It's All About the Food!

The picture was taken on our train trip on the Blue Ridge Mountain Railroad. If you look closely, you'll notice a rock formation. This is a 500-year-old Native American fish catcher.

"In our mountain greenery where God paints the scenery. Just two happy people (and their dog) together..."

DH, Molly and I just returned from a glorious, 4-day trek to the mountains around Morganton, GA. A super, relaxing mini-vacation, for the most part.

Mentally weary, we couldn't wait to relax on the porch of our rented cabin, listening to the birds, staring at the mountain vista, rejoicing to the gentle sounds of rain on the tin roof, cursing our neighbors who yelled, partied and played rock music until 4:30 AM Friday morning...

Well, that was one of the few downsides to the trip, other than the fact that our senior doggie, Molly, couldn't get the hang of the stairs and kept tumbling to the bottom. Fortunately, she didn't hurt herself, other than her pride, and finally got the hang of going up and down by the time we left on Sunday.

We took a train ride on Friday from Blue Ridge to McCaysville, GA-Copperhill, TN. We could, literally, take one step and be in Tennessee. The border splits the town in half. In fact, we ate at an Irish Pub (I know...how stupid is it to pass up one barbeque joint after another to eat at an Irish Pub in "Georgiasee"?) where you ate in Tennessee and went to the ladies room in Georgia!

Speaking of eating, we found an amazing Italian restaurant just outside Blue Ridge called the Cuchina Rustica. Wonderful gourmet food! Seriously! I'm not kidding! We had the most amazing cold asparagus appetizer ever. I can't tell you what our main courses were because neither one of us could pronounce them...but they were great!

We also had super lattes and peanut butter fudge at Sweet Treats in Blue Ridge. Do you see a pattern here? Our vacations are no longer booked with walking, riding bikes, scouting out local scenery, or wildlife as the main focus. It's all about the food!

Oh, and on the way home, we stopped at Mercier's Apple Orchard for apricot muffins, apple cookies, jalapeno bread (5 loaves), apple/cinnamon doughnuts, and apple/cinnamon bread. Yep-all about the food!

I Need An Exemption!

Let's wise up, people! (says Terrie, my friend, Suzette's terrier)


My previous post extolled the virtues of my "complaint-free world" bracelet that I've started wearing and must switch to the other wrist whenever I complain...about anything! I have really, really tried. I'd say my complaining about minor issues has been cut in half. EXCEPT FOR POLITICS!

This is not the year to stop complaining COLD TURKEY. And, to exploit the favorite subject this week from the "talking heads" ...it's making me bitter.

Okay, folks. Enough is enough. No matter which side you're on, let's debate what's really important. Health care, the economy, Iraq, housing crisis, climate change, anything that doesn't revolve around the "horrors" of the word, bitter.

Are voters really as shallow as the press portrays? I'd love to hear some opinions.

(Whew! Glad I took politics out of the complaint/bracelet equation.)

Aw...Quit Your Complaining!

That's our goal. After months (years) of complaining about everything under the sun, my husband and I are trying to give up the habit. We saw a story on CBS Sunday Morning about "A Complaint Free World" and decided that this was our last hope. In case you're not familiar with the concept:

Our words are powerful indicators of our thoughts, and our thoughts create our lives. When we complain, we draw to us negative things because we put out negative energy. Therefore, one of the most important things we do is to learn not to complain.

And, in order to remind ourselves not to complain (for a small, tax-deductible fee), we were sent purple bracelets to wear. Apparently, you're supposed to put it on one wrist or the other. If (when) you find yourself complaining about ANYTHING, you must remove the bracelet and put it on the opposite wrist. The objective is to wear it on one wrist exclusively for 21 straight days.

Now, please tell me how this is possible in a world of never-ending war and astronomical gas prices?!

(Oh. Hang on a minute while I switch wrists)

...Politics being thrown at you 24/7??

(Sorry. Gotta change)

And, HAVE YOU BOUGHT A GALLON OF MILK LATELY??

(Excuse me, again)

Not to mention the fact that there are three houses in foreclosure in our neighborhood and several more with rusty, faded For Sale signs.

(Uh-oh. Wonder how strong these bracelets are? Hope they can handle lots of stretching)

Well, you get the idea. Here's the link to the website, if you dare. Bwwahahahah...

A Complaint Free World

P.S. We also bought bracelets for our kids and friends!