Just Pics of our trip

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Mish mash & brain fog

We are almost home. Got in last night but don't get to really go home until tomorrow afternoon. I'm having issues. I WANT to be home!

It has been hard for me not to have much computer access. My computer was being less than reliable when connecting to wireless before we left, but while we were away, it became very unreliable. It usually gave me about 10 minutes - time to download my email & a few other things & then it went out. My husband generously allowed me to use a plug-in card, but i didn't want to use it too much, it was for his work. Usually, however, he was able to access the wireless connection where ever we were.

The other issue was simply time. It seemed we drove most nights until fairly late, & so just having the time to write wasn't there. I've missed it.

And i'm cranky, tired, & full of complaints! I want to put them somewhere besides my brain!

But i think most of the complaints i have are just stupid stuff: that i can't be home already; that when i can't actually unpack (not being home) the stuff is hard to manage, especially as MIL is having company & we have to vacate the room where we normally stay; limited time for the things we'd like to do; etc., etc., ad nauseum. In other words nothing major, just small things of which to complain that are not very important.



This pic is of my parents at their anniversary party. I find that we didn't get very many pics, & most of the ones i do have are not so good. The party went well & i think they were pleased.






All the family that was at Cumberland Falls. Mother & Daddy are sitting. D is behind them on the left (he's being silly). Sis #3 behind, then E, Duane behind her & also me, R, Sis #2 with her youngest daughter standing in front of her, behind Daddy. Sis #2's first son P wasn't able to come, nor were the soon to be bride & groom. It was kind of a family blow up & a lot of drama around their non-attendance & i'm not sure we'll ever know completely why. For now it is probably just best to assume they were too stressed with the upcoming wedding.







This pic is from the wedding. My sis, her husband (soon to be ex, probably), all 6 of their kids, & the groom.





I've decided to do a separate post of the scenery. Duane's beautiful pics don't deserve to be attached to my complaints, anyway!

I will say i don't think i ever want to do a "vacation" like this again. Reminiscent of my childhood where every trip was long boring drives, short, rushed times "seeing things" like national parks, monuments, "historic things" etc & long visits with family here, there, & everywhere. (Hurry out of the car, look at Mount Rushmore, take a pic of the family with Mount Rushmore in the background, hurry back to the car so we could drive 8 more hours.) I DO NOT want to recreate such times again.

I'm not sure we had a lot of choice on this trip as the alternative would have been to sit around my parents' house & visit for the 4 days we traveled. That would have been too much people time for introvert me, but this was a bit too much rushed driving & sight seeing. We did a total of over 1800 miles of driving in the 10 days we were there, 1400 of that in 5 days. (Duane is crowing about "unlimited mileage" on the rental car, however!)

125

Another commitment completed

We have been at Cumberland Falls since Sunday night.

We arrived late Sunday night (i made a wrong turn at one point & the GPS rerouted us - took us all the way to Knoxville & added 90 miles to the trip).

We got down to see the "moonbow." There were a lot of people there. I did see it but not as i expected. It was mostly reflected light, a streak of white light. The lady at the front desk later told me that that is usually what is seen. She said unless it is cold you don't see the colors in it. But Duane was able to rig a tripod & put it on 30 second exposures. I haven't done much with the pics yet, but in them you can see the colors in the moonbow. When i get to a faster internet connection i'll add some pics.

Monday we walked over to where my folks have rented 2 cottages or cabins. They are very nice, but they accommodate the 8 folks there very well. My niece to be married, her fiance, & a nephew didn't make it up for the anniversary party or this trip. Had they been here the cottages would have been much more crowded; also had we chosen to stay there. We have managed much better having our own room in the hotel.

We visited for a while, & then i drove into Corbin & got a massage & did some grocery shopping. The massage was ok. I did relax, but i was so very exhausted. My biggest complaint was she kept me waiting 45 minutes, shorted me 15 on the total (i was signed up for 90), & she didn't listen to my request. But it felt good & i did relax.

Shopping in Corbin Kroger was an experience! I thought i hated shopping in Orange County, CA. The problem is that no one makes eye contact & there is little positive interaction among folks. But OC shoppers look positively cheerful compared to those in Corbin! I've never seen people so grim. They will, some of them, make eye contact. But when you smile at them their frowns & grimaces get even deeper. I was unable to smile anymore after about 3 minutes, & was severely depressed after 5. I returned in the grumpiest mood ever!

But we had a good evening. The kids roasted the marshmallows i bought & made s'mores. Sis #2 & i verged on arguing a couple of times. I was having discussions with daddy. They were not acrimonious. We did not yell. But we did not agree, which i knew we would not. They were about food. Daddy doesn't see a problem with conventionally grown produce, milk, poultry, meat. He has worked in agriculture (research to produce more food) all his life. So we discussed it. But both times Sis #2 said, "Stop! Stop! We've all strong feelings about this & there is no point in discussing it!" The first time she did this i was so angry with her that i walked out. The second time she interrupted daddy & i almost walked out but instead i very pointedly said to her, "I haven't heard HIS opinion yet."

Sis #2 wasn't sharing her opinion or talking. She just didn't want us to talk. And i was very angry with her. I asked Duane about it later. He wasn't there for the first discussion, but he was for the second. He confirmed my memory that we weren't being rude, loud, or ugly. We were simply discussing an issue we disagree over. So i don't know what Sis #2 thought she was doing but i didn't appreciate it.

Yesterday was too much.

I remember as a small child after a hard day of play feeling so tired that my body was just heavy. If an adult picked me up i would be a melted puddle of tired child, draped over their shoulder. I remember that feeling well. It wasn't bad 'cause it was time for bed & when i woke up i'd be ready for another day.

I woke up feeling that way yesterday. I was profoundly tired. I did go to breakfast & sat in the lobby on my computer for a while, but i was just too tired to stay upright. I had things i wanted to do - most of the folks went horseback riding; & things i needed to do - laundry. Instead i spent most of the day in bed. It was very discouraging, but i knew if i didn't rest i wouldn't manage the rest of the trip.

In the late afternoon i did get up & shower. Then an aunt & uncle drove up & we all had dinner together at the lake view restaurant. Then we did various things in the evening. So it was ok.

But we leave today. The plan is to go about 11 & head for a visit with Darling Dawn & her wonderful husband John. I don't know how we will drive. I didn't plan on going thru Lexington but Duane hasn't seen KY's horse farms, so we might. So my commitment to spend the time with my family is now done. We are free to do what we want until Saturday's wedding. Woo-hoo! :)

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It is done

I would have pics from this weekend, but the upload/download time on this internet connection is very slow. Try to get some soon.

This was, quite honestly, a difficult weekend. It had its very good points, but it had very difficult ones as well. I think i could easily turn this into a whinging rant, but want to focus elsewhere instead. I want to list the good things from my family. This list isn't very easy for me. Truth is, for every good point i have at least ten bad ones, but i want to focus on the positives. Here they are:

• I appreciate that they taught me to love Jesus, & took us to churches that taught the Word of God.
• They put a big focus on family & the importance of family connections.
• They put a funny spin even on the difficult things & taught a love of humour & laughter.
• Mother taught me to sew & to do it properly.
• Daddy taught me to ride a bike & later to drive a stick shift.
• They built a lovely home in which for us to live.
• We were able to have animals on their property. I had three horses when i was growing up.
• They grew a garden & fed us healthy food (i didn't appreciate this & all the work it took until very recently).
• They did (once i was a teenager) encourage my friends to come to the house sometimes.
• Mother allowed me to sing with a youth choir & drove me to all the practices.
• They paid for me to have violin lessons, piano lessons, & voice lessons.
• They allowed me to babysit at a young age.
• They allowed me to have a waitress job when i was old enough.
• I was allowed to use that money to purchase contacts (i hated glasses - i still do!)
• They taught me to take responsibility for my actions & to live responsibly.
• They taught me empathy for others.
• Since i've been an adult they have been supportive of many of the choices i've maed & they have been quite generous as well.
  
• They did indeed stay married for 50 years & upheld that commitment to one another.

Ok, this list was a little different. I wrote it a couple of days ago & finished it, but i've been having trouble with my computer connection & the last part was lost. I may later whinge on some of these points, but i'll do it at blog of lists. :)

I do want to honor my parents for what they have done.


123

We're Here!

(Said in a creepy, little girl's voice from a movie.)

We have arrived. No pics to post at this point. Duane set up a wireless internet & we have access. I may post some, but anticipate i'll be very busy & so may not. I think it will take a long time to catch up on blog reading, too.

The trip was fine with no problems. We've always made fun of the PT Cruisers, think their body style is funny, so we rented one!

We slept well, & the bed is comfortable, but i am bone tired weary. Probably will have to spend today recuperating so i can do all the other things we have planned.

Oh, i've meant to write a lot about the trip, cloud cover, etc. But it seems kind of boring to me now. Maybe i'll add it in when i write about the rest of the trip later.

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Gonna post early!

Lynnette Kraft usually does a "Wednesday Walk" of some memories, remembrances, looks at the past. And i usually get 'round to it late on Wednesday when it is already Thursday in the Eastern parts of the country. So i'm going to get a jump on it now.

Last year we had a very late snow the end of May. I've mentioned it before because the heavy freeze that went with it killed all the apples on our tree & we have lamented that ever since!

On 2 June last year we were headed down the hill & stopped to take this pic. I wanted to record how much snow was still on the mountain on that date. These are not our near mountains. You go over (around, actually) Sugarloaf mountain & look across the valley to see this.

Anyway, we went down yesterday 1 June, & we stopped to get this pic 'cause i wanted to compare. Here it is. We haven't had snow now since early April, i think. I believe this to be about the same spot as last year. The angle isn't quite the same.

There we have it, this year & last. Kind of boring, but i guess it's interesting to me! :)

Ah, i just realized i didn't explain - we drive by this every week. It is on our route down the hill to work. We only see this view when going down, because when coming home it is behind us. :)


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Nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, yeheah, nah nah nah!

I couldn't think of a subject line earlier, so i came up with this one. Funny friend Dawn commented:

Umm, your subject line-New Warrior Princess chant ;-)??

I could write about my stressful weekend. Getting ready to leave on this trip has been quite a hoot. Think i'll leave it for another time.

Instead, i found this fun. From Rosemary at Free Advice Worth Every Penny -

. . . So, without being able to remember WHO or WHERE I saw this, and a lack of time to search for it. Here's the "Unfortunately" game. You just type in - Unfortunately, (insert your name) - in a search engine (Google, Ask, Yahoo, whatever) and then see what pops up!

Her's is very funny, plus her commentary. But then what else would you expect from a retired Superhero?

I wasn't sure what to expect of this, but i used Dogpile first, then Google. Results were similar, but very fun:

Unfortunately, Kathryn was expecting the usual abilities: flying, energy blasts, super-strength and super toughness, possibly enhanced ...

Oh, boy . . . i always wanted super powers!

It seemed very interesting, but unfortunately Kathryn chose that moment to begin talking loudly and insistently.

Story of my life, always being loudmouth Chatty Cathy.

Unfortunately, Kathryn had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. ... Kathryn thought of the wonderful ... Kathryn wasn't sure what she felt for him.

That's me . . . wrong place at the wrong time & not being sure what i feel . . .

Kathryn: Unfortunately, our Don Juan is moving with the speed of a Special Olympics

I seem to have this effect on folks.

"We are developing a new slate for Arena and unfortunately Kathryn doesn't fit in with those plans."

Nope, i never seem to fit in . . . triangular peg in a square hole.

Unfortunately, Kathryn became stricken with arthritis two years ago, stopping her from giving paying guests a tour of the property

No more tours from me.

unfortunately, Kathryn was taken off of life support around 5 or 6.

Pull the plug!

Unfortunately, Kathryn passed away on February 15, 2001.

Ummm, can i comment if i'm dead?

I think these are pretty funny even without witty comments like Rosemary managed. Unfortunately, i seem to have met an untimely demise. :(


120

Baking

I don't feel like i'm making a lot of headway for getting ready to go. That's not true, of course, i am doing things. But i've a feeling i will reach Sunday afternoon & start to panic.

My friend Pegg (who doesn't read blogs) came over to check out my schedule & the map. When i said how long we would be driving she thought i meant from CA to KY. I thought, "no, it is much farther than that!" But doing a Google map search i learned the amount of driving we plan to do is the same as if we drove from CA to KY, one way. Thankfully we are flying there & then driving all of that.

Friend Kimmy came & cleaned more on Thursday. She got the kitchen really clean, but i didn't have her put stuff back 'cause i wanted to reorganize. I did that, slowly, yesterday.

Friend Patty had sent a gluten-free lemon poppy seed muffin recipe out a few weeks ago. I made it 'cause i really miss poppy seed muffins. I changed it of course. If i ever mention a recipe, you can be sure i changed it. Duane says i can't follow a recipe exactly to save my life! But you see, the muffins i miss are almond poppy seed. They turned out so well - everything a muffin shoud be, light & fluffy. I don't miss wheat at all. And Duane likes them too.

The original recipe was small. It was to make mini-muffins. But i don't have a mini-muffin pan. So it made 6 regular sized ones, but not the oversized, giant ones they sell in the stores.

Because they turned out well, i wondered if i could modify them to make banana bread. Duane likes that, i had old bananas, & i've not found a gluten-free one that makes good bread.

Oh, this recipe calls for agave syrup, & i have been using it, but in the future i intend to try this with honey instead. I know it will change the taste some, but i have come to believe that agave syrup is way off on its fructose/sucrose balance. But this recipe calls for only a little.

Here's the original recipe:

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

• ¼ C coconut flour
• ¼ tsp celtic sea salt
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• 3 eggs
• ¼ C agave nectar
• ¼ C grapeseed oil
• 1 TB lemon zest
• 1 TB poppy seeds

1. In a medium bowl combine coconut flour, salt and baking soda
2. In a large bowl blend together eggs, agave, oil and lemon zest
3. Blend dry ingredients into wet
4. Fold in poppy seeds
5. Spoon 1 tablespoon of batter into each greased mini muffin cup
6. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes
7. Cool and serve

Makes about about 24 mini-muffins

The changes i made: I didn't have grapeseed oil, so i used coconut oil instead. Did not double I didn't use lemon zest, i used about 1 tsp almond flavoring. I used just less than 1/8 C of my regular flour blend (mix of bean flours, quinoa, amaranth, oat, rice - brown, white, sweet; tapioca, i don't remember the rest) & a tablespoon of "almond flour" then the rest the coconut flour. Plus a little Xanathan gum. The first time i made this i couldn't find the poppy seed (found it later in plain sight, sigh), so i did chia instead. It was fine. The second time i did poppy seed, but i added more. We like poppy seeds! This made 6 regular cupcake sized muffins.

For the banana bread yesterday i doubled the recipe except oil & sweetener. Did not add lemon zest. Used 1/4 C flour mix & 1/4 C coconut. Did add a little Xanathan gum. Also i did a small amount of baking powder, small amount of baking soda. Used 1 tsp of vanilla. The bananas i had that were overripe were small, but one didn't want to peel so i started with only one. I blended it with the eggs & then followed the rest of the directions. However, when i was finished i had the feeling that it just didn't have enough banana. I had one other one that was starting to get soft, so i blended it in with the whizzy stick.

Poured it into a greased, floured standard glass bread pan & baked it at 375 F (because of the altitude) for about 45 minutes. In flatland you would probably bake it at 350 F for about 50-55 minutes. It came out beautifully (except it didn't want to come out of the pan, but i got to taste it from the bottom) & it tastes good. It has little bubbles in it that you want to see meaning it was able to rise. It is moist & heavy, but not too heavy. Yummy!

My whizzy stick =======>




Now i'm off to get things done & make things for Fellowship at church tomorrow. A yummy homemade spinach dip. Hope i've the energy to keep going! Have a great Saturday!

119

What a Map!

Well, here is a plan of our trip.

The map didn't come out very clear. I had trouble getting it to print properly.

We still don't know if we will make it to West Virginia. This map leaves off the original trip from Nashville to Glasgow, about 1-1/2 to 2 hours. I'm not very adept with Google maps, but this is what i came up with.

Google maps informs me that this is 29 hours of driving. I'd really like to make it to Charleston, but i don't know about the additional 5 hours of driving, plus that wouldn't leave us much time to see anything. We may not follow this exact route. I couldn't get Google maps to print so i went to mapquest. It gives an estimate of 26 hours. Of course that's broken up. Two hours here, four hours there . . .

When i get home today i'm going to be going nuts trying to get everything done. We don't leave

118

Wednesday!

(I'm so creative with my titles!)

I meant to do Lynnette Kraft's Wednesday Walk last week, but never got to it. So here it is.

We have two of the funniest cats on the planet.

Mac is an "in the tub" or "in the sink" cat often. (Throw a toy in the tub & he can make a lot of noise being silly & bouncing it around.)

We've lived in three different places since we've had Mac, & since we were married. The first was a townhouse in Costa Mesa that i'd lived in since my second year of college. (I cannot believe it is 16 years since i graduated from college, now!) The first pic is of Mac in the sink at that house.

The second house was rented. Because we were making such major changes in moving to the mountains, we decided to rent for a while first to see if what we planned worked before committing to buy. We rented a small (800 sq ft) house that did have 2 bathrooms. Two bathrooms is always a requirement. This was considerably smaller than the townhouse, & we got rid of a lot of stuff. Still, we were packed in the tiny house! It also had major issues. (The house would sway when the wind was blowing or the washer was spinning; the washer was in a shed OUTSIDE - yes, i had a load of clothes freeze inside that winter; i thanked God daily that we didn't own that house.) But what was funny was that it had these little tiny sinks in the bathrooms. Mac still was determined that he could fit into these.

After a year we bought our home, Sugarbear. It has two bathrooms (tho upstairs is half bath, we go downstairs to shower; we will remodel that bathroom someday). It has normal sized sinks. Mac likes these as well. Here he is in the upstairs sink. I don't know why he likes the sinks so much, but i sure think he is funny.

Silly Mac!

In order not to overlook Jazz, here he is as a kitten with his monkey. This was one of his favorite toys for a long time. We don't even know where it came from. It is marked as a Ronald McDonald toy, but we don't eat there, nor do we have kids to buy these things for.

We thought Duane's brother brought it some time when he was taking care of the cats for us, but he says not. Jazz bites this thing, & tosses it up in the air. We throw it & he fetches (tho sometimes his "fetch" is about 2 feet from where it landed). He likes having it tossed to him when he is sitting on the mantle or cat tree. He is so funny, & quite accurate in catching it & tossing it back.

This monkey disappeared the year we were in the rented house. We found it when we moved to Sugarbear. We had our bed on concrete blocks, & the monkey had been dumped into the hole space in one of these. I suppose he thought he was playing when he did that, but we were sure mystified. It is still one of his favorite toys.

Silly Jazz!

Go on over & check out what other folks are posting with Lynnette. Her Mister Linky isn't working (i've heard of several folks having problems with Mister Linky) so just post the link in the comment section.




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