Vogel State Park summer camping

A Georgia summer would NOT be complete without a camping trip to my 2nd favorite park,  Vogel State Park.  It's located about 3 hours from home (with a trailer and traffic) in the Smokies.

It has swimming, hiking, fishing, putt putt, and usually TONS of families.  And it is beautiful - located in the valleys around Blood Mountain and Slaughter Mountain (I know).  Despite the names...

We pulled into the campground after harrowing traffic (again) and tried to go to our favorite site.  It took forever to get backed in....then our cords and hoses were not long enough to reach to the hookups...so we left again (empty site sadness).

Luckily our 2nd favorite site, right nearby - home of the infamous 'Jessie fell off the retaining wall incident of 2012' was still open.  These are my favorite sites because they hook right up to the hiking trails, and you can hear the creek running nearby.

After we arrived, relaxed and took it easy, and had bit of dinner.  Jeff bought a bunch of firewood from the camp store - because usually Vogel wood is "not too wet".  Um.  Yeah.  Not this time.  We went through a LOT of lighter fluid after giving it the good ol' college try for a couple hours.

We also paid our penance to Blood Mountain from the same retaining wall...Jeff had an "incident" while trying to get said fire going...it's steeper than it looks!

On Saturday we FINALLY got the state geocache but didn't do much other hiking - it's really pretty strenuous here and I didn't feel up to it.  But we DID go swimming - or at least tried to.  The weather was absolutely beautiful - high of 71 degrees.  But a spring-fed mountain lake in that temperature is COOOOLD.  We lasted maybe an hour in the water and then just watched people paddle boat and kayak at the rental marina.

All in all - not our "typical" Vogel experience but definitely fun, relaxing, and wonderful!

Garage Sale

If I didn't know it, feel it, and think it already...I am officially old.

 I had a garage sale. 

It's that time when you have been "out in the world" long enough to get rid of your old stuff because you have upgraded in some way.

 For example - 

coffee pot upgraded to a Keurig

 dishes upgraded to new dishes (after 10 years)

 silverware was rusted and upgraded to new stuff 

painted rooms required new artwork, so looking for an outlet for the old 

changed light fixture in the dining room because it's now a fish room

 weed whacker was corded and now is cordless 

Purses...changed 

And the list goes on... 

I actually didn't have that much "stuff" - but I took my 2 tables over to my neighbor's house last Friday and Saturday and combined, we had a whole bunch! She made out WAY better than I did, but I'm not too unhappy that I sold some of my stuff. 

Our neighborhood is also planning to have a big sale in the fall, so I will just put out the rest of it then. 

Also, my momma visited! And what better way to celebrate getting rid of your junk and making room in your house...than bringing NEW stuff in! Well, new to us anyway. 

We spent a long time at a high-end furniture consignment store, considering chairs, dining sets, headboards, artwork, curtains...you name it. We came home with quite a bit of stuff, but all at probably 30-50% of the cost of when it was new. Gotta love that!! 

We also spent a ton of time just relaxing together. Those are my favorite times when family comes to visit! So thanks for the (somewhat) laid-back time, Mom!

London!

Whew. I have NOT flown internationally for a loooong time.  Last week I left Atlanta for London, departing on Sunday and returning on Friday afternoon.

Ok.  Let's be clear.  Travel "sounds" glamorous.  And it is fun to see new things.  But here is what I saw for the MAJORITY of the time while I was there:

1. the airport
2. the hotel lobby
3. my hotel room
4. the conference room we met in
5. the airport kitchen
6. the airport

And of course...HELLO JET LAG!

We have some great enhancements on board coming up VERY SOON but were severely behind in making some key decisions so we were super busy working every day.

There were 2 fun things I did make some time for -

Maze by Gordon Ramsay

Our working group was taken out to dinner by a supplier to one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants, and sat in the private dining room.  It was one of the most special food experiences I've had.  Here was the "Chef's menu" (you don't choose anything, they have paired all the courses for you):

Chef’s menu

Chilled watercress soup, lemon yoghurt

~

Marinated yellow fin tuna, compressed apple,

coriander, horseradish, ponzu

~

Foie gras and smoked duck, 

cherries, wet almonds, Sauternes gel

~

Dumpling of lobster, tiger prawn and salmon,

aromatic lemongrass broth

~

Lamb cannon, Jersey royal potato, broad beans, mint sauce

~

Murcia al Vino, quince jelly, crystalised walnuts

or

Peach Melba

~

Cold bitter chocolate fondant, mango and lime jam,

lemon grass ice cream

Right?  I know.  This part was very lucky for me.  And special.

The other fun thing was my colleague and friend Joanne took me on the Tube from the airport to downtown after work one day, and we spent 2 hours at Harrods, lunching and browsing and people watching.  It was super fun, and the weather was FABULOUS!  Like low 70's, sunny, no humidity.

I was so ready to come home on Friday though - I missed my bed, my time zone, and most of all my honey bear.  Home sweet home!

Robins Nest!

Jeff and I feed the birds in our backyard (a lot).  We normally (when we are not battling a RACCOON BASTARD) have the following options for our birdies to enjoy:

1. Squirrel proof tube feeder with a classic mix of sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, millet, peanuts

2. Blue perch-style feeder, also squirrel proof, with a variety of nuts and dried fruits

3. Hummingbird feeder with lots of nectar OR a thistle feeder (depending on the season) 

4. Two small tray feeders with pepper coated, shelled sunflower seeds

5. A birdbath

All of this is on our backyard deck, so all day long the birdies sing in the trees and come down to have a bite to eat.

Well, the other day we were sitting in the office,   which looks into the front porch and yard - and saw this:

Ok, ok - I konw it's probably impossible to see but we have ROBINS that built their baby bird nest in our FRONT TREE!!!

Yes, the front tree - where we have no feed, no water, nothing...but a window to look out of and watch the mama feed them.  

We actually heard chirp-chirp-chirp before we saw them.  Jeff finally spotted what all the ruckus was about.  We have SO been enjoying watching the little guys eat and grow up!

Top 5 things a TV serial killer taught me

Jeff and I have been watching Dexter, and just finished up Season 2 (Ice Truck Killer season) and started Season 3 (Trinity Killer season).

I know it's kind of the premise of the show...but I more-than-relate to this serial killer at times...and I think it's ok (?).

Top 5 ways relating to a murderous member of society might be ok

1.  He takes no shit. Well, he might in the short term, possibly to keep the peace or perhaps for political or personal gain...that stare and lack of response / reacton is something I could definitely work on adapting to my own style. Also while knowing "it will work out in the end" but not in knifing kind of way.

2.  Normal social responses to absurdities are foreign to him...but that same shit being said during the internal monologues might also go through my head.

3.  Realizing you never know someone's whole story is a powerful self-discovery tool.   Harry was flawed. We all are. Sometimes it is ok to realize that and begin the acceptance process.  For them and for yourself. 

4.  Hobbies can sometimes border on obsession but you have to remember to still keep your house in order.  In my crochet heyday, I could skip meals, not sleep, wear dirty clothes...but eventually someone will notice. Balance, people.

5.  No one is normal.  Duh.

Homebodies.

Jeff and I haven't done ANYTHING fun lately. We have been total homebodies. Because

1.  We are trying to save money. And doing cool stuff costs MOOLA. Even if its just extra gas.

2.  It's been raining ALL. THE. TIME.  Or like, 50% chance of rain which takes the fun right out of hiking.

3.  If it's not raining, it's like 80% humidity and 90 degrees.  Also not fun to be outside.

4.  All the movies I want to see are at the Carmike, which I hate. And I have a gift certificate to Regal but nothing good is playing there.

5.  We discovered Dexter. Seriously, how can two uber TV nerds have missed that one!?   No matter, we're catching up now.

At least we have True Blood to look forward to.  And the dog days of summer will be over soon...then its time for FALL CAMPING!

Daybed question

POLL: Daybeds...are they cool and practical, or weird?

We have a twin bed in our extra room that just doesn't fit very well sticking out in the room the "normal way".

However, it looks pretty good nested between the two windows in that room.

But is it weird to sleep in a bed sideways?  Or is it no big deal?  Anyone out there tried one?

I like the concept and how it looks but am concerned about the functionality. Also, feng shui...wonder how that factors in?

Oh the decisions of life.

Welcome royal baby!

I don't understand why so many people around me are "over" the new little English prince that was born Monday.

I am thrilled for them! 

I for one, while not following the duchess's pregnancy super closely, do remember she had trouble in the beginning and was hospitalized. 

Then, more recent photos showed her stylishly showing off her bump while still maintaining all her duties and appearances.

Best wishes to William and Kate and their new bundle of joy!

If it would ever stop raining...

Well.   Harumphhh.  It rained all 4th of July week. Its been "threatening" rain for almost 2 weeks. 80% humidity when its not raining. I'm OFFICIALLY over it!!

Jeff has decided to just be super productive and try to ignore it. Enter: the power washer.

He borrowed one from our neighbor on Friday and spent a pretty significant amount of time washing stuff...

It started out as moving everything off the deck and getting all the algae off (yes, in Georgia its algae and not dirt you are cleaning).

Then as long as the patio furniture was down, might as well do that.

Oh, and we've been struggling with a damn racoon eating our birdseed and hummingbird nectar...and he broke my birdbath...so might as well take all that stuff down, clean it, and rearrange it...

Gosh, the back looks so much better, we ought to do the front porch. And the rocking chairs.  And the weatherproof cushions.  And the table.  Oops a chair is broken, haul it to the basement...

Hmmm...what else? Well the mower smells a bit like wet grass so we will do him too. 

And that, my friends, is how a project takes on a life of its own! And I am so grateful because everything looks MUCH better. 

Our Favorite: Fort Mountain recap

We took some time to ourselves in early June to visit our favorite state park, Fort Mountain State Park in Chatsworth, GA.

We were afraid of rain (AGAIN)...and on the drive up on Friday it rained, and it rained Friday night...but Saturday dawned a wonderful - if not humid - morning!

We had a leisurely breakfast of oatmeal and prepared for our hike while waiting for some of the humidity to burn off.  We decided hiking in 65 degrees but 95% humidity is much worse than 75 degrees and 70% humidity, so the couple hour delay was no big deal.

Fort Mountain is one of our favorite places for a couple reasons - but one is the hiking trails.  Our very favorite trail is the Gold Rush trail where you literally hike up a running creek bed, dodging in and out of the magnolias in bloom.  It is tricky, and uphill, but it's so beautiful and fun - like you're playing in the water - that the work doesn't seem like work at all!

Once we got to the end of that trail, we made the decision to carry on to the backcountry trail.  It's a trail with beautiful vistas and waterfalls, and a really cool boulder field to traverse.  As we approached the boulder field this time, we saw maybe 75 people dressed in pioneer costumes, hauling wagons (like old timey wagons), and gear, and themselves, all while hooting and hollering.  It was QUITE the sight in the middle of nowhere and I'm certain we won't see anything in the backcountry like that again!  (When we got back to the main area we asked a ranger who they were.  They were a local LDS church group who make the trek every year to honor their families who settled in the area.)

After almost 6 miles of hiking, we got back to camp..and it was HOT.  So we put on our suits and headed to the BEACH!!!  After having a quick hot dog of course (we were starving!! A Clif bar on the trail is not enough sustenance).

The water was COLD but felt good on the nice hot day.  We have so much fun bobbing around together, and I play this game where I swim away and then swim towards Jeff as fast as I can.  Then we bob around some more, and people watch the parents on the beach.  My favorite people watching moment this time was this kid who backed all the way up to the stone wall, and then seriously WENT FOR IT running into the water and tried to body surf.  In a lake.  It was hilarious, the reckless abandon he showed!

Back to the camper for a quick dinner outside, then a great campfire and smores!  It was just what we needed to reconnect, forget our grief for awhile, and relax.