Home again....

Well, here we are....home again. We had such a great time visiting with my aunt. She is one of those people that just sparkle. There's no other way of putting it. She is just a pleasure to be with....and I wish we could be together all the time! From the time I was a child, I have loved being with her. I can remember waiting by the front door for her to come and pick me up. Back in those days she was my "model" for what every woman should be. Beautiful, fun loving, and oh-so-cool. She always had the newest clothes, the hottest cork-wedge high heels, jeans with the widest flares and the perfect hair that never moved....thanks to Aqua Net. She looked just like Jennifer from WKRP in Cincinnati. Blonde, buxom and beautiful. I tried to emulate her in every way. She bought me my first pair of panty hose, and my first pair of high heels. I remember them. They were orange with rainbow wedges. Man I loved those. I used to beg my mother to let me stay with her on the weekends. We would go shopping together and she would tell people I was her daughter....she would let me try on her makeup and clothes....I learned all of my makeup skills from her. Of course, I would watch my mother put on her makeup too....but oh how boring was the blue eyeshadow and pink lipstick to a 12 year old....I wanted to watch my aunt with her glitter and lip gloss!

Over the years many things have changed, but one thing remains constant. She is still the most loving and giving person (besides my mother) that I have ever known. And now, my kids feel the same way about her. When aunt Connie comes, I am shoved aside (literally!) as my girls run to her. One time as they were running from me, I noticed my mother looking at me with a wry smile. I asked her just exactly what she was thinking and she said, "I knew someday there would come a time when you knew how I felt...." LOLOL....I am truly blessed with such a wonderful person in my life. She has gone through things that no one should have to....yet comes out stronger. Her love of life and people and family is one that is unmatched in anyone I know. So, I suppose you could say that the draw to NC for me is not only the scenery and the climate, but also a very special person whom I, and my family, love so much....

We got in today around 4:30. You wouldn't believe the traffic as we got closer to Jacksonville. All of the rest areas were PACKED with cars....most of whom had Pennsylvania or New York liscense plates. I suppose the superbowl crowd has begun their descent. I have a feeling the restaurants and hotels are going to be overflowing this week.

After unpacking wee one and I ran to the grocery store....as I had no bread or milk, and got dinner as well. Betsy is feeling better....thank you all for the well wishes!....her acheyness is gone, as is her fever. She still has a sore throat though. I started her on antibiotics and she has gotten a day and a half of them so far. Thank goodness I had them!

So now, we are all relaxing and getting ready to get back into the groove of things. I got my last piece of tax info just before we left....so I will be doing that this week. THank you to everyone who wished us a safe trip home....((((hugs))))....it's good to be back!

Sunday....

Can you believe it? Our last day here and Betsy is burning up with a fever and has a horrid sore throat. Poor thing. She stayed home whilst we went out this morning because she was fatigued and achey....when we got back I looked at her and her face was beet red....and she was burning up. Since then she has been sleeping and I've been giving her tylenol and tea. I just came back downstairs from setting up the tv/dvd player so she could watch some of her movies. I hope she is feeling better tomorrow. Actually, travelling and sleeping all day tomorrow will probably be good for her.

In other news, we went driving around this morning, exploring the city and seeing the sites. We didn't get the 3-6 inches of snow, but the very tops of the mountains did. It looks like God lightly sprinkled powdered sugar over them....it was just beautiful. After dropping my aunt and wee one off at home, John and I decided to go look around for some subdivisions. We went to one that kept climbing and climbing, to the point that our car was almost vertical! We ended up at the top of a mountain with views that could only be described as breathtaking. I told him that if we bought a house up there, the first thing I would do is bake a cake using the high altitude directions!!!! I've always wanted to do that! LOL....

We ordered pizza tonight and are now sitting around the table....John and Connie are playing dominoes, wee one is watching Funniest Home Videos, Betsy is eating toast and drinking tea, and I am writing this entry. It's so nice to just sit, relax, and listen to the family laughing and being together. I just love these trips....

Saturday.....

Yes, I am doing a repeat of the graphic because this is what wee one looks like this morning! She got up and got dressed and went out to play in the SNOW. I was sitting on the couch, looking out as the snow fell gently onto the pines....talk about beautiful. My aunt's condo backs up to the Biltmore forest so we've got some awesome views. I wish I could unload my pics on here....but alas....I can't.

We are going to go out this morning and run around for a bit, before the heavy stuff gets here. I think we will go to the mall, and wee one wants to get a sled. I think I'm gonna have to splurge on some boots and snow pants as well! LOL.

Well, I am off to make some cranberry sauce for our pork roast dinner later on this evening. I hope everyone has a wonderful day, and if you are in SC or GA, be careful of the ice! It has really hit bad there according to the news. Later....

Guess what????

Oh my....guess what???? Yes, it's official....we are awaiting a winter snow storm! Woofreakinhoo! 3-6 inches possible along with ice....they are already preparing the roads with salt. We should begin getting the snow early morning and all day until Sunday. Hmmmm, I wonder if we will get snowed in? Needless to say the girls are thrilled....and really, we are too. It's been 2 1/2 years since we have seen snow! Thank goodness I packed our winter wear. (Lori, I do believe this is the storm you were telling me about!)

Today was great. We started off the day at "The Thrill of the Hunt" which is a great new antique warehouse. It was unbelieveably well organized and had great prices. I saw several pieces I would have loved to have had. From there we went to Mast General and (Marian, you will love this) we broke our previous record and spent $46 on candy! LOL....this is the store that has the HUGE barrels of candies, from past and present. We had a great time looking and picking things that we aren't used to seeing or have never tasted. The candy usually lasts a good month or so....and some even gets thrown away but that's okay. It's money well spent on memories....

We also had lunch at the Moose Cafe....oh man, was it good! I had the baked chicken with mashed potatoes and dressing and glazed carrots. I tell ya, they give you so much food! I took pics and will post them when I get home. My aunt and I went to the grocery store and stocked up for the weekend, just in case we are stuck....right now John is changing the furnace filter for my aunt, Betsy is doing homework and wee one and Connie are playing their 18th game of dominoes....as you can see, they play every spare second they have! LOL.

Well, I'm off to settle in for the evening. We made some coffee and have some dvd's....I can't wait to have a REAL cozy evening (not the kind I usually have, turning the ac up and pretending it's cold out! LOL)

IT's coldddddd!

 

We are here in NC.....and it is wonderful! We arrived around 11:45 last night and as an added bonus, my aunt was here waiting for us. She had thought she wouldn't be able to get here until today (Friday), but she got home early....yippee!

Today we will begin with our traditional trip to the Mast General Store. We love this place. So country with pine floors and barrels of candy....most of our vacation budget is spent there! LOL....after that we are off to the local Wal Mart because dh forgot deodorant and razors....hmmmm, maybe his secret plan was to become a mountain man while we are here! LOL. I am looking up real estate on the web, just in case we want to tour some mountain homes....I can dream can't I?

Well, everyone is dressed, coiffed and ready to go....see y'all later!

Ahhhhh, much better....

First, I'd like to say thanks to all those who left sweet comments and sent e-mails and cards....I feel much better. It's nice to know I've got so many caring and wonderful friends here in j-land! That being said....on to other things....

Yesterday wee one had her very first massage. Now, before anyone says "Yeah, did you hear JBCoupe lets her 10 year old get regular massages? How spoiled is that?!", let me remind you that this was a birthday gift from her aunt who is very much into "natural healing" and "herbal remedies", etc. In any case....wee one has been counting down the days. Her class at school have planners in which they are to write down assignments, homework, etc. and every evening the parents have to sign it to make sure they have done their work and to check for any upcoming tests, etc. Well, as I'm signing it I see that in the Wednesday box she has written in big letters, "massage!!!!" LOL. The teachers check these planners as well....goodness knows what they were thinking.

She told me her plan was that she would not look at the clock at school until lunch time (so the day would go quickly). After lunch it's not long until they go home, especially since yesterday was an early release day. Around 3:30 her aunt picked her up and they were on their way. Her appointment was for 4:00, then they were going to dinner. She got home after 7:00 and I could tell right away she had a wonderful time.

I asked her how it was and her eyes got huge and she said, "WONDERFUL". LOL. My aunt was laughing saying that she knew what to get her for her birthday every year. Later on that evening I was sitting with wee one and asked her to tell me all about it. She told me she had to fill out health forms (do you have asthma, etc.), and then there was a picture of a body and you had to circle anywhere you didn't want work done. She said she circled her right knee....since she had sprained it falling off the scooter. Then she told me about going into the room, the music that was playing which was "kind of Indian sounding, then they had forest sounds". She described the face ring and said that it was scented with lavender and grapefruit essential oils, but the woman said she would change it if she didn't like it. I asked her if she liked it and she said oh yes! She said there was a little fountain in the room and the water was relaxing. Then, the woman was putting the oil on her hands and getting ready and wee one said, "I thought, come on! I am ready!" LOL....I asked her what she thought when she first started the massage and she rolled her eyes in a look of pleasure and kind of went limp....lol....I'm taking that as meaning it felt good.

I asked her if any of it hurt and she said only one time on her side, and that the woman had told her if anything hurt just to let her know and she would stop....wee one said, "I couldn't tell her mom. I didn't want to hurt her feelings. I only wanted to compliment her!" LOL....what a nut. After it was over she said she was a bit dizzy and the woman gave her some water. All in all I think it was a wonderful experience for her. She told me last night that she thinks she should have another one in North Carolina. I asked her why and she said, "So I can compare and see what they do differently in the mountains." Ah yes Grasshopper, you are  a quick learner....

 

If you are looking for hilarity....don't come here....

Yes, that is me....a sad sack. I tell ya, today could not have started off worse if it tried....I won't go into detail here, as it's quite personal, but I'd really appreciate good vibes being sent this way....if you can spare 'em.

I decided to chuck the housework today and go shopping. I got some things for our trip, then went and spent $100 on clothes for myself. I was hoping that would pick up my spirits....everything I tried on looked great too....but alas, I'm still in a funk. Why was I not told that growing older isn't all sunshine and puppies?

I'm glad we are leaving town for a while....this trip couldn't have come at a better time.

Anyway....there's my entry for today. Aren't you glad you visited? LOL....

(P.S. The sadness is not related in any way to any family members health....thank goodness!)