Pretty Place Chapel for our 39th Anniversary

  I didn't know about Pretty Place until Linda mentioned it. We had been to Ceasar's Head years back when looking for a place to view the eclipse, Pretty Place is five miles higher up and worth the drive. The road the whole way up is lined with walls of rhododendron which must be spectacular in spring.
 

  Passing Ceasar's Head on the way, stopped for a few photos. 

                      I could live in that house on the right. The view!

      We were surprised with rain on the way, wind and cold that so many would make the journey to Pretty Place, but everyone was so quiet. It definitely is a special place. Once a YMCA camp in the early 1900s.  Weddings are still held here.

     The sunrises have to be phenominal here, but the rain clouds were equally impressive.

                         You know me, I hate photos and really hate selfies, they are so distorted, but we needed to have an anniversary photo and I wasn't going to ask anyone deep in contemplation to take our photo, so this is what we got.

                      On the way down, stopped at the Devil's Kitchen for a walk.

     Met some hikers from Ukraine, talked to them a bit.  We were walking to see Raven Falls, they said it wasn't worth the mile hike, and I didn't think my knee was up to it anyway.

   There is actually a coffee shop on the way down, we stopped for some festive drinks in this old building and walked around.

                                Got the table by the fireplace to warm up.

    This house was on the street behind the coffee shop. I could live here, too!

                   Wore my gold floral embossed bangle that was my 10th anniversary present.  Bob had it engraved on the inside. Neither one of us could read it, our eyes are not the best these days lol. 

                     My wedding band was my 25th anniversary present given when we went to Charleston for the weekend. I rarely wear my jewelry anymore now that I don't work and dress up, so it was nice to have them on. This year he went to Lulu Lemon! I couldn't believe it!!                        

Next year is a biggy, hoping we can go back to Charleston and stay at the Post House Inn, go antiquing and to the beach. If my dogs are still with us, Catrina will have to dogsit for me.  Check out the inn, it is so charming!Post House Inn

    So many buds on all those rhodies.  We will be back in spring!!

                     This year's card, he always finds the best!

Christmas Trees & Mantle

                               A surprise in my mailbox from Linda, fawn painted xmas balls. She painted them herself. She is very talented with a brush.
 

                     Two trees are better than one! Champagne and cream.

                         The mantle is never planned, it just happens.  While looking at Linda's booth, I spied this retro xmas tree, the perfect topper was my glittered deer which I had planned to use in some way.

                          It wouldn't be Christmas without dim lighting and lots of sparkle and a fire in the fireplace.

     Oh! And lots of fairy lights!

                   Next to wrap gifts, plan a meal with drinks and relax!

Thanksgiving

   November is a crazy month, it all starts with Bob's birthday and goes all the way to New Years.  Laying low at Thanksgiving works for me, I get the tree up, have the Macy's Day Parade in the background, food in the oven.  Last chance for leaf peeping, trees are in peak form at the house.
 

    The Yuletide Camelia is starting to bloom as are all the others around town.

  A long weekend to get the last of my spring seedlings in the ground while it's not frozen.  I have way too many to plant, next year I will do less. Lots of hellebores, foxgloves and rose campions.

   This major job started this summer with eradicating ivy along the driveway.  The iris where planted was not getting enough sun, so hence the major relocation.  With my knee not in top form, this was not easy.  After six months I did get an MRI, a torn meniscus and cartilage. Ortho wanted to drain and give a cortisone shot, but I will heal this myself, I am determined!

   A drive to Table Rock in SC just to look at trees.  The trip up toward Asheville is too crowded this time of year with all the peepers.

  This week, had an unexpected transport of six chows and one husky come to stay at the farmhouse.  I'm working with Chow Network of PA.  She sent her nanny down to Miami to get all these dogs out of shelters before the holidays as they would be killed. They needed a place halfway to stay the night, the dogs walked, fed and medicated. I did not know there were two kids and a boyfriend, too, all in 600 square feet!!! I did hours upon hours of dog walking, not good for the knee. One was in my sunroom with a broken leg, another in my laundry room having just been spayed, others in the van, another in the farmhouse with the guests.  I'm still recovering days later!!

   I feel in love with this blue girl and her blonde mate, from a backyard breeder in Florida, no longer wanted.  In depolorable condition, but so sweet. If it wasn't for having two seniors, I would adopt them.  Bob and I plan on traveling in between dogs when my seniors pass, so timing just isn't right.

                       Dakota from Miami with a broken leg.

Princess who had just been spayed.

 

                            This crazy husky that screamed at the top of his lungs when we tried to get him in a crate to travel. Good thing I don't have neighbors close by.

                   Mellow, a gorgeous boy who got to ride up front.  Now for our 39th anniversary, Christmas, my birthday, a neighborhood get together and New Years!!