Chattanooga & Louisville trip

Since my last post I have gotten a laptop. I love it, but have problems with the touchpad as opposed to the mouse. Never thought I would say I like any sort of MOUSE!!!
Our trip to Chattanooga & Louisville was a lot of fun. We took a fun route from G/wood to Chatt. I thought I had asked Sweetcheeks (GPS) for the quickest route, but somehow we didn't stay on an interstate the whole way. We got off on the Applachian Parkway, so went on some narrow roads & through small towns. We weren't on a schedule so time wasn't an issue. Thanks to my confusing Sweetcheeks we had a tour of the less fashionable parts of Chatt. Then she finally led us to the Chatt. Choo Choo.
We (Barb, Jackie, Ron & I) decided to go out and find a place to eat. Jackie had seen a place called the Pickle Barrell that looked interesting to her. We couldn't easily find a parking place so we went on down the street. We wound up at a FANCY Restaurant. We were all clean & presentable, but hardly dressed for a fine dining experience. They let us in, so that says something about the state of the economy . A customer is a customer. The food was delicious ---expensive, but delicious. Barb had lamb, Jackie vegetable ravioli, Ron steak similiar to filet mignon, but a different name. I had shrimp on risotto. I kept waiting to see a famous chef come out of the kitchen. Ron was having an after dinner drink, so I had dessert. Creme Brule. Oh! My! Give me more.
Wed. was the luncheon cruise. The Southern Belle. The trip was a lot of fun and very informative, but it was a chilly, windy day. We road the shuttle from the hotel to downtown and then had to walk about 4 blocks to the ship. Which meant we also had to walk back 4 blocks. After we got back Ron left for Mark & Whitneys and I stayed with B & J. We went to the agility trials. Barb & Jackie weren't competing, but had offerred to help out. The trials were very entertaining. Some of the dogs just didn't want to go through the jumps or do whatever, so they just went their own way. It was fun for me, but bad for the participants.
Thurs. was a free day for B & J. We had planned on all of us going to Ruby Falls, but after the walking Wed. I opted to stay at the hotel and keep the dogs company. They were very well behaved and slept most of the day.
For supper that night we decided to try the Pickle Barrell. Jackie had acted so interested in it we hated to disappoint her. I think it was the fact that they had beer that drew her. If you ever go to Chattanooga you have to try that place. The food isn't all that expensive and is very good. The atmosphere was the most compeling. I was ready to walk out as soon as we walked in. It looked very old time, dark, well used I guess. The first person I saw was a guy with dreadlocks, then a girl with about 4 different colors of hair. They were employees. Then I noticed 4 business type guys sitting at a table having a pitcher of beer. I decided it must be a local type hangout and probably safe. Glad I agreed to stay. Not that they offered to leave, but I was real close to backing out of the door. The reason I didn't step back out was because Barb was behind me and hadn't even set foot in the door yet. Again the food was very good and resonably priced.
Friday after Barb collected her medal we left for Louisville. Make a couple of wine stops along the way. Whitney had a delicious spaggetti supper waiting for us.
Saturday was spent at Thunder Over Louisville. There was a great plane show, minor league baseball game & small fair. The day was completed with a beautiful fireworks show. Supposed to be the largest in the US. A fun but tiring day. I bought a hat to keep the sun away. When Whitney shares a pic on Facebook, I'll post it here too. Didn't think to have Ron or anyone take a pic with our camera.
Sunday Barb & Jackie left for Wis. We went car shopping or looking, in my car, the one to be replaced. Apparently my car didn't like being used to look for her replacement and punished us Mon. by blowing a heater hose. We had to abandon our plans for lunch with Mark so Ron could look for a part to repair my baby. Since we didn't get to go out for lunch, we went out for dinner. Our anniversary, 41 years!! Went to a Japanese steak house. Very good of course. Since the car had acted up Ron decided we should head for home Tues. We won't mention replacement in front of HER again nor will we drive her when we are looking.
We did go shopping at Cosco after the car looking. Laptops were in the front of the store. Ron had me look at them and decide which one I liked. After we got back to M & W's he and Mark went on line on Mark's 'puter and ordered this one. Now where ever I go it can go. Haven't decided yet if it is a HE or SHE.
More than enough for now.

Amost a year

I can't believe how much time I have let slip by without adding to my blog. Not that there hasn't been anything going on, just that I haven't taken time to record anything. I'll have to see if I can think back to almost a year ago and fill in the blanks of my life. I can tell you now that if I ever have to come up with exactly where I was a year ago (or even a month) I will be in BIG trouble.

Mama recovered from her broken arm and then had a knee replacement. She did really good with it and decided to go ahead and have the other one done. That was in March. The day she got out of the Rehab (physical therapy) Hosp. her sister Gwen was buried. I had spent a lot of time with Aunt Gwen and saw her as a second mother and very good friend. She will be greatly missed.

We made a trip up to Wis., stayed with Barb. Stayed with Mark & Whitney a couple of days on the way up and then on the way back. I hate that they had to move away, but we can visit. They have a rather large house and love to have company.

Barb came down here for Thanksgiving. She and Kristie made pumpkin pies. We did a little sight-seeing, trying to find a winery near Aiken for her. The ones listed were apparently closed. We did find a GREAT BBQ place between Aiken and Augusta. We also stopped on the side of the road and let her pick some cotton to take home for the boys. I'm going HURRY, HURRY, HURRY and she is wandering around selecting the Perfect ones.

Mark and Whitney came down for Christmas. They spent a few days with us (Mark helping finish his grill) and then to Orangeburg for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

I think January & most of Feburary were routine. Mostly my Girls Love Yarn meetings. Since the end of Feb. I have been keeping the roads hot. Mama's birthday was the 1st of March. A big party at the lake the last day of Feb. Mark & Whit came down for the weekend. Scott & Kristie were able to go down to the lake for the weekend and party, but Liz and Lacie both had to work. Back home after the party to repack for the trip to Columbia for Mama's other knee surgery on the 4th of March. I stayed with Jho one night and at the hospital with Mama after her surgery. As I said everything went really good and she will probably be out tripping again soon. Back home for about a week and Aunt Gwen passes. Back to Columbia for the funeral. Mark and Whit were coming down for Spring Break and while Whitney was spending a few days with her family in O (thank goodness for auto save draft......Just as I hit the O for O'burg the puter went crazy and shut down! If I'd have had to start fresh I would have been crying.. New one in the not to distant future. Maybe a LAPTOP?????) 'burg Mark planned on staying at the lake and doing some fishing. To back up a little when we were at the lake for Mama's birthday I mentioned to Ron that we needed to stay down there a week or so and get our bedroom finished. Little did I know that he would decide to do it between Mark's 2 visits. So we were down one weekend to start and then the next to finish. We had a flat tire on the boat trailer on the way to the lake. In the rain of course and on a little 2 lane road. We did have a good time. At the lake and seeing Whitney and her family not changing the tire.
Next week we take off for Tenn. Meet Barb and Jackie in Chattanooga for dog show and luncheon boat cruise. Ron heads up to Mark & Whitney's Wed. Barb, Jackie and I follow late Fri. Will spend some time sight-seeing on Thurs. Head home on Sunday I guess. Will have to, I have 2 dentists app. the next week.
I will try to remember to visit my blog and give updates more often. Hard to remember a year at a time. Yes, there was a lot I left out. Like getting to see 2 of my high school friends while at the lake. 1 I haven't seen in about 35 years, the other one between 5 & 10. Sheila sold her store "All For You" and now we are trying to find a place for our Girls Love Yarn group to meet. Do YOU know of a place?