We made it through Atlanta without getting stuck in any traffic, which is a July 4 miracle. This, just as we were saying we’d never travel over the Fourth of July again because everything is closed on the Fourth of July. There was a yarn shop and a chocolatier we wanted to stop at before leaving Nashville, but both were closed for the holiday. So be it, here we are, just south of Atlanta, where Christina just beat Billy’s and my butts at Five Crowns and we made our trip official by watching a Harry Potter movie on the hotel TV. I’m looking forward to getting back to the dogs tomorrow, food shopping, and about 200 loads of laundry. But it was a good trip. Good to get away.
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July 3
We literally did EVERYTHING today. We walked over the pedestrian bridge, went into a honky tonk, bought cowboy boots, visited the Country Music Hall of Fame and RCA Studio B, went into the Parthenon, had authentic barbecue, and ate the best ice cream sandwiches made from homemade cookies and ice cream. When you have one day in Nashville, you do it all or bust. We may have done both.
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July 2
We had to get some Kentucky bourbon before we left and found a place that distills Mammoth Cave bourbon on the way to Nashville, so we made a stop. It was really cool – a small family-run distillery. The owner gave us a tour and tasting, introduced us to his horses and his dad. They gave us tips for visiting Nashville, and it was generally great. Much better than going to Maker’s Mark or another big distillery. After getting to Nashville, we were exhausted, and ended up spending most of the day sleeping, but not until after much-needed showers.
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July 1
We went on another cave your this morning. It was unlike any other I’d done – the cave was wide open and, well, cavernous. It was really cool. It rained most of the morning, but after lunch we went for a short hike. It was somewhat drama-filled since there were varying levels of enthusiasm for the hike, most of which were barely registering. I may have screamed at everyone in the middle of the forest. The day got better, though. We played Uno No Mercy and got ice cream. We made pork chops and potatoes for dinner and then kicked Billy’s ass twice at Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. Billy made the biggest campfire ever, using almost an entire package of firewood. It was, shall we say, MAMMOTH. As fun as it’s been, I think most of us are ready to go in the morning.
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June 30
We went on our first cave tour. It was really cool! National Park rangers are generally awesome. This cave is different from others we’ve toured because it’s so much bigger, and most of what we saw was dry. After the tour, we took it easy. We played That Escalated Quickly, which is always fun with Christina. I did some knitting. Making dinner was a lot smoother tonight. Christina caught more fireflies and we roasted s’mores. I’m glad it didn’t rain.
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June 29
Today was great. Made it to the campsite and got everything set up pretty quickly. Getting a fire going to cook dinner was not as smooth. We didn’t get self-lighting charcoal, and we didn’t have lighter fluid, so that was a bust. Luckily we got to the camp store one minute before it closed and got some firewood. It took us an hour to get it going, but then it burned for hours. Christina told stories by the fire and caught fireflies. She and Billy walked to the visitor center and saw 26 deer. We are in a group site loop in the middle of three busloads of kids with some sort of organization. They were loud for a bit but are otherwise fine. It’s so nice to be camping again. It’s been too long!
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June 28
We made it to somewhere in Georgia today after sitting in two hours of Atlanta traffic. The traffic was made less tedious by a podcast by the man who narrated our riverboat tour in New Orleans. We learned about the history of rum and then the history of Santa Claus! It was much better than listening to the YANKEES GAME in which the Yankees were having their asses handed to them on a stick. For dinner tonight, we walked across the Target parking lot to the Golden Corral, which I didn’t even know still exists. There is also an REI in the Target plaza, which means we’ve surely forgotten something that we won’t buy there now but will wish we had when we discover tomorrow that we’ve forgotten it. All in all, today is better than yesterday. Ready to enjoy my last night on a mattress and within reach of a shower for a few days.
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June 27
We are leaving on vacation tomorrow and somehow there are ten million things to do today. Drop off and pick up kids from two camps, drop off Jackson’s urine sample at the vet (which they almost didn’t even take), pick up a mug we painted for Billy last week, do laundry, fold clothes, sort and pack camping gear, pack clothes, take Christina to dance, make and eat dinner, work (oh yeah, that), get cash for my nephews who are watching the dogs for us, go to the store for last-minute supplies, clean the kitchen, sweep up all the dog hair all over the house, clean the bathroom……. Seriously? In one day? I ended up working from 8:30-10pm to make up for everything I didn’t do while driving all over Jacksonville. I am stressed and exhausted. Someday, going on vacation will be what it’s supposed to be – relaxing. We’ll see.
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June 26
After spending three hours in the car driving close to 100 miles back and forth between two camps and tumbling class, I thought a crossword puzzle by the fire pit would be nice. It wasn’t too hot for a change. But the BUGS. Mosquitos don’t usually bite me, and these looked more like gnats than mosquitos, but there were so many of them. It was so annoying. I didn’t last long. But it was nice while it did last.
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June 25
Robin is sewing so fast that she’s running out of projects at camp. In fact, she was so fast that she broke the needle on the sewing machine. Her quality is what you’d expect with her speed, but it doesn’t seem to bother her, so I say go have fun, child. She has made 15 pillows, three pillowcases, an apron, a birthday crown, a cube, and a half a tote bag, and it’s only Wednesday. (The tote bag was kind of a bust. She wasn’t feeling well and fell behind the instructions and couldn’t quite catch up.) She’s looking up extra patterns right now so she has something new to work on when she finishes all the projects two hours before camp ends. I’m just happy she found something she enjoys. I’m looking forward to learning from her.
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June 24
Robin made thirteen pillows today. While Robin was sewing, Christina and I went through the girls’ baby boxes. I unexpectedly found a note that Barbara wrote to Robin before she was born and I couldn’t keep back the tears. I’m so grateful to have had that memory with her tonight. I so wish I could see her again, and thank her. I so wish that Christina had any idea who Barbara actually is. I’ve tried to keep these memories alive for the girls, but they’ll never really know the beauty of these very real relationships. That is a whole loss in itself. I’m glad that at least I have those memories. It will have to be enough.
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June 23
I ran two miles today, which feels as significant an accomplishment to me as climbing to the top of a mountain with no shoes on. It’s not like I haven’t run two miles before, but I haven’t run two miles and felt good about it when I was done. I’m not saying it was EASY, or that I loved every minute of it, or even that I WANTED to run the whole way, but I felt good about my effort the whole time. I enjoyed the run I got, even though it wasn’t perfect. I hit the reset button a few weeks ago, tried something new, and it’s paying off. It feels so good to run for the joy of it and not because I HAVE to hit a target or die trying. And I am consequently achieving more than I was before. It’s the first time I can ever remember enjoying a workout. I can’t wait for the next run.
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June 22
It’s embarrassing how infrequently we go to the beach when it is as close to us as it is. But we made it today for a record-setting hour and a half. Too much longer than that and the sand would have been scalding to walk back to the car on. Next time we go, I will have to suck it up and go earlier before the sun tries to murder my feet. It was so refreshing in the ocean. I kinda can’t wait to go back.
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June 21
There was a lot of dance today… dance classes and then a dance team orientation meeting. In between all that, I completed the last bit of sewing for the advent calendar. It just needs rods and a hanger and then it will be done! There is one little piece of sewing that I want to redo eventually. I’m too frustrated with it right now to look at it. Other than that one little corner, I’m so happy with it. I can’t believe it came together the way I’d imagined it, especially since I’ve never really sewn anything before, AND I had no pattern to work from. I can’t wait to use it this Christmas. Photo to come when it is 100% completed.
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June 20
Robin made dinner again tonight, and it was GOOD. It was a chicken chili with a Mexican flair… so good. Otherwise today was just an average day. Christina says she got her back walkover, which is exciting, but I haven’t been able to see it. The studio is too small for me to go in and watch. Hopefully I’ll get to see it before too long!
Year in Photos 