2024-07-31

 July

It's my birthday month, y'all.

And It's a BIG one!

 

After I felt comfortable with all the insurance changes I was able to relax a bit - lol Honestly - it's the FIRST time I've had to be concerned about insurance in over 40 years ---

[Blessed with wonderful insurance as a state employee -]

I. Am. Old.

And I'll say it again - 

I am so very thankful for this life I get to live. 

... for this body that I can feel aging, but that is hanging in here with me and letting me do all the things I want to do - I feel blessed to have my sweetheart and very best friend to adventure with!! It's a good life.

So - July - 

I had a couple of things planned for my birthday month - but also added in some things as opportunities came along... We added in a little waterfall tour with sweet friends who'd agreed to join in on my Scottish Highland Cow Adventure... and it was really fun to travel in #LordAlfredtheAirstream as we did quick overnight stays along the way. [You can read more about our adventures with him here -]

I made an appointment to pet some cows more than a few months ago.

And yes I know it's crazy - 

And YES - I've petted and hand fed cows before [I have some cousins who grew up 'in the country'] only to realize I was eating O'e Henry in a delicious hamburger one evening...

 

But I think these are adorable [and the ones we visited with are NOT EATEN] so it was all good. These are like big [GIANT] pets that loved to be brushed.

 

They also enjoyed the occasional sprinkler of water to cool them off - like big kids - lol. It was a treat!

 

In between my birthday shenanigans Craig and I enjoyed riding our bikes on local trails... visiting with his mother in The Shoals, checking in with our kiddos on their GREAT adventures, enjoying gathering with friends here in town - and yes - 

Hanging here at home with lazy days...

watching the Olympics...

 

I finished the month off with a fun overnight in Nashville with one of my cousins who is the same age as I am. We went up to see Donny Osmond perform and he did a great show - as always. 

[You might remember that we went to see him in Vegas on our 60th birthday -]

It was our first time to see a show in the Ryman Auditorium 

- and it really is a beautiful place!

We don't get together often enough and when we do we're talking and sharing non-stop until the wee hours of the morning - just like we did as kids.

I'm still recuperating - becasue, y'all know I'm a cinderella and have to be in bed early. HA.

Gotta run, because Craig and are off to check off another Summer Bucket List item before some places close for the summer...

[Who knew summer ended August 1?]

It'll still be WARM through October here in the south...

Let's move on to August!

[...and hopefully a couple of states we've not yet visited!]

2024-06-30

 June 

I'm so happy I planned our calendar soI could be a helper in our VBS this year! LOVED sharing Christ's love [through crafty things] with over 500 kiddos each day!

Wow - planting seeds for Him -

We headed up to one of our favorite campgrounds and hosted our Music City friends in a very laid-back camping rally. We loved having time to visit a bit with so many. 

Then we met friends up at Cheekwod [Nashville Botanical Gardens] 

to see Thomas Dambo's Trolls / Giants.

I may or may not be becoming obsessed with them.

Just  sayin'

We love our adventure friends 

that we've known for over 35 years now...

Had a wonderful time at our Longest Day Scrapbooking event -

and we raised over $4,000 for Alzheimer's Research!

And I saw a little bonus fireworks 

from a secret location on the way home!

 

We made it to one concert in the park this month -

And it was HOT [we brought battery op fans - bc we're old - ha. 

Enjoyed camping in Arkansas this month -

And there will be a separate blog post on that soon. 

I'll admit, I kinda love my safari hat /pith helmet] from Animal Kingdom that Craig picked up at unclaimed... It's cool AND shady.

And I think it was adorable for our decorated hat contest -

I thought it was perfect for our contest at the outdoor art museum.

I'm checking off my Summer Bucket List - and rooftop sunset - CHECK.

We had dinner in the restaurant downstairs [with AC]

 

And while a Regency inspired dinner wasn't on the bucket list - 

It's one and done.

But it WAS fun.

Also - never thought we'd attend a FIFTIES class reunion -

But we enjoyed meeting many of Mother's friends 

and helping out where we could - 

It was a nice evening -

... on to July....

2024-05-31

 Let's do a quick highlight of May -->

Here we go!

We headed South at the beginning of the month and enjoyed a quick overnight at Gunter Hill COE in Montgomery -  We enjoy our quick stays her bc it's easy in and out ... usually has a bit of a river view and always has that spanish moss that was the visual reminder of going to the beach each year when I was young...

 

Next - a few days at Gulf State Park - y'all know we love this park... and I can't say THANK YOU enough to my sweetheart and the way he works to get our reservations just where we want them. 

Next we were at Anchors Away RV with our Alabama Airstream Club - it's a wonderful urban campground and we had the opportunity to visit with new folks to the club - 

The highlight was seeing the balloon glow out at the festival -

We picked up ice cream and enjoyed from the coolness of our car - ha.

 

We were home a bit 

[yes! It does happens] 

and then enjoyed being with  our Music City Airstream Club 

friends up at Falls Creek Falls  in Tn.

Such a great group of airstream friends!

BUT.

You already know - 

The highlight of our trip [and YEAR, maybe] was seeing God's glorious lights way down here in the south. Too wonderful to put into words. Still.

 

Enjoyed Mother's Day with Craig's mother

over in The Shoals - 

A day trip up to Cathedral Caverns

to check it out for an upcoming rally -

Went down to see what Arab's Poke Salet Festival had going on -And saw this sweet lunchbox [it was my VERY favorite one when I was a kid -]

Enjoyed a nice dinner and concert up at

Burritt on the Mountain

with a fabulous view -

And our little ride on the green-way under the interstate to 

The Redstone Gateway was fun!

And I made a little jelly 

from the plums we picked up along the way -

Dobby took flight - ha

[I enjoy playing with photos - ]

 

Craig's TALL finger was finally completely dismissed from all the doctors - 

I love a good xray that shows bone growth!

It actually represents growth in sooo many ways -

Enjoyed an early morning patisserie breakfast with friends  -

Deelish, as always -

And it's always nice to visit together!

 

We set up a little pool to cool off in 

under our patio cover...lol 

And we wish everyone well as they enjoy their fancy pizzas....

We'll stick with our tried and true deep dish pan,

that we end up eating for a week...lol.

And finally --

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

So thankful for everyone who gave the ultimate sacrifice 

for the freedom we enjoy today.

2024-04-30

 April was an exceptionally busy month for us.

 

Mostly fun things, because...

HOORAY!! Craig has been released from ALL the doctors!

Our God is so good to walk with us through these last 7 months!

... He enjoyed a couple of fishing trips with the guys this month - 

 

And I enjoyed scrapbooking with friends I've not seen in A WHILE. 

[And had lunch with another sweet friend while I was over that way!]

[And I know I'm late to the party - but I'm kinda loving this BeReal 

random photo a day -  app]

 We camped some this month -  in Kentucky to see the Eclipse, in The Shoals to see Craig's mother, in Tuscaloosa on our way south, and in Auburn with friends - 

Maybe a total of just 8 days...

And then we had a wonderful time having Matt home for a week!

[Wish Emma could have joined him -]

We traveled to Paducah, Kentucky for the Eclipse 

where we experienced 2 minutes of totality. 

Craig had his cell phone JUST RIGHT and 

caught some awesome photos!

I tended to just bask in it all - ha.

We CHOSE to stay right in our campground because

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE in Paducah, y'all. 

We had a street light behind us - but it was still SO AWESOME.

Afterwards, we watched the traffic on I-24 creep along for hours while we walked across the street and had Mexican for dinner. It was the perfect spot.

 

After we swung through The Shoals and down through Tuscaloosa we joined some vintage camping buddies for a fun rally!

It's always fun to visit with 'old' friends and meet new ones!

And I love the woodsy feel of Chewacala State Park.

The weather was perfect and we enjoyed all the rally activities, plus some thrifting, a nice slice of pie from Acre, and riding our bikes on the trails!

I'm still working on adding a little somethin' somethin' to help

 #AishlingtheAirstream have a welcoming vibe to her...

Later in the month I had the opportunity to FINALLY meet up with some gals

 I've been Bible Journaling with over zoom since 

BEFORE the pandemic. WHAAAA???

And it was simply wonderful!

I know I've said it before - but it's just so nice 

to be with a bunch of creative women who love The Lord. 

 

And, OMGOODNESS - those North Georgia Mountains never disappoint!

It was a good month, y'all.