My Random Musings | Peaches Prattlings

{January 13, 2024} A jam packed day!

Breakfast, hardware store, hardware store, haircut, hardware store, coffee shop, hardware store, paint store, brewery, home, move stuff, dog walk, rest. Oh my!

What a day! PSM let me sleep in and took the dogs for a long walk, it was great, I slept in until about 8am. Much needed after not falling asleep until about 330am, go figure. Even though I got about the same amount of sleep I normally do, there’s something about waking up on your own, no alarm, and after the sun comes up.

After bagels, we went to Harbor Freight to pick up a power screwdriver and craft desk/workbench for me and some drill bits for PSM. We were there the other day and I saw this Yukon, Three Drawer Hardwood Bench and I thought it would be perfect for my art studio. Something I’ll tell you about another time! I love it! The studio and the workbench! Not exactly looking forward to putting it together, but now that I have a new power screwdriver, I’m ready to go! I am now the proud owner of the bench and a Warrior Cordless Screwdriver Kit! Who’s with me getting excited about power tools?!

Next was Lowe’s to purchase the tile we were looking at for the kitchen renovation that starts on Monday, oh my! They had three boxes left, we needed five, go figure…but we found an associate to take the boxes down and found out that they had two more boxes at another location, score! The nice thing…we had appointments for hair cuts across the way, we’ll be back soon.

Across to Great Clips, we’re not fancy-schmancy folks when it comes to getting our hair cut. PSM does miss Sports Clips in St Louis, it was mostly the neck massage he misses. I used to go there too, since I like an almost high and tight, clippers work for me. But…we used to go to Great Clips as well and they do a good job. Let’s just say, having hair this short is great in the summer, but brrrr in the winter!

After hair cuts, we went back to Lowe’s to pick up the tiles, back to the house to drop off our purchases, then on to the Lowe’s in Palmyra, but along the way, we were thirsty, never got anything to drink with breakfast and we stopped into Swatara Coffee Company in Annville. According to the website, Swatara Coffee is a nationally recognized cafe using locally sourced ingredients and elevating Pennsylvania Dutch flavors. Bonus!

What a charming town, we haven’t spent a lot of time there, but we’re going to go back for sure. When the realtor was showing us around over the summer, we went through Annville, and we’ve driven through it a few times, but hadn’t stopped yet, but there are a few places on my list.

When we walked in, I immediately saw the mugs for the Lebanon Valley Java Journey! I got a text about this on Thursday, this is one of the things that happens in this area to get folks out, going to local places, and trying new things. It’s in its fifth year and it’s a trail of coffee shops across Lebanon County. There are 12 participating businesses, you purchase your Java Journey mug, we really liked them! And then at each location, they have a secret drink, which you can only get if you have one of the mugs. Once you make a purchase, you get a stamp in the ‘passport’. At the end, you turn in the passport and you’re entered into a drawing for prizes. You know me…I’m all about the swag!

While we were there, another couple had their mugs, we talked to them about it, then another two couples came in and we talked to them about it. They had done it in the past, and they made a day of it to go to all 12 places in one day! The hard part…the hours for the coffee shops is not condusive to weekday ventures, unless you can go before 2 or 3pm! So… it looks like we have our weekends set up until it’s over March 9th!

We love doing stuff like this, it gets us out and trying new places and cities, helps us explore, and…some of the places on the passport are already on my list of want to try! We are also doing a brewery passport tour, and someone told us about the Scooped ice cream tour in the summer! Cannot wait for that one!

PSM got the secret drink, I forgot what it was, sorry! and I was able to get a chait latte with mac milk, that’s macadamia nut for those not in the know, and we shared a french toast muffin. What a nice treat! I can’t wait to explore more coffee shops! Hmmm…maybe tomorrow morning we’ll try another. The hard part…remembering to bring the mugs!

Back in the car, off to Palmyra Lowe’s, got our tile, asked if there was a Harbor Freight nearby and they said yes, the one we were at earlier! ha ha. Next stop…Sherwin Williams for paint color books so we can figure out what color to paint the kitchen. We need to picks something that will compliment the grey cabinets, white marble countertops, and white-ish stone backsplash. Working on it, but we’re getting there!

Next, we needed lunch! We did a lot and it was time for food! We went to The Rotunda Restaurant and Brewery. This was an interesting place…in the front, or door we walked into, it was a bar/restaurant/brewery with a nice big bar to sit at, great big fireplace, cool decor, and in the back, there is a tiki bar! Yes, I said tiki bar! I did not take pictures of the tiki bar, I will save those for the next time we go!

We saddled up to the bar, placed a drink order, PSM got a flight of beers, I got hot tea, go figure…some of the beers were good, one, not so much, well, in his opinion, I tasted them all and, well, don’t ask me! We ordered food, I got the vegan refried bean tacos, and PSM got a burger. The food was good, the bartender was great, the other patrons at the bar were fun to chat with.

All told, we had a really good time and we look forward to going back!

After the Rotunda, back to Harbor Freight, I forgot something, PSM said he’s done with hardware stores for the day! I agree. Then home to finish clearing out the cabinets in the kitchen, pics of the whole process another time, you’re probably done with this post! After we cleared the cabinets, take the dogs for a walk and it was freezing! Temps in the 30s, winds 30-60 mph! I do love my winter parka and thank goodness for my new hat with the headlamp and the fuzzy lining, I would not have made it, my head was cold!

After that friends, isn’t that enough? Back home to put on comfy clothes, sweatpants were the order of the day! Then off to write to you to tell you about my day! I’m sitting here in my cozy sweatpants, a flannel top and my oversized sweatshirt. And I have a dog sitting under my desk, happily snoring away, what could be better?

Good night my friends. Cannot wait to find out what tomorrow brings! But whatever it is, you know I’ll share it!

{January 11, 2024} Nostalgia

I was going to tell you more about our trip to USVI, but I ate something that sent me down another path. I know, you’re surprised…ha ha

What did I eat? A piece of celery with peanut butter, and it was so good…I had to go make another one to munch on while I talk to you! I can’t remember if that was something my mom or dad would make us, but it makes me feel good. Another one was apples with peanut butter, either slicing the apples or using one of those apple wedgers and serving the apple slices with peanut butter. How about this…celery with cream cheese and paprika, so good!

Some things may sound odd to you, but they were comforting to me. Noodles and cream cheese, if we weren’t feeling well, that was something she would make for us, I still do that to this day, but it has to be wide egg noodles, you can do it with almost any noodle, but it really has to be something that can pick up the cream cheese as it’s soft and melted, maybe add a little salt. I remember my sister telling someone that she knew ACS was the one when, early on in their relationship, she wasn’t feeling well and he made her noodles and cream cheese, it’s the little things.

I was just telling someone about my mom making her meatloaf with a hard boiled egg in the middle, most people have never heard of this, but it was a special treat that she did for us, and if there wasn’t a hard boiled egg…it wasn’t the same. Warm milk with honey if we were sick made us feel better and even if it was just in our minds…I’m ok with that. I know, milk with meat, ha ha. Not to worry, the meatloaf was a treat and the milk with honey was a remedy.

And the gems my dad taught me…I could never eat New England claim chowder without a pat of butter melting on the top; rice pudding, right out of the pot is really much better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, specifically Bryer’s vanilla, and the strange one that just works…those cheese crackers with peanut butter in them? Smear some strawberry jam on top, oh man, you will not be disappointed!

I’m sure there are others, but at the moment, those are the ones that are on my mind and making me smile. I wonder what some of yours are.

{January 9, 2024} Wash, Dry, and Fold…No problem, but…

Put away, well… that’s another story.

Anyone who knows me knows I don’t have a problem with a good mess. What’s that saying? ‘a clean desk is the sign of a sick mind’ or a ‘messy desk is the sign of a genius’, well, neither apply to me, I can assure you, but tidy is just not me! Creative, yeah, that’s it!

It’s funny, I enjoy the lived-in look, I don’t like sterile, Messy Marvin, kindred spirit, but what I don’t like is dirt! ha ha. I will pick things up, clean, and put them back down! My parents were worried that the next world disease would start in my bedroom! The cleaners would come, I would pick everything up, they clean, I put it all back where it came from! In college, the clothes went from the closet to the desk to the bed, in one continuous stream!

I am not that bad anymore, I’m not the complete opposite, but in the common areas, like the living room, dining room, and kitchen, things are in their place, but lived in. I want people to feel like they can come in our house and put their feet up, please do!

Know what’s even crazier…I can organize the you-know-what out of someone else’s space! Need a closet overhaul? Need your garage organzied? Pantry straightened, medicine chest checked? Call me, I absolutely love it! But when it comes to my own stuff…well, that’s a different story! I know me, I’m ok with that!

So… back to my post. I will wash, dry, and fold laundry. I will unpack my bags, re-fold and pile everything on the bed ready to be put away. I will wash dishes, I will load the dishwasher. But when it comes to putting away, ugh…like pulling teeth! There have been times I have folded my laundry and just worked out of the basket. And you know what? I’m ok with it! The same can’t be said for a certain someone I live with! He unpacks his bag within 24 hours of getting home, I do admire that! If he knew where all my stuff went, I might be able to convince him to put them away for me!

It only took me 3 or 4 days to finally unpack, get all the laundry done, and put away after we got back from St Thomas. The bedroom is free from clutter, the baskets are all in their place and now…I can crawl into a freshly made bed and say…goodnight! Happy folding y’all!

{January 4, 2024} I’m so tired…why can’t I sleep?

Ok, best part of this post…I fell asleep! HA HA. What’s funny about this is I started the post about 11 something pm on Wednesday, January 3rd, my eyes were burning, I was so tired and I just could not sleep.

I took my laptop, got in bed, started to write to you, we’ve talked about my insomnia before, and during our trip over the last 2 weeks I was up until 3a some nights, back up at 5 or 6a, some nights I was asleep at 1a, then up again between 4 and 5a, one night I didn’t even get to sleep past 255am, no idea why, I wasn’t tired, just couldn’t sleep, but for me…that’s the norm, and I’m ok with it!

We got home on Monday night/Tuesday morning at 3am, asleep by 330a, slept until 745a, no dogs to walk, I was tired Tuesday night, but didn’t fall asleep until midnight, up at 6am because we had the dogs, have to walk them. Then last night, it all hit me and I was so tired, but I couldn’t seem to fall asleep, about 11 something, I got in bed with my laptop and the next thing you know…I woke up about 2 or 3 am, lights on, tv on, leaning over and my laptop open with the title of the post. I started laughing, happy that I fell asleep, and surprised! I promptly closed the laptop, turned off the lights and zzzzz.

Got up before the alarm, about 545am, par for the course and thought…I need to tell you all about it! So…short post…gotta start the day. I’m running on almost 6 hours of sleep, I’m on fire! Ready to take on the world!

Happy Thursday!

{January 2, 2024} Not the same view…sigh

What a travel day yesterday! We were up early, why, oh why, do we keep waking up early…on vacation?! I don’t think I slept past 6am any day while we were on vacation…some mornings my eyes opened at 3am and they stayed that way until I went to bed again the next night, and you know me…it’s never an early night! And you would think after swimming and snorkeling all day, I would be wiped out…nope, not me!

We were up early again yesterday, I set the alarm for 8am because check-out was 10am, didn’t matter, I was up before the sun, go figure. But…this did allow us to see some really pretty sunrises, that goes in the win column! So… up early, repacked my bag, figured out what could go on the plane and what could be checked, what we would take, and what we would leave behind. We decided to check our bags on the way home so we didn’t have to deal with them in the airport and on two flights, good decision on our part, go us!

Up early, repack, check out at 10am, head to airport about 1030am, we were supposed to be at the airport about 3 hours before our flight, we’re rocking and rolling. We were flying out at 3:28pm, so we were going to be there in plenty of time. Turns out…Delta does not open their ticket counter until 1115am, so we got to hang with other people who thought the same thing.

We met a nice mother and daughter from Charlotte and a woman from Philly and New Orleans, lots to talk about! One of the things I enjoy about meeting people is finding out where they are from, getting to know one another and compare notes. I got to talk to the woman from Charlotte about places that MM would take me, and the woman from Philly/NOLA, we talked food, museums, and Magazine Street. Time passed and we checked our bags…sort of.

I forgot this is what it is like in some airports…you check in at the desk, then you take your bag somewhere else. This somewhere else involved going through customs/border control…we were in a US Territory, but yup, that’s what they require, ok…PSM and I took our passports, just in case we needed them and it turns out, if you have one, it’s best to bring it with you, getting there, no need, but coming back, it would help, and it did! But…we finally got to use our Global Entry cards! Wah to the hoo! We bring them, but haven’t needed them! This time…we could only use the Global Entry [super fast and empty] line if we had the actual card. What? Score!

We got through customs, then took our bags to another place to put on the belt. Whew, gone! We needed the 3 hours, now I get it. Now…got into the airport, hurry up and wait! The whole process, from waiting for the desk to open to giving our bags took about hour, fun…

Turns out this post is more about our travels than what I woke up to! Ha ha, well, you’ve met me, start here, veer there…we got some lunch, PSM sat at the only table left in this cafe while I waited on line and ordered food. We thought being out of the airport and on the island was expensive! Veggie burger, regular burger, one order of fries, plantains, and two drinks: $52, yes, you heard that right! $52! Yes, airport food is expensive, but, come on…

We ate, loitered, took our time, finally finished and got up to give someone a chance at the table, the line for this place never really went down. Oh, I know you’ll be surprised at this, yeah right…happened to start talking with someone who is going to Hawai’i in March, I said we had lived there, she asked for some recommendations, and then gave me her email and I sent her a list for each island. Need a recommendation? Let me know.

We finally boarded our flight, uneventful, PSM shared his first class meal with me, love him! A few hours later, we were in Atlanta. We were hoping to go to the Delta club to enjoy and relax for the 4 hour layover, but…I haven’t needed the Delta Sky Club in a while, well, for about a year, and it turns out Delta changed their Sky Club policy and I am going to refrain from telling you what I thought and said under my breath. In order to go in the club, no matter what status you have, and if you are willing to pay the $50 to get in, you can ONLY get in if you have one of Delta’s AMEX cards…seriously? grrrr

Next flight, slept about 20 minutes, finished a docuseries and started a new one and we were back in Philly. Then to get our bags, call for a shuttle, get the car and head home. It was now 1am and it’s about 1.5 hours back to the house, fun! I started driving, we stopped for gas and I turned over the reigns or wheel to PSM, thankfully he slept on the second flight, he was good to go! The funniest thing…after getting gas, we got a cup of coffee and two snacks…$2.58! I could NOT stop laughing! After what we spent on food and drinks for almost 2 weeks, $2.58! LOVE it!

We got home at 3am, unloaded the car, put on jammies, and managed to crawl in bed about 330am. I was pretty much sleep walking at that point, but my pjs and the flannel sheets, I was good to go! I set the alarm for 745a since we didn’t have the dogs in the house and I could sleep in, ha ha! I slept until the alarm went off and it was glorious!

Then I looked out the window…not the same view or view I was expecting, as you can imagine. The sky was grey and overcast, no water view, sailboats, beach, fluffy clouds tinged with pink from the sunrise, so, as I said…sigh.

The sun came out a while later and all was right with the world. I will say our backyard, when the sun is coming up, the way it throws light across the trees and the barn, yes, I said barn, which I will explain another time, it’s lovely.

After waking up to the sea, salty air, sunshine, 80 degrees for almost two weeks, a little different, but good to be home and this afternoon, even more sunshine, we picked up the dogs from doggie camp, they smelled so good [they had been groomed]! and so happy to see us! What more could you want?!

That was a long way to get there. Ok, I’m done! Thanks JJ, I know you’re saying! Time to crash! Nighty nights!

{June 3, 2021} Our dogs have amazing hearing…selectively!

Yes, I said selectively! They crack us up, in case you couldn’t tell by some of the stories I have shared with you!

There are times they hear us and times they don’t, I don’t think they are different from any other dog. If it’s time for bed, Ruby sometimes pretends she doesn’t hear us, but Bee, well…there is a treat involved!

So…when I open the treat jars, Bee jumps up from a dead sleep! Ruby, she might look up, but she’s not as interested. Especially if we’re going out, or it’s bedtime and she’s not ready, and that means she has to go in to the crate. On the other hand, Ruby LOVES her walks, so…when she hears me open the Velcro on my sandals, she loses her mind! If it’s anywhere between about 415 and 5pm, which 5pm is their walk time, any time I move…are we going?!. I actually have to pick up my Chucks and carry them into the bedroom so I can put them on without her jumping on me!

Now…I know Ruby can hear my feet on the floor when I have my Chucks on, or almost any pair of shoes, and she thinks it’s walk time! But…if I walk towards the garage with shoes on, they are both on my heels like the world is gonna end! They think I’m heading for the car and we are going for a drive! HA HA

PSM said they never do that when he goes to the garage, I reminded him, most of the time when he leaves, he leaves through the back door and through the backyard fence, for me, my car is in the garage, that automatically signals car ride! Ruby is up for it, I think I told you, Bee isn’t a fan of going for drives, but she doesn’t want to be left behind more! What motivation!

When we get back from being out, they hear the garage door or the kitchen door and they perk their heads up, we have to tell them that we’ll be there in a minute, we might have to put some things down or away and then those tails start wagging and banging against the crate. We are super quiet when we leave for yoga at 530am, we know they can hear us, we hear them stirring! Ya can’t get past them!

So many times our dogs do something that cracks us up, makes us go hmmm or just plain tickles us. We love those goofballs!

{June 1, 2021} June 1st…What a day!

Today is a significant and special day for me, for several reasons. We’ve talked about some of it before, so please allow me to share again. A lot happened on this day, and today, something else happened.

15 years ago today I lost one of the most important people in my life, my mom. That sounds so selfish, she was one of the most important people to my family, my sister, my dad, family, friends, so many people in our lives. She was quite a woman, I’ve told you about her, a force to be reckoned with, a force of nature! She was wonderful, smart, funny, goofy, stubborn, silly, infuriating, uplifting, encouraging, I’m running through my rolodex of adjectives to describe her!

I remember how much she wanted me to be a teacher, that’s what both my parents were, not just teachers, but miracle workers, there’s not enough space in one of these posts to tell you how amazing they were in their field. I remember her saying, if you went into teaching, I could help get you a job in any school in NYC. No thanks! And what did I end up doing? Teaching…adults. And I’m damn good at it! Who ever wants their mom to be right?!

When I decided I wanted to become a vegetarian, other moms might have said, “oh brother, I hope this is a phase” or “you’ll eat what the rest of us eat”. Nope, she was all in! She made two meals every night she cooked. One for me and one for everyone else or one for the two of us and one for the rest of the family. Who does that?! She would also search for new recipes for me, all vegetarian! Meatloaf, chopped liver, I know, crazy, but when you’re Jewish, that stuff is in your veins! So many things she wanted to try and I remember the first Thanksgiving, no, not the first Thanksgiving! I’m not that old! The first one as a vegetarian, everything but the stuffing was vegetarian, she was amazing.

She taught me so much, and that is what leads me to the next reason today is a special day. My mom was amazing, and I mean amazing with kids! She taught GES and I how to be moms, not just moms, but loving moms, caring, giving, huggable moms. We learned how to throw an amazing birthday party at home, make a boo-boo all better, soothe the hurts, scraped knees and feelings, how to listen, and love. Oh, did she teach us how to love. She gave great hugs, anyone can tell you that and to this day…there is not a kid, or adult, who I hug who doesn’t use both arms when they hug me. I won’t let go until there are two arms wrapped around each other, you can feel the love emanating and let me tell you, when I am hugging, especially a child, I can feel her within me, it’s like she’s hugging them with me. And that…brings me soooo much joy!

I remember one day when TYH told me I taught her what it was to be a step-mom, I don’t know if she really knows what that meant to me. I never once thought of TYH or her brother WCH as anything but my kids, I was step-mom in title only. I have so much love for them both and my grandson, CDL, and that’s something my mom taught me.

Eight years ago today, I met my first grandson, Baby A, OMG! I can’t call him that any more! I need to come up with something else, but he’ll always be my Baby A! I was living in Colorado at the time, but came in to see KAB and meet Baby A, he was FOUR hours old when I met him and what a doll baby. Did you hear what I said…EIGHT YEARS AGO TODAY! My grandson is eight! Where did the time go?! He just finished second grade! What?! I remember holding him, he was tiny and beautiful and perfect and had my heart in his hand the minute I held him and looked in his little face.

He’s a smart, precocious, silly, funny, rambunctious, energetic, talented, loving little person. I get pictures from him that he drew, sometimes exactly what he wants to be for Halloween, the last one is actually framed and hanging on my wall of love! He is a lot of fun to talk to and I loved it when he got a Facebook Messenger account, he used to Facetime me all the time! Sometimes we had a conversation, other times, it was me just looking at a wall while he ran around doing something! I love getting video messages from him and his sister, melts my heart! I cannot wait to see them again, maybe a weekend trip to Atlanta is in my near future!

Well, today…there is another reason for joy, my heart has grown with a new love. Grandbaby number 9! AEB! Maybe my newest granddaughter can be Baby A! Of course, when she turns 8, I can’t call her that anymore! Can you believe it?! 9 Grandbabies, 9 loves for me! Yes, I can! I am one of the luckiest people in the world. I got the news just about 2pm that Baby A got a baby sister for his birthday! I’m tearing up thinking about it. What a wonderful gift, well, for me anyway! I’m so very happy for the whole family! I know what a great big brother he’s going to be! And Princess E gets to be a big sister, I know how excited she is!

The family is expanding! CS has a new baby, KAB has a new baby, Pow Pow has a new nephew and niece. So much mazel to the entire family!

Now you can see why today is such a special day, remembering my mom, wishing my grandson a happy birthday, and welcoming my newest granddaughter to the world, my heart is very full. And I’m glad I got to share it with you!

{May 29, 2021} It’s Saturday, what shall we do?!

The weather is supposed to hold out for the rest of the day, what’s the plan?! Well, it’s Saturday, we have to introduce SDL and Miss A to The Shack of course!

Before that, after yoga, it’s Saturday, what else would we be doing!? we picked up bagels at the Bagel Factory, they only take cash and I didn’t have any, guess what…the woman behind the counter, I think she’s an owner, told me to just come back later to pay them. That’s the second place we’ve encountered that since moving to Missouri, that’s what I call hospitality! Back at the house, shower and off to The Shack.

We got very lucky, it was about 9am and we got a table pretty quickly! Wah to the hoo! The first booth we go, I’m not exactly sure how they expected us all to fit! Needless to say, I asked for a table instead of a booth. I kind of wish our server had gone with us, the server we got was less than…it happens. The food was good, as always, PSM and I both tried something new, SDL enjoyed hers and Miss A! Let’s just say first, SDL’s eyes were as big as saucers when she saw the size of the pancake, the entire plate! Second…she wasn’t sure if Miss A was going to eat it all. Well.. guess what…the eggs and the entire pancake…also mixed in with some yogurt for more liquid…g o n e! The girl can eat! What a champ!

We headed home to drop off our leftovers, get whatever we needed for the day, and potty breaks, of course! PSM had something else going on today, so it was just the three of us, girls day out! First stop…The Bagel Factory, paid my $10 and away we went.

First place was the Arch! How could we not! It’s the main iconic representation of St Louis, you can see it so much advertising and logos, it’s a landmark! Now, due to some restrictions we weren’t able to go up to the top, which is fine, we took pictures in front of the arch, from the side, you know the drill. Then we walked inside, went through security and down to the museum level, which is very interesting. We learned a lot while we were there, from concept, to funding to construction and completion. After learning, it was time for the gift shop, St Louis Arch souvenirs! SDL got a few things including postcards to send to family and friends back home, and of course, Miss A. I love that she does that, I do the same thing, I send post cards to PSM whenever we’re on a trip to tell him what a great time I was having!

After souvenirs, it was time for a bit of lunch, and luckily, they had a veggie burger! Not the best, but they had one, wahoo! There was lunch, pudding, bananas, and peanut butter, and dancing, what more could you want!

After lunch we headed out to walk the grounds a bit, we had just missed what looked to be a reenactment, bummer! But some of the costumes were fabulous! Eventually we headed to the car and off to Union Station, which was about a 4 minute drive, love that! Union station is a retired train station that now serves as a meeting spot with restaurants, shops, a pretty good candy shop, the St Louis Wheel, the Aquarium, which we will get to one of these days! Miniature golf, a ropes course, dancing fountain, actually fire and lights!, and so much more!

We walked around and they actually had a mini carnival with game and prizes, and a petting zoo! What?! I got to feed the goats, they tickled! PSM, please, please, please, can we get two pygmy goats?! OMG! They are SOOO cute! Imagine the savings on lawn maintenance! HA HA. They had goats, of course, an alpaca, a camel, Flemish giant rabbits, donkeys, and some other things I can’t remember! It was so much fun! I think I had more fun than SLD!

After petting and feeding, we headed over to the St Louis Union Station Hotel just in time for the 3D Light show in the Grand Hall, which runs on the hour from 5 to 10pm every day. There’s music and lights and just like the name, it’s all in 3D. There are birds flying, aquarium scenes, just wow! So worth it!

When the show was over, it was time to head out and find some dinner! Since it was Memorial Day Weekend a lot of the restaurants had a long wait if you didn’t have a reservation, and Italian was the request. We actually found one not far from the hotel, no wait!

The atmosphere was nice, the staff great, the food was ok, but the company, excellent! We talked, laughed, ate, danced, wash, rinse, repeat, what more could you ask for!? It wasn’t quite warm enough to put the top down on the way home, but the drive and conversation, as always were good, sounds good to me!

At home, it was time for a bath, spinning, laughing, and just being silly. And making plans for tomorrow, what adventure awaits us?!

{May 28, 2021} It’s Friday! What should we do?!

Well, since it’s Friday, even though it’s a holiday weekend, PSM and I were up and working, while I waited for SDL and Miss A to join us upstairs.

The rain was coming, so how much could we do outside? Not much, but we were going to have a great day, no matter what?! One of the things SDL asked before they came…a little pampering? Oh yeah! So…when I called, it turned out they didn’t have any availability for three people until about 1230p, perfect!

Breakfast, then groceries. I had to hang my head in shame! The usually stuff that we’ve had when they visit we were out of! I had just finished the giant jar of peanut butter the day before, no, not the whole jar all at once, but I finished it in a smoothie! And we haven’t had bread, loaves, bagels, nothin! in the house for a while, so I felt terrible about that! Luckily, SDL is always prepared and had two slices of bread and one of those small containers of peanut butter, whew!

We had some time until our appointment, so we went to the grocery store, just enough time to get what we needed, and even went to the Bagel Factory! Their bagels are pretty decent, it’s not NYC or Boston, which is all about the water, but they’re good and made fresh every day. They actually close at 130p, when we got there, there was almost nothing on the shelves and when we were about to drive away, they locked the doors, it was 1215pm! Well, alrighty then! Maybe tomorrow!

We took the groceries home, I unloaded and got everything put away, grabbed some sandals and away we went to our favorite nail salon, honestly PSM was jealous! You know I got him addicted when we lived in Hawai’i!

We got there just in time and they set up two pedi chairs for us, I helped Miss A get onto SDL’s lap and we both settled in to our massage chairs for some pampering! They did Miss A’s feet first, and she got the full treatment! SDL said it was the first time for her to get full treatment! Nothing’s too good for my niece! Miss A got the foot bath, scrubbing, trimming, clipping, massaging, and warm towel, what more could you want! Oh yeah, and pretty pink bubble gum toes!

When she was done, she hung out next to mom while SDL and I got pampered! They started with the pedis, pedicures for anyone not in the know! Oh wow, it felt great! It had been a few weeks since PSM and I went, actually, just over a month! My toes still looked good, a pedicure can usually last me over a month, unless your scraping the ground with your toes, you should be good! They did SDL’s manicure in the chair, she doesn’t get color, so they soaked her fingers where she sat, I love that! For me, I went over to a table and they got to work on my fingers. Claws and paws as the phrase goes! Just what the doctor ordered!

Back to the house, it was snack time for Miss A, walks for the pups, and a while later, it was time to head out for dinner. We looked at a few places and the winner was Three Kings Public House! I’ve told you about it! I go for the Brussel Sprouts! Y U M! We had food, drinks, laughter, silliness, dancing, a few trips around the pub, what more could you want?! Food, family, friends, and fun. Yup, that’s about it!

Back home, bath time, hanging out, talking to you and then…lights out. What adventures await us tomorrow?!

{May 27, 2021} Our first overnight visitors!!!

We have our first overnight visitors and I am over the moon! It’s…wait for it…wait for it…SDL and Miss A!!! Ok, now you know and you knew how I felt as soon as I said it!

We had a visitor last year, our first! DLP was in St Louis for a family event and came to see us, we went out to breakfast, then she came back and saw our house, but sadly, had to go after a few hours. Today, SDL and Miss A arrived for a long holiday weekend visit!

They left Atlanta Wednesday afternoon, after school and an appointment and they were off! It is about an 8.5 hour drive if…you make no stops! Well, for me, when I drove to Atlanta was about 9.5 hours, I factored in at least four 15 minute breaks for gas, food, and bio breaks. For them, it takes a little longer, so they cut the trip in half, keeping me posted along the way.

I worked most of the day, they got here about 4pm, just in time to take the dogs for a walk, in the rain…where did that come from? Seriously?! When I checked the weather a few days ago, it was going to be warm and sunny with very little chance of rain and now…more chances of rain for the weekend. Ah well. They were here! Hugs, hugs, hugs, and more hugs! A tour of the house, where are they staying, all that good stuff, then it was time for a walk. Well, Miss A, SDL, Ruby, Bee, and I started on a walk, water came from the sky, they went home and the pups and I continued on our walk.

We got home and PSM was just about finished with work so…instead of sitting too long, SDL said if she sat too long she was done! It was a long two days! We headed out to the food Miss A, SDL, and I always do when I visit them, Mexican! We went to El Maguey, where PSM and I went to celebrate Cinco de mayo. It was great! We talked, ate, laughed, caught up, reminisced, laughed, talked, ate, you know, wash, rinse, repeat. It was like no time had passed, just as it always is when we get together!

After dinner, we headed home, it was time for a bath, cuddle, running around like crazy people, then off to bed. I’m just a happy Auntie G! I love family visits! We have so many options for the weekend, let’s see what we can get in to, I’ll keep you posted!

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