Sunday, August 19, 2012

Kitchen Mods

With only 3 weeks left here at the Bend, I realized I needed to get back in gear on my changes.  Yesterday I worked on painting the table my brother made for me.  Will need to get more paint and finish that up this week.  Did get to work on some changes in the kitchen. 
Here's my new surround at the stove.  Went to Lowe's and bought 2 12x24 faux ceiling tiles that I put up on the wall to the left of the stove top and at the backside.  I chose the watery looking pattern instead of the traditional ceiling tile look.  I think it has more of a retro 50s look that I like.


Here's the main counter area.  I HATED the old wallpaper border.  Ivy?  Really?  I got lucky and found a set of vinyl placemats at Marshalls for $7 (less the over 55 discount since it was Tuesday) that had a metalic look that went well with the metal tiles.  Decided to keep the hanging rack but did away with some of the items I had there that I really don't use.

Gotta have room for the toaster oven!  And please overlook the red grippers on top of the oven.  Some days I can't open a thing without them.

And here's the view out the back window.  The metal strip across the top of the border is faux metal strip that comes with the faux tin tiles.  The adult chocolate milk now holds dishwashing soap.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

New Neighbors

With only 3 weeks left here at the Bend, I was really surprised to see the new neighbors that set up next to me for the night.  I wouldn't be surprised to see them if I were in Arizona or Nevada, but there's not much off road camping around here.  Pretty awesome rigs.  What was really awesome to me was that the kids were all girls with the exception of one boy.  So the dads are teaching the girls to go for the gusto in their camping styles.  You rock, dads!


Tuesday, August 7, 2012

I Don't Know Nuthin Bout Birthin Babies, Miz Scarlet!

Probably one of the most memorable lines from Gone With the Wind, well, except maybe the final line.  Still, it does sum up my experience with childbirth.  I have never given birth.  It just wasn't in the cards for me.  In fact, there is research being done about Factor Five Leiden (a blood disorder I inherited) and pregnancy issues.  So maybe it wasn't meant to be.  My years in the classroom gave me enough of a taste of raising kids to make me think not being a mother may not be such a bad thing.  But I am a grandmother.

While you are scratching your heads on that one, I will confuse you even more by saying that at 48 I became a great-grandmother.  Ah, the perks of being married to an older man.  You see, my stepdaughter and I are the same age (well, technically I am 6 months older) so when she became a grandmother I became a great-grandmother.  But that's really splitting hairs.  Aiden and Addy (yes, twins) think of me as Granny Vickie and I love them dearly.  They never question the fact that they have so many grandmothers.  Maybe some day they will and I will do my best to help them understand.  Mostly I will hope they always remember their PawPaw.  They were almost 3 when he died, but they were the world to him.  He was just so excited they day they were born and he got to hold them.  Since then 5 other "greats" have been added to the family.  I know he would have had the best time taking them hunting and making things for them in the woodshop. 

My brother Mike thought for a long time that he and Linda would never have kids.  In fact, the doctors had pretty much confirmed it, so they sold everything and moved to Florida to start their own business.  First thing they did was have 2 boys!  Now big brother is looking forward to his first grandchild, a girl, in December.  I already know a couple of things about this little girl: her name is going to be Michaela, she will go fishing with her grandpa as soon as she is able to hold a fishing pole, and her grandpa Mike will make her anything she wants in his woodshop.  And her grandmother Linda who is the craftiest person I know with a needle, will keep her covered in crocheted and handsewn quilts and clothes.  And she will be lavished with love. 

Isn't it funny how this birthing thing works out? 

Friday, August 3, 2012

Seven and Half State Parks - in 4 Days

It's been a busy week but eventful.  My last post I talked about needing to go somewhere.  Well, I went somewhere alright.  After a long hike last Sunday morning with a group of campers here at the park, Gus and I cleaned up, packed up, and drove across Atlanta to big brother Mike's house.  Of course Linda had one of my favorite foods waiting for me: homemade pimento cheese!  She's the best.

On Monday the three of us loaded up and drove to Richard Russell State Park where Mike and I walked the frisbee golf course to find a geocache I needed.  Well, not the whole course but up to hole 13 of 18.  After that we found a marker about the lost Confederate gold.  Very interesting stuff.  Tuesday morning we headed north on I85 to visit some parks and a museum in the easternmost corner of Georgia.  Tugaloo State Park was nice although Mike, the fisherman, was distressed to see the low water levels on the lake.  I enjoyed hiking the nature trail and finding another geocache.  Next we visited Tallulah Gorge where I completed my second canyon challenge.  Oh, my aching knees!  After lunch we drove to the top of Black Rock Mountain where I took the long way around the 2 mile loop trail but did find a geocache at 3,640 feet.  By that time it was nearly 4pm and I was soaking wet with sweat.  Glad Mike drove us home and even gladder to find that hot shower waiting for me. 

Wednesday morning I took off on my own to finish my tour of easternmost parks: Moccasin Creek, Unicoi, and Smithgall Woods.  Another full day of hiking trails although they were much easier than the ones the day before.  Wound up driving home through a hard rainstorm.  Believe me, I was quite happy to get back to the house where I indulged in another hot shower, another one of Linda's delicious hot meals, and chilling out in front of the tv with Mike. 

Thursday morning I tried to sleep late but Gus wanted to talk an early walk, so I decided to go ahead and pack up to head back to camp.  I enjoyed a brief visit with Mike's oldest and his wife who just learned they are expecting a girl in December.  Everyone is very excited about that upcoming event.  I didn't get to visit with Mike's youngest, and I was really looking forward to seeing all the changes he's been doing to his house.  Maybe next visit.

Gus and I got on the road after lunch and made a brief stop at Panola Mountain State Park.  I thought it would be an easy hike for Gus to do with me since the trail was an old golf cart path.  Unfortunately the trail was nearly a mile long and after about 200 yards Gus just layed down.  We headed back to the car and came on home to Seeker.  Was glad to see that all was just as we left it. 

So I'm over the cabin fever now.  Only 4 and half weeks till I leave here.  The weather is getting better for campers so I expect to be busier soon.  Two campers have already pulled in today!  Time to check the campsites!