Finally the big 80

 I was preceded in celebration by Big Daddy Dave over in Tennessee. That's just fine. I've had more celebrations that I could have imagined possible.

The weekend that I will never forget in the woods near Lake Lure and Old Fort...in the mansion/cabin...and with most of my family! What a treat which I hope they will cherish as much as I do.

Standing Rock Falls...which had upper falls and lower falls. I managed down the stairs and back to upper falls, and let the hiking younger family members go down to lower falls. (As already covered in a previous post!)

Custards setting which became Crème brulee! (fun when the portable flame thrower needed more gas, so they were all put under the boiler and came out great!)

M. at the end of the table had a birthday in Oct...so he raised his hand as the last annual birthday of the group. They each had a birthday card from me to celebrate together by having fun!

Me and the crystals!

The whole gang, when I took the pic. so Kendra is in it...

A fun fast card game of as many players playing double sol as you've got decks! I think it's called Nerts!

One of the fabulous cooks that weekend, as well as the only daughter-in-law who could come. I was so glad to have time with her! My three sons honored my request that I wouldn't prepare any meals. I just bought the groceries, since I lived in the area! I admit they had two more grocery trips after we were found to be missing some of the things I bought and forgot in my fridge. Hey I'm an elder, I can forget things!

My three sons, and my grandkids (most of them). Kendra took this photo.

Today's quote:

You know why trees smell the way they do?” Murphy asked, looking up. “Sap?” Logan guessed. “Chlorophyll?”

Murphy shook her head. “Stars. Trees breathe in starlight year after year, and it goes deep into their bones. So when you cut a tree open, you smell a hundred years worth of light. Ancient starlight that took millions of years to reach Earth. That’s why trees smell so beautiful and old."

—Frances O’Roark Dowell

More weekend vacation pics

 It wasn't very far away for me, less than an hour's drive to the cabin. But the environment said sanctuary in the woods! No other cars, people, planes trains or mules. One bear however...but he walked past the cabin and on his way into more woods. Oh, did I mention the mountainous terrain? The drive became more switchbacks and roller-coaster deep hills down then up, and finally a gravel stretch where I'd have preferred a 4 wheel drive vehicle! Once there in our well dusted cars we had paved driveway and parking at the cabin! But we just unloaded the perishables from my car, parked it and went back to Asheville Airport in the van. This was Fri. night, and the van had just driven from Columbus OH.

After picking up the two from CO at the airport, by myself and the three who had driven down from OH, we had a quick delicious dinner at a Japanese restaurant (don't remember the name) where tapas were served with Ramen bowls. It was delicious and everyone shared together.

This is a Ramen burger...the noodles squished into bun shape, then fried, with a stick of onion rings filled with pork meat chunks.

I liked my fried avocado balls...a ball of seafood spicy stuff on a slice of avocado with an incredible fried crust...no skin! Edamame of course, and fried tofu in the back ground.

NOTE: After comments asked what the restaurant name was, I found it on Google Maps...in case you're ever in Asheville...it's Itto's Ramen Bar and Japanese Tapas.

Then off to the woods, where we met the Florida four waiting in a car at the gate to the community of houses/cabins. They had rented a car after flying to Charlotte NC.

The table was nicely set, with cute glassware from NC spots

Early Saturday morning waiting for everyone to get ready for going out...water falls after checking out the "pond" or maybe Lake George.

Today's Quote: 

I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat. -Rebecca West, author and journalist (21 Dec 1892-1983)

From full moon to spiders to...

  August Birthday gathering 2022

Friday night moon just past full woke me up where I was in a new bed...but of course the phone camera thought I wanted the clouds rather than the moon...I wanted to go back to bed, so this is what I've got. 

And this was also visible against the well lit clouds at around 2 am! I didn't intend to open the door to try to get a better shot of the moon. No way!

This is the great room where we had rented a cabin (think mansion) for the weekend gathering of most of my family to celebrate the August birthdays!

Many overstuffed couches and chairs, with places for me to put my feet up, though for August we didn't need the fireplace. We did have wonderful weather in the 70s in daytime and 60s at night.

  Upstairs were many bedrooms...as well as more downstairs. We only used 10 beds, but somehow the young people kept sleeping on the couches!

Downstairs was a pool table, comfortable conversation seating, and even a massage chair, where your whole body is massaged with air pressures...I didn't try it, but those who did said it was great!

A welcoming entrance.

A back deck looking over trees, with beautiful skies.

Yes I'll have more photos of the places we went!

Today's quote:

In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you. -Mortimer J. Adler, philosopher, educator, and author (28 Dec 1902-2001)

In front of the log cabin and a to-do-list

 

Log cabin of the 1890s.

I downloaded this, but didn't have the photographer, the location, or who these people were. Ah well

They were somoneone's ancestors...with only 2 men wearing hats, and a couple of little boys. A youngish girl with a short skirt on the far left, and a woman holding a squirming child sitting on the log...these are probably an extended family. That cabin was made with hand hewn timbers. The log in front was probably cut down and planned to be used at one time. And since there are real sash windows, these people were pretty well to do for the times and place. The window on the right seems to have been raised so perhaps someone could look out. 

Any other ideas?

Here's another cabin...

I don't know for sure, but I'm betting this is in one of the parks in the Appalachian mountains. It has the dog-trot design,  which means the big space in the middle is like a hall going from front to back. There's just one chimney, so that shows where the cooking and heating took place.

What do you call this man with his monkey? I have heard the Organ Grinder. And I think he also might be called a "hurdy gurdy" man. I vaguely think I saw one once when I was a wee little one, probably being held tightly by the hand. I don't think there was a monkey involved though, just the musician playing a organ type music box. He's the prompt today over at Sepia Saturday.

In case you might be climbing the walls because you are isolated due to the increased likelihood of catching COVID-19, I like this list of things to consider doing.