I'm Back in the Saddle Again

 Okay...

I am ready to roll... but I don't know which direction to go in. It's been so long since I've posted anything of substance.. maybe my brain is still on pause. Who knows. Let's see where this is going!! 

First of all, I wanted to spend time with my kiddos far away but I really didn't mean to do the trips back to back. Lordy, that was a journey. But, I did fine. Proved to myself, that at 91, I don't have to sit at home, I can get out and go... nearly everywhere I want. 

I usually spend time away from home, reassessing my 'status', making new plans, getting rejuvinated. This time was no different. 

I decided that I wanted to try making one new recipe a week and sharing it with my friends. I don't cook much anymore so it won't be fancy stuff, just stuff that I thought might be good. So... here's my first weeks endeavour: 

Frozen Yogurt-Honey Blueberries 

This picture came from the internet

Ingredients:

1 pint blueberries, washed and drained

1/2-3/4 cup Greek Yogurt ( I use Chobain sugar free)

2-3 tsp honey

Mix honey and yogurt. Pour over blueberries, stir to coat. Lift individual berries out with a fork and place them on a parchment lined pan that will fit in your freezer. Keeping them separate makes it easy to lift out a couple, three for a snack anytime you want them.

Freeze then place individual berries in a ziplock bag and put back in the freezer. Yum

I also decided to rearrange the closet in my office but haven't felt up to that yet. Will keep you posted when I get the urge to tackle that chore.

I didn't feel like my balcony was very inviting so I gave that some thought and soon as I got home, I started redecorating it... Well, actually I can't say re-decorating it 'cause it wasn't decorated in the first place. 

Here's what the space looked like. Don't you agree it's not some place just calling you to come sit awhile? 

So far I have gotten this look going. Still working on it. Any suggestions out there? 

I also started reading a book 'The Good Life' 

I have been on a soul-searching path to find myself, improve myself for sometime now but more about that later. 

Have a wonderful Sunday! I've missed you all and hope to get back on a better posting schedule soon. 

Welcome Home!

I'm Home!

Got home late afternoon on Tuesday.... however just before we arrived back within shouting distance of my home, I had an attack of what I think is diverticitus. Had it before but this one was very painful and remained so for over 24 hours. and in the meantime, I began having brief periods of vertigo! Then the following day my hitial heria started acting up. Talk about a welcome home!! 

So, soon as I begin feeling up to it I will be back on here in full force! 
 

Just sailing along

 Sunday was a perfect day. I mean, how could it not be! The sun was bright, the sky was blue and my son Michael and I sailed along on the blue waters of Wheeler Lake (north Alabama). 

I took the wheel at one point, sort of a bucket list thing for me.

 And there were a zillion pictures made. Daughter Shirley, back in Virginia, was constantly texting her brother... You gotta get a shot of this..or that..or something else. But, sadly, we never got one of me and Michael together.

I am not a sun lover and can't remember when if ever I got a sunburn. But, now I have both arms a nice shade of red!

Sunday certainly will go down as one of my most memorable times. So glad I got to spend it with Michael. He's a superb sailor and son.

A Pleasant Surprise

 When friends, the Browns, invited Michael and me out for lunch and said they were taking us to the Black Bear Brewery, well, I did start wondering what we had gotten in to. None of us had ever been! Lunchtime in a tavern....hmm.

It turned out to be a really delightful time. The restaurant part was huge. 

this is only a portion of the place. Photo from their Facebook page.

We got a nice table with a view. One of my huge pet peeves is the loud music being played in every place you go to eat now. You can't even have a conversation with the people at your table, for gosh sakes. But, it was very conversation friendly!

I like to try new foods so I chose a Fried green tomato BLT on marbled rye bread...with fries.

 It did not disappoint! And I believe the fries were the best I had ever had. My plate was so loaded with food that I had 3 meals out of that food. It just kept on giving.

You just never know how trying a new restaurant will turn out but this one we rated a 10.

A Fascinating Place

 As I was saying, Mooresville, Alabama was very tiny but totally fascinating to me.

We ran across the Old Brick Church. Greek Revival style constructed in 1839 of handmade brick. I would have loved to have gone inside but there was no one around. We saw one person doing her daily walk...no cars, no stores, no traffic light. Who do you ask permission from? So we snapped some pictures and drove on.

The post office was nearby, another place I would have loved to explore...

Alas...it is only open from 8 til 10 each morning. It is the oldest operating p.o. in Alabama. The call boxes inside date before the Civil War and some have been used by the same family since that time. Can you imagine that?

Other things fascinating me about Mooresville:

Our 17th president, Andrew Johnson, lived in Mooresville as a young man while he an apprentice to a tailor.

During the Civil War Union General James Garfield delivered a sermon at one of the churches here. His troops were camped nearby. He became our 20th president.

In 1995 the movie, "Tom and Hank," was filmed largely in Mooresville.

So, yes, this place has it's history! Just wish they made it easier for the public to enjoy.

Finding the Elusive 1818 Farm

 Last week Michael and drove to Mooresville, an enchanting very small historic village not far from where he lives. We thoroughly enjoyed it and want to go back.      

  

I had seen the 1818 Farm on facebook, so that was what drew me to the place. But it doesn't open to the public except for special events and I was so disappointed.

These are Babydoll Southdown sheep which was the driving force to open up the farm to begin with. They have a wide range of skin care products which they have become quite famous for.. Guess they've outgrown catering to a couple wandering souls just wanting to check them out.

1818 Farms has won some awards for their products, won Amazon's best small business award. And had a 5 page spread in Southern Living magazine. Yes, I wanted to see it but looks like that isn't going to happen. Oh well, you roll with the punches! Right!

We did find some other treasures in that tiny town but more on that later. Just want to keep you intrigued so you'll have to come back and check things out.