It's Blue and It's a Ridge

Brief update...first...I believe I lasted 72 hours on the dating site...was NOT for me. Lack of time, energy and patience spurred me to delete that idea. Second...Little Big Man H informed me yesterday that YES he does want to play football (his friend DJ is playing) after I begged all summer to sign him up. He may have waited to late :(.

So on to our adventure from yesterday...

It's Blue, It's a Ridge and we went!

The kids and I took off to the Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday. Have to say it was a fabulous day, the ever elusive Super Mom status was almost reached. There was one melt down by Little M, luckily it was short lived.

We headed up Hwy 52 and the conversation flowed in the car...love it when that happens. We covered everything from music, ideal places we would like to live to nipple hair (H found one).

As we neared the VA border the Hwy became a little two lane road lined with yard sales. The results was very slow moving traffic. Every other yard had tables line up with junk for sale and if there were multiple tables then it was a Flea Market. As we are winding our way through the little town I notice three men up ahead walking on the side of the road waving to cars as they pass by. My first thought is "Oh how nice the local mountain men are being friendly". So as we near them I wave back, only right to respond back with the friendly gesture...right? As soon as I had waved and we passed by them Little Big Man H shouted a loud "MOM?". Of course I was replying back with the standard "WHAT????" "all I did was wave from the car at the friendly mountain men". Little Big Man H informed me that NO they were not friendly but that what we had just seen was the KKK. I drove in a stunned silence and then it hit me, H was right. What I had taken as a wave was really the Nazi salute and they were carrying a large wooden item that was nothing other than a cross. Well of course my skin started to crawl and Little M voiced concern that she wanted to go home lol. So the remainder of conversation centered around hate that people have, the evil it can cause and my stupidity . Once on the parkway the ugliness disappeared.

We headed for Chateau Morrisette.

We walked around the grounds for a while till the next tour started. The kids found some rocks to climb...

And the ever beautiful Little M had to pose in the colorful chairs...

The tour of the winery stated and it was a fairly large crowd. H seemed to find it interesting and was able to repeat several facts after it was over lol. M was not as thrilled but since it was a short tour her patience lasted. When we were in the above ground cellar all was quiet as the crowd listen intently to the guide. All of a sudden there is this very loud and echoing POP sound. People actually jumped and all turned around to see my son looking up and around as if nothing had happened. He was messing with some sort of container and cause the lid to produce this sound. At least is was not one of the $1,000 oak barrels holding the wine. Truthfully I did not know whether to laugh or scold him...I choose the giggling and acted like I did not know him. It did provide a good laugh for all of us after it was said and done.

On to find a trail to hike...

After leaving the winery we head back down the Parkway (in the wrong direction I might add) and came across a beautiful over look. H took off and found a couple of trails.

This was Little M's one melt down. H is trying to get her to calm down. It worked and she was a happy camper once again.

The trail was pretty narrow but did offer some fabulous views of the mountains. The kids loved the fact that you could see why the parkway is called the Blue Ridge Parkway.


We came across some rocks that I thought would make a great shot and asked the kids to lean up against them. Little M climbed on top and looked over and then very quickly backed down and informed me that she would NOT be posing for a photo there...because it was a grave. Now I am thinking surely she has it wrong and I go over to investigate. Sure enough there are flowers, candles and letters. I tried to explain to Little M it was not an actual grave but a spot were someone had died. Needless to say after all of our TV viewing of Ghost Hunters and A Haunting we picked the pace up and left.

After a little hiking we headed to Mabry Mill (going in the right direction this time).


After walking around and checking out all the tools in the mill we headed to the gift shop. The kids wanted something to drink...they ended up with ice cream, chips and a soda. Stomach's full was a good thing on the way back. They slept and I got to play my music :).

All in all it was a great day...one of those memories that need to be cherished.

A Month Away

Yep it has been awhile.

Have to say overall life is very good. Downsizing was the best thing we could have done. The kids and I still have the normal bumps in the road but we deal with them and move on to better things.

The kids are back in school and we are still trying to get use to that schedule. Last school year I was home and it was much easier yet once again we are working through it. A small issue I know but have to say it was nice being home for them. Oh well no complaints very thankful I have a steady paycheck for now.

Speaking of paychecks work is overwhelming. As I sit day in and day out with the other members on the project I wonder how in the hell I ended up here. Then the next thought is...soak up as much information as possible and try try try to shine lol. One thing I have learned in my 42 years is that situations will work out the way they are suppose to if we stop trying to control every aspect.

With work and the kids, photograph has taken a back seat and that has hurt. So a promise to myself...hold the camera more! I miss my boyfriend Mr. Nikon :).

The hair is growing, almost to my shoulders and I have held off from coloring although the desire has been strong to make the gray disappear.

As most of you know I have stayed away from the dating thing, but I did something this weekend that I am now regretting. JOINED A DATING SITE! Its kind of like shopping for a fabulous pair of heals yet you are on the Wal Mart website :(. Guess that is some what harsh there is one gentleman that has the ability to form a sentence and to compose an e-mail that has some substance. Really don't think I will last long with this adventure.

I was spurred to try a dating site due to a conversation with my daughter Little M. We were in the car talking and I made the statement "I don't need a man do I" the wisdom of a ten year old was "YES YOU DO...you are becoming the old woman with the cats" :(...so here I am giving it a try.

Sooooo there it is...a brief update for the few beautiful readers I have. I am going to try to do a weekly blog. Everyday is impossible but I am thinking Sunday mornings work well.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying Life!

Laura

Pissed? Who Me?

Ummmm...Yeah...Me

If you read the last post lonely with the kids gone. Well I can safely say that Mr. Spike Lee is too.

My couch

Yea...big ass hole!

Alright can fix this...flip it...no one will know.

What???? There is a second offense?

YES!!!!!

My absolutely favorite pair of shoes! You know...the shoes you can just look at and feel sexy...destroyed!

Mr. Spike Lee chewed the strap completely through.

Okay so what else could go wrong one ask....

The Izzy...

Missing again!

The cat that only remains outdoors 15 minutes at a time, has been gone for over 24 hours again.

Well at least someone could care less...

Midg posing


Typical she could care less about the household.




**** Update!!! During the time it took to create the post...Izz showed back up. Scared us...Spike pressed all up on the window going crazy...took me a second to recognize the face in the window. But at last my child is back home!!!!