed in Haiwassee, GA, which is another little mountain town without all the crowds.  They make up for nightlight and restaurants in antique stores and farmer's stands.   I continued my search for antique washboards (for my laundry room that I'm redoing), and we stocked up on Northern GA specialties:  apples, boiled peanuts, and jams.

Beautiful Sunset

Beautiful sunrise - GOOD MORNING, Gorgeous.

Look who has his new toy... :)

From there, we headed up the mountain to Georgia's tallest peak:  Brasstown Bald.  Funny name, but beautiful view.  We completed the steep hike to the top where we could see all the changing leaves.  Just gorgeous!

Looking back over Hiawassee

Who would have thought that some of these shots were from right here in Georgia?  No need to fight the leafers up in New England when you got these lovely colors down South. 

After such a fun trip to the mountains, a great time hanging around Atlanta, and a few lbs added to our waistlines, we were very sad to see my parents head back to Texas.  Well, almost everyone...Carmen was not a big fan of Greycie, my parent's 5lb poodle, and stayed hidden in our bathroom sink for most of the week.  (Safe to say our little gal might not react too well to the canine sister that James wants to bring home!) 

My Green Thumbs

For the record, I have no green thumbs...yet.  My mother is quite handy in a flowerbed, but I have never had an opportunity to learn (and the houseplants I've practiced on have all suffered from my ineptitude.)

When we bought the house, we saw these pretty scroll hooks on the big tree outside our deck - perfect for a hanging pot!  I found some pots within the first week...and then they sat empty....for 6 months.  We even had lots of little get togethers on our new deck, with people commenting "what happened to the flowers?"  This didn't even shame me enough to attempt actually planting them.

So when my parents came up this week it was definitely on my "parents-do" list that I had going.  Yesterday we had our first taste of bad weather (cold, rainy - is it now FALL!?), so we decided it was a good time to plant.  We headed to Pike's, who may have the friendliest, most knowledgeable plant specialists on the planet.  They were very patient through my questions like 'do these need to be cared for on a consistent basis?'   (I think their response was, 'yes, hon...just about all the plants here require care...')  I found one plant with a label: THRIVES ON NEGLECT.  Now, that is my type of plant!

We first decided on pansies and then the Pike's people helped me to figure out some other hearty, cold-weather-loving greenery to add in.  An hour (yes, this took a FULL HOUR) later, we were ready to go. (I didn't even have potting soil before this adventure, so it was quite the shopping trip.)

Under my Mother's careful supervision, I managed to plant the hanging pots - and they look pretty darn good, if I say so myself!  Mother wanted to document that I was actually 'in the dirt', so she caught these lovely shots of probably the most unattractive position I could have been in (sorry, neighbors!)  I'll need to work on my planting pose.

 

 And the finished product....TA-DA!!

So, first potted plants, what is next?  An actual flower bed?  Maybe an herb garden?  Oh the possibilities now that I have some greenish thumbs!  Before I get ahead of myself, let's see how long these babies last...   :)

Charleston, SC

It seems like a distant memory now, but James and I did celebrate our two year anniversary last month with a little getaway. We kept it to a weekend trip that was 1) driveable, 2) a fun city, and 3) new for both of us.  Outcome:  Charleston, SC

We headed out on Friday morning, after starting out the trip at a very special place: the Waffle House.  This is one of many anniversaries that we’ve spent at the Wahoo, as there no better way to celebrate true love than with a buttermilk waffle.  James thought he would be stingy and not let me eat his hashbrowns, so I just ate them off his plate without permission.  I think I’m allowed to do that now that I’ve been his wife for so long…

I wasn't nearly as organized as I usually am - I mean, no calendar invites or spreadsheet schedules or nothing!  Well, except for food.  Restaurant reservations were priority #1 when we decided on this foodie city.  (Of course the week that we went, Bon Appetit named Husk, a new Charleston restaurant, as one of the top in the world, but unfortunately I did not see it until it was too late to get in.)

Wild Blueberry and Vanilla Bean Souffle

Too stuffed to walk!  Thank goodness for Pedi-cabs!

Best Darn Pimento Cheese

Parmesan-Crusted Trout on top of Carolina Rice and other Goodness

Southern Bouillabaisse

South Carolina BBQ - bring on the mustard!

 The good news for our waistline was that we were walking when we were not eating.  My favorite thing about the city was the architecture!  We spent hours walking up and down the streets, through graveyards, and window shopping.

 

 

As far as "touristy" things went, we did hit up a few recommended places:  the Old Exchange Building (famous during the revolution), the Market, and Ft. Sumter (famous during, of course, the Civil War).   Honestly, I don’t remember too much about the Old Exchange Building except that I think they filmed the Patriot there.  Oh, and that George Washington had entertained a large group of Southerners there after the Revolution. Lastly, there was a dungeon which had been used to house Patriots (although I don’t think anyone ever died, so it wasn’t that scary of a dungeon.)

We were able to get through the Market is probably record time - nothing quite grabbed our fancy except an original Charleston Hooker, which James had to have!   (For those who aren't familiar, the Charleston Hooker is an actual hook, not what you might have feared....)

 
Ft. Sumter was cool but surprisingly small, considering what all its attack triggered in this country.  The boat ride over included a very fascinating overview of the Civil War; one that I’m sure some of our Northern friends (or actual historians) would have raised an eye brow at.  The place itself…tiny.  However, I’m very glad we saw it!

(We Heart Plaid!)

6 Flags over Ft. Sumter

Original Cannons - we were told NOT to get in them under any circumstance.  James is considering it...

   

The entire trip was wonderful - we had a great time and loved a few days of uninterrupted time together.  XOXO to my honey, for two great years (and many more to come!)